Etosha National Park – Travel Guide
Etosha National Park, located in Namibia, is a breathtaking wildlife sanctuary renowned for its vast salt pans and diverse ecosystems. Spanning over 7,500 square miles, the park is home to an impressive array of wildlife, including elephants, lions, and endangered black rhinos. Visitors can explore the park’s numerous waterholes, where animals gather, providing excellent opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography. The stunning landscapes, from arid plains to lush vegetation, create a captivating backdrop for adventure. With various accommodations and guided experiences available, Etosha National Park promises an unforgettable journey into the heart of Africa’s natural beauty.
All about Etosha National Park
Getting around Etosha National Park
By Self Driving
Inside the park, driving and navigating is straightforward. There’s only one main route across the park which has apparent detours and side roads to various waterholes and viewpoints. It’s very hard to get lost, and you are likely to find everything you came to see.
Etosha National Park is well suited for self-drive. Well-maintained, and well-mapped out roads in the park mean it is possible, and popular, to explore Etosha independently. While the roads are gravel, 4x4s are not strictly necessary, although the higher clearance can make for easier wildlife viewing. Off-road driving is strictly prohibited in Etosha, so a 4WD is not necessary. Guidelines on how to approach wildlife safely, and maps of the park’s road network are provided to self-drivers.
Apart from a couple of roads near the entrances, the vast majority of the driving in Etosha is on gravel tracks. Most are relatively straightforward and easy to drive on but some can become rutted, making journeys a bit slower (and a lot bouncier). During the rains, mud can cause road closures.
Keep a slow pace. The speed limit is 37 mi/h and this is achievable on many of the roads. But game viewing is not about speeding along and potentially missing incredible things. Take your time and travel at something closer to 25 mi/h – and you will find it much easier to spot game.
Distance
The park is big and the distances are large. It takes 4 hours to drive from Dolomite Camp to Okaukuejo Camp (without stopping to watch game at all).
Another 1 hour, 30 minutes to get to Halali and 1 hour, 30 minutes more to get to Namutoni. Make sure you don’t have to drive too far, there is nothing worse than having to rush past a great viewing opportunity because you have a long way to your camp or exit gate.
Fuel
Inside the park, fuel is only available at three places: Okaukuejo, Namutoni and Halaliand – and sometimes they run out. So never let your gas tank get too low. We recommend filling up whenever you pass a station.
The Out of Park Experience
Outside the parks, there are private reserves, which neighbor the National Park. It is the same area, same views, just outside the official border of the park. These reserves are home to generally smaller camps, from campsites to luxury lodges and offer a more refined safari experience. They also have private waterholes on-site.
The rules are different between the reserves and the park. In Etosha, you can’t drive in the park after 5:30 pm, and you can’t leave your vehicle at any point. In the reserves, you can stay for sundown, do walking activities and night drives.
Etosha National Park FAQ
What is special about Etosha National Park?
This park is enormous in size and is acclaimed as being one of the best wildlife spotting areas in Southern Africa. One of the best things about Etosha National Park is that if your intention of a safari is to spot the Big Five, then you will be able to see four of the five here. It’s just the water buffalo you won’t see but it’s very common to spot elephants, lions, leopards and rhino.
The park is set in a desert. This desert is an ancient evaporated lake which dried up millions of years ago. It’ll become apparent quite quickly that the landscape in and around Etosha can only be described as barren. The land is scattered with thorny shrubs, salt pans, sandy slopes, and mud flats. Because of this, it makes it so easy to spot animals. The low foliage means the animals can’t camouflage themselves as much and the watering holes can make for a great concentrated area to spot wildlife.
Why should I visit Etosha National Park?
The top reason to visit Etosha National Park is for the varied concentration of wildlife in the area and the enormous size of the park. This is what makes Etosha so very different from other game reserves in Southern Africa.
If you love camping, then Etosha National Park is a great location as campsites are fenced off within the park boundaries and they’re a great place to stay to spot the incredible wildlife which is within a few feet away from you. The lack of light pollution also means that stargazing is amazing as well.
How do I get to Etosha National Park?
