Etosha National Park Travel Guide

Dominated by the desert-like Etosha Pan of northern Namibia, towards the Angolan border, this famous national park provides a stark and captivating setting for watching its high concentration of African wildlife. The action-packed wildlife show of Etosha Park boasts a dazzling cast that counts the endangered black rhino and black-faced impala in its number of 114 mammal species.

In Etosha, visitors will see big game wandering along the fringes of the vast white-sand pan and emerging from the mirages to roam across the open plains. The easiest way to spot an assortment of game is to stay put at one of the many watering holes that dot the bush, south of the dusty pan. Out here in the harsh environment of Etosha, the dramatic battle for survival plays itself out as hyena, lion, cheetah, jackal and other hunters compete for prey. The smorgasbord of fair game for hungry predators includes zebra, giraffe and a varied selection of antelope, such as gemsbok, eland, kudu, roan, red hartebeest and blue wildebeest.

Exploring Etosha – Inside the Park

Etosha game drives mostly explore the open grasslands and plains along the southern edges of the inhospitable Etosha Pan from Namutoni in the east to Okaukuejo in the west. The rolling hills in the western part of the park, lying further from Etosha Pan, offer a slightly different game-viewing experience to the barren pans.

Oliphantsbad (Afrikaans for elephant's bath) in the southern part of the park, closest to Okaukuejo Rest Camp, is known as a good place for sighting elephant. Okaukuejo itself has a reputation for being the best place to watch rhino at the camp's watering hole after dark, as well as being a good spot for seeing a variety of large game throughout the day. Halali's waterhole, mid-way between Namutoni and Okaukuejo, is known for its frequent leopard sightings at night, along with good lion and rhino sightings. The newest of the camps, Dolomite, sits in the previously-restricted western part of Etosha, where high concentrations of wildlife roam.

Staying in Etosha Park

The main camps are well maintained and feature a variety of amenities and accommodation options catering for low-to-moderate budgets, from basic camping to luxury chalets. The three older rest camps each have a floodlit watering hole for spotting nocturnal wildlife and birds. The main public camps are Namutoni, Halali, Okaukuejo, and the newer, more exclusive Onkoshi Camp, on the edge of Etosha Pan, and Dolomite Camp, tucked away in the west. The main camps feature restaurants and bars, fuelling stations, shops and swimming pools.

Getting there

The drive between Etosha and Windhoek takes about six hours on a well-maintained tar road. There is no public transport to and from, or within the national park; you can either travel with a tour company or embark on a self-drive safari from Windhoek.

Etosha is one of Africa's most accessible game parks as it is easy to reach and explore in a sedan (2WD) vehicle. The park can be accessed via four main gates

• Anderson in the south,
• Galton in the west,
• Von Lindequist on the eastern side and
• Nehale lya Mpingana (King Nehale) gate on the northern border.

When travelling to Galton gate, arrive before 13h00 if you're heading further than Dolomite Camp. If passing through King Nehale gate, check that it will be open at your time of travel.