Okashana – a delightful fountain

The Okashana Springs on the northern fringes of the Andoni Plain is a popular place for residents of Omuthiya and passers-by to relax over weekends and public holidays. Much fun is enjoyed by adults and children alike to cool off in the constant stream of water gushing from the fountain, especially on a hot summer’s day.

The borehole, which resembles a fountain in the middle of nowhere, was drilled in the Oshivelo
Aquifer, a huge underground water resource, around 1956. It struck the upper salty layer of the aquifer which made it unsuitable for drinking or agricultural purposes and although it was capped, the salty water and pressure eroded the capping, creating an attractive fountain.

The water spreads over a fairly large area and is visited by herds of blue wildebeest to quench their thirst. The shallow wetland south of the spring attracts a variety of waterbirds, while at least two rare migratory birds have been recorded. Bream (Tilapia), a freshwater fish was released at Okashana several years ago and have adapted to the salty water.

The water from another nearby, but less well-known borehole, was also sunk in 1956. It has been channelled into a fairly large dam which attracts a variety of waterbirds, depending on the time of the year.

Plans to develop the springs into a tourist attraction have stalled for several years after a dispute between the Omuthiya Town Council and the conservancy about the boundaries of the town lands. In the meantime, residents of Omuthiya and passers-by continue to enjoy the springs, but in the absence of well-maintained facilities.

King Nehale Conservancy

The Okashana Springs are situated in the King Nehale Conservancy that was registered in September 2005. The conservancy was named after Nehale lyaMpingana who broke away from the Ondonga kingdom as he refused to recognise the kingship of his brother, Kambonde kaMpingana and declared himself ruler over eastern Ondonga.

Covering 50 800 hectares, the roughly wedge-shaped conservancy shares its southern boundary with the Etosha National Park for 70 kilometres and extends northwards to the outskirts of Omuthiya.

The conservancy has been zoned into areas for grazing, tourism and settlement use. There is no exclusive wildlife zone and springbok and blue wildebeest are often seen grazing on the plains together with cattle. Other species recorded include kudu, gemsbok, steenbok and black-backed jackal, while migrating elephant pass through the area occasionally, usually at the onset of the rainy season.

The springs are situated close to the Gondwana Collection’s Etosha King Nehale lodge. The rooms of this up-market lodge radiate from the central area like a cow’s horn to resemble the head of Nguni cattle. Each room has a large window overlooking the expanse of the Andoni Plain and a private splash pool where guests can cool off on a hot day.