Etosha is situated in the north of Namibia, close to the Angolan border with the nearest towns being Grootfontein, Ondangwa and Tsumeb, these all have ATMs as well as supermarkets and shops to stock up on snacks.
If you’re on a Namibia road trip, you’ll be driving from the south, via the town of Outjo, which is about 62 miles from the entrance of the park.
Arriving in Etosha can depend upon where you’ll arrive from as there are four entrances; King Nehale gate in the North, The Anderson Gate in the South, the von Lindequist Gate in the EAst and Galton Gate in the western end of the park.
The easiest way to reach Etosha National Park, is by renting a 4×4 vehicle on your arrival at the main airport, Hosea Kutako, situated 25 miles from Windhoek, Namibia’s capital.
Between the airport and Etosha National Park, the distance is around 271 miles, taking around six hours to drive to arrive at the Anderson’s Gate entrance where you can easily access the Okaukuejo camp.
Many travelers choose to incorporate Namibia as part of a self-drive road trip so would be arriving from Swakopmund or Damaraland which would take an hour or two less than coming from the airport of Windhoek directly.
If self-driving is not for you, you can of course take a tour from the capital, either straight to Etosha or to a number of locations.
How long should I stay in Etosha?
Visiting Etosha is a pretty unique experience and with that comes a whole different way of being prepared.
It’s good to note that there can be huge variables in temperature, possibly cold and crisp in the mornings to very warm and bright from midday. Being prepared for all situations is key to being comfortable and enjoying your time.
There are no shopping facilities at all within the park. Here are a few essentials you’ll want to have:
-Sunscreen, sunhat, sunglasses
-Toilet paper, wet wipes (biodegradable preferable)
-Stong insect repellent and anti-malarial
-Headlamp, binoculars
-Good camera equipment preferably with a 200-500 mm zoom lens and a good camera bag
-Neutral-colored clothing, in layers to blend in with the surroundings
-Food and water
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How much does it cost to enter Etosha National Park?
If you are self-driving in Etosha National Park, you will have to pay both visitor an vehicle fees.
If you are visiting as part of a group tour or are on a game drive for the lodges, this fee will already have been covered.
It costs around $80 NAD ($4 USD) per person per day to enter and experience Etosha National Park. The vehicle charge is around $10 NAD ($0.50 USD) per vehicle per day. Just to note the park can only be accessed between sunrise and sunset hours.
When is the best time to visit?
Visiting Etosha National Park at the right time is essential for the opportunity to spot wildlife at its most prevalent. The best time for this would therefore be the cold and dry season.
During the months between May to August, you will certainly find a substantial amount of animals gathering at many of the 40-plus water holes present in the park.
The hot dry season, from August to September, is also a great time to visit. However, you’ll want to get out for your game drives to early morning as the temperatures do rise fast and to quite unbearable levels.
Visiting Etosha in September is when the hot and wet season will start and you may get the odd shower which can affect birdwatching but a lot of wildlife can still be spotted around water holes.
One of the best times to visit Etosha is early October when there are virtually no crowds. You may get the odd rain shower during the night but early game drives from 8am – 12pm are great for seeing an absolute abundance of animals.
Keep in mind that high season will often mean that accommodations such as campsites in the park are fully booked as many of the beautiful lodge locations in close proximity of the park. Make reservations as early as possible.
What are some tips I should know for spotting Wildlife in Etosha National Park?
of the kosks at the park or even the accommodations where you’re based.
Maps are a great resource for help to find things accurately and also will identify where the 40-plus waterholes are located, and where most animals will congregate.
If you won’t be doing a guided safari then ensure you consult a good illustrated wildlife book to help you identify some of the wildlife.
The best place to spot animals are the waterholes but so is looking under trees as many animals during the midday sun will be sheltering from the heat under here.
You will need to be super patient when scoping out animals. Be quiet and drive slowly.
Should I take an organized tour?
Organized tours can be a convenient way of visiting Etosha. If you don’t have your own car, this is a great way to go and many options range from half-day trips to multi-day excursions.
What are some tips for self driving?
Etosha is well suited for self-drive. Apart from a couple of roads near the entrances, the vast majority of the driving in Etosha is on gravel tracks. Most are relatively straightforward and easy to drive on but some can become rutted, making journeys a bit slower (and a lot bouncier). During the rains, mud can cause road closures.
