Historically Otjiwarongo has been the place of the /Geiodaman clan as history reflects that they lived there from as early as 1390 (provide source). At that time it also went by the name #Khanubes. It is also one of the places in Namibia where there has been a bloody war fought between the Hereros and the Germans in 1904 where many Herero people died. The building of the narrow gauge railway from Swakopmund through Otjwarongo to Otavi copper mine around that time was one of the factors that contributed to Otjwarongo becoming a prosperous agricultural centre.
In terms of mining the B2Gold mine, an open pit mine has been established in 2014 about 70km toward Otjiwarongo and 40km toward Otavi. The Okurusu Fluorspar mine is about 40 km from the town has remained under care and maintenance since 2015. The main tourism attraction is its proximity to the Waterberg Plateau Park managed by the Namibia Wildlife Resorts and situated about south east of the town. Otjiwarongo is also the home to the Cheetah Conservation Fund an internationally recognized organisation dedicated to ensuring long-term survival and sustainability of the cheetah population through research, conservation and education. About 5 km form the town you also find Okonjima the home of the Africat Foundation a cheetah and leopard rehabilitation centre.
The Crocodile ranch in the centre of Otjiwarongo town is one of the few captive breeding programs for the Nile Crocodile that has been registered with CITES.