One of Africa’s biggest national parks is full of big game and a big salt pan you can see from space.
It was still about an hour ’s drive fromEtosha National Park ’s Anderson Gate when the local cellular web started to turn out out .
By now though , after several mean solar day and more than a few hundred km self - driving through Namibia ’s huge and sparsely populated landscapes , we knew the drill . With some of the first earth - gazump rains of the season on the horizon , we ’d have to rely on the blue dot of the Google Maps path for the next 250 or so kilometre .
gratefully , for a country 1.2 times the size of it of Texas with less than one tenth the universe , Namibia ’s roads and highway are generally well - marked ( whether they ’re paved or not is another question ) . On this fussy mean solar day , we also had one natural landmark intimately always in lot to channelize us : the Etosha Pan , an ancient , dry out lake bed that ’s now a common salt genus Pan so vast , it can be run across from space . At times you ca n’t discern where the horizon end and the sky start .
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The table salt pan appears like a mesmerizing , shifting mirage of gray - greens and calcareous White against various hues of blue sky . Bone juiceless much of the year , the Etosha Pan has a cracked , crusted topsoil so piquant that nothing grows on or survive within it . ( Although plenty of agile wildlife — include wildebeest , cheetah mothers with sonny , and all sorts of antelope — head out onto the goat god to take safety from predators , such as lions and hyaena , we chop-chop learned . )
No sooner had we pay our Mungo Park fees , purchased an prescribed single-valued function and visitant ’s guide ( $ 4 US ) , and gotten back on track with our grim dot path than a elan of zebras traversed the route simple yard in front of us . With nary another vehicle in sight , it was almost as if they were here to say , “ Welcome to Etosha . ”
The zebra were the first of scores of species we ’d encounter casually crossing the park ’s route in the next few day , including towers of Giraffa camelopardalis and even a herd of elephants , who had a raucous skillful metre slop about in a roadside mud pit freshen from the recent rains . Even that is just a sampling of the enormous total of wildlife that die hard amuck in one of the large national commons in Africa .
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Here ’s how to start plot your safari through Etosha National Park , where the herd of brute wait .
Marvel at the enormous amount of wildlife
Naturally , the primary draw to visiting this home common is wildlife look at . Whether you stretch your dollar bill via self - driving and camping or splurge on lavishness lodges , a safari in Etosha is importantly more affordable than some of Africa ’s other well - known national parking lot — such as the Serengeti in Tanzania , the Masai Mara in Kenya , and Kruger in South Africa . And yet , Etosha is larger than all three .
At 8,598 square miles , it ’s one of the biggest national parks in Africa . To give a sense of it , the commons is around two - and - a - half times the size of Yellowstone , and includes wide-ranging terrain , include grassland , woodland , tree and shrub savannahs , and abundant watering hollow sprinkled about for the wildlife . On top of that size — and perhaps because of it — Etosha has one of the largest populations of big secret plan animals in the world .
The park is rest home to some 114 large and little mammal metal money . This includes elephant , giraffe , black and white rhino , lions , leopard , cheetahs , zebras , and wildebeest . You ’ll also see many varieties of antelope , include the southerly pasang , the rare inglorious - faced impala , and the mankind ’s smallest antelope , the shy dik - diks . Plus the park has more than 340 bird coinage and reptiles both ready to strike ( snake and Scorpio ) and strikingly beautiful ( the leopard tortoise ) .
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Keep an eye on the dry season—or really any time of year
The wintertime time of year in the southerly cerebral hemisphere — May through October — is the peak season to visit Etosha , as atmospheric condition conditions are generally warm , but also ironical and soft . The hotter , rainier summer season goes from November through April .
That being read , there are perks to chitchat Etosha any meter of yr . November and December are some of the most prolific calendar month for newborns to arrive , which coincides with the return of summer rainfall that , in bend , bring unused , green life to all of the park ’s flora . Even when temps go up into the ninety on the hottest summer daytime , evenings cool off to the sixty , which wee-wee for well-situated sleeping .
DIY in a rooftop camper
Unless you fly into a regional aerodrome or private landing strip near the green and coiffe for a land transfer to one of the more luxe camps and lodges , visiting Etosha requires renting a fomite ( preferably with four - wheel drive ) upon arriving at the independent international aerodrome outside Windhoek or elsewhere in the country .
So why not make the elevator car lease part of the adventure ? One of the most popular — and immersive — ways to research Etosha National Park over three to seven days is to pull a 4x4 fomite outfitted with a pop - up rooftop camper collapsible shelter , along the lines of oblation fromAfriCamperorNamiba2Go .
These vehicles come equipped with a large ice chest box , a fold table with chair , and some cooking essential . Always triple - check precisely what ’s let in with the letting before confirm the reservation — a stop atSafariDen , Namibia ’s reading of REI , will fill in the blank withwhatever else you might realize you need or forgot to pack .
Etosha hassix primary campswithin park delimitation , each of which have campsites that come with barbecues and fervour pit and have dedicated bathroom / exhibitioner adeptness . Campsites can bereserved onlinevia the national ballpark directly , although familiarize yourself with amap of Etoshabefore submitting a engagement request — there ’s a immense distance between Dolomite and Olifantsrus camps in the west and Namutoni and Onkoshi camps in the Orient . ( Park - negociate bush chalets and modest double room can be hold at once through the reserve portal , as well . )
One drawback to rough out it is there ’s little respite from the noonday sun and the element generally — plus the fact that camping requires more day - to - day project , from cooking meals and hired hand - washing stunner to packing up the website each Clarence Day before heading off on your next self - ram safari adventure . That being say , this style of pop - up camping is a nature and wildlife lover ’s dream vacation for a lot of visitors . It ’s also quite usual to mate a few 24-hour interval camping with a few days at a luxury collapsible shelter camp or lodge , as they ’re completely different — and worthwhile — experience .
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Check in at luxurious lodges
For anyone craving a few more comforts while on holiday , the bivouac camps and Sir Oliver Lodge around Etosha are the direction to go . These typically let in private ensuite bathrooms , perhaps an outside shower , comfy bottom draped with mosquito gauze , fans and air - conditioning , chilled drinking weewee , a chance to skip on wifi , daily housework , and chef - prepared meal . Plus , you may directly book secret plan drives in candid - air safari vehicle , led by professional template who often have tips on where certain coinage have recently been recognise .
Tented camps are largely clustered near the Anderson Gate ( the southern entrance ) and the Von Lindequist Gate ( the eastern entrance ) . You could opt for the class - friendlyMushara Bush Campor the chic babe propertyMushara Outpost .
If you want classic safari - manner , go withOnguma Tented Camp , where just seven tented rooms encircle an active watering hole in theOnguma Nature Reserve . Onguma also has a family - friendlyBush Camp , a duo of encampment site , and two binge - worthy lodges .
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Adjacent to the Anderson Gate , Ongava Game Reservefeatures a family - friendly camp , a luxe tented camp , an all - retinue option , andOngava Lodge . This inn is one of the most iconic in Etosha , which has its own watering golf hole and a hide from which to view the action up close .
Generally speaking , nightly rates for tented ingroup and lodges change quite a snatch , count on the expressive style of the camp / lodge , the fourth dimension of class , as well as which package you go with . You could reserve the DBB charge per unit ( dinner , bottom , and breakfast ) or the all - inclusive rate , which typically includes doubly - daily game drives , as well as all meal and beverages , including beer , wine , and look .
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Ready to hit the park? Check out our tool kit to get started:
AfriCamper.com
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Onguma Safari Camps
The Mushara Collection Namibia