A 4×4 is not necessary, but it is recommended to use a vehicle with higher clearance for better viewing and to make driving a bit more comfortable on bouncy gravel roads. Off-road driving is strictly prohibited in Etosha, so 4-wheel drive is not necessary.
However, if you intend to include Etosha on a road trip to Namibia then it is highly recommended to have a 4×4.
What is the layout of Etosha National Park and where are the entrance gates?
Etosha National Park covers over 8,494 miles. A majority of the park’s camps, lodges and watering holes lie on the eastern part of the park, below the vast Etosha Pan.
The entire western part of the park is remote and seldom-visited. Access used to be blocked off and restricted to those staying in the Dolomite Camp, but it has since been open to the public.
The park has four entrance gates. Coming from the north is the Nehale ly Mpingana Gate. On the east side, near Tsumeb, lies the Von Lindequist Gate. It is the most popular among visitors.
The Anderson Gate is located just south of Okaukuejo. If you’re traveling to or from Sossusvlei or the Skeleton Coast, it is the gate that you’ll probably use.
And on the far western side of the park lies the Galton Gate. It is the most seldom used of Etosha’s Gates, though it is no longer restricted.
What is the best time of day to go gaming?
In almost all safari parks the best time for gaming is the early morning. The temperatures are cooler and lions and leopards (the have been hunting at night) are still on the prowl or eating their kill. Etosho is no different, so enter the park when it opens at sunrise.
The evening is also a great time to see the animals that come out from the shade to feed on the open plains or to grab a drink at the watering holes.
In the dry season, Etosha National Park has excellent viewing in the heart of the day – thanks to the several watering holes. Vast herds of zebra, springbok, impala and oryx are joined by ostriches, giraffes and elephants trying to cool down and quench their thirst. You can simply drive to a waterhole, sit there, and watch the array of animals make their way to and from the waterholes.
In saying this, Etosha National Park is truly an all-day experience (especially in the dry season).
What is the best location to see game?
Etosha National Park is enormous and the animals roam all over, so if you want great game-viewing experiences on your safari. Typically, the best opportunity to see great wildlife will be at the waterholes. The best waterholes for great views of game in the middle of the day are Ozonjuitji m’Bari, Okaukuejo, Chudob, Groot Okevi, Ombika, Gemsbokvlakte, Charitsaub, Rietfontein and Sonderkop. You will not only see herds of antelope but giraffe, rhino and elephants are regular visitors too.
Top Attractions
Etosha Pan
Marvel at this vast, shimmering salt pan, a striking feature of the park that attracts diverse wildlife and offers stunning vistas.
Okaukuejo Waterhole
Visit the popular Okaukuejo waterhole, known for its excellent wildlife sightings, especially at night when animals gather to drink.
Halali Waterhole
Experience the vibrant wildlife activity at Halali Waterhole, where you can observe elephants, giraffes, and various bird species in their natural habitat.
Namutoni Fort
Explore the historic Namutoni German fort, which now serves as a lodge and offers a unique perspective on the park’s history and wildlife.
Unique Experiences
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Embark on a guided game drive in Etosha National Park, where you’ll traverse diverse landscapes while spotting iconic wildlife. Knowledgeable guides enhance your experience with insights into animal behavior and the park’s unique ecosystems.
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Experience a night safari in Etosha, where you’ll venture into the park after dark to witness nocturnal wildlife. This thrilling adventure offers a different perspective on the park’s inhabitants and their nighttime activities.
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Participate in a cultural village visit near Etosha, where you’ll engage with local communities and learn about their traditions and lifestyles. Enjoy authentic performances and traditional cuisine, gaining insight into the rich cultural heritage of Namibia.
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Join a scenic hot air balloon ride over Etosha National Park, providing breathtaking aerial views of the landscapes and wildlife below. This unforgettable experience allows for stunning photography and a unique perspective on the park.
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Savor a culinary experience featuring traditional Namibian dishes, where you can taste local flavors and ingredients. This immersive dining experience highlights the region’s culinary diversity, offering a delicious way to connect with the local culture.
What to expect while traveling
