Etosha National Park Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Etosha National Park is the largest of Namibia's game reserves. It spans 20,000km² in Northern Namibia. Wildlife that can be seen here include: Rhinos, Lions, Zebra, Gemsbok, Springbok, Wildebeest, Elephants, and Jackals. The park surrounds the Etosha salt pan, which attracts animals, particularly in the drier winter months, because it is a source of water in a very dry land.
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Understand
All facilities inside the park are run by Namibia Wildlife Resorts, a company owned by the Namibian Government. Their web site has contact information so you can call to make reservations or find out more information: Namibia Wildlife Resorts
History
Landscape
Flora and fauna
Climate
Get in
To visit Etosha, one needs a vehicle. Visitors are not permitted to wander around the park (except in the enclosed camping/hotel areas) on foot. The B1 (from either Oshakati or Tsumeb) brings you to the park's eastern gate at Namutoni. The C38, from Outjo bring you to the park's southern gate.
There are also several safari companies operating from Windhoek and Swakopmund which offer tours of varying length in Etosha. Safari companies are also allowed to enter the western part of the park which is closed to private visitors.
Fees/Permits
Get around
As mentioned above, you need a vehicle to get around the park. The roads are all well-graded gravel, so there is no need to have a four-wheel drive. Since the dust generated by traffic is damaging to the environment, the speed limit is quite low.
See
- Animals! Throughout the park, particularly at watering holes, of which there are many.
- Rest Camp watering holes At all three rest camps, there is are watering holes just outside the perimeter fence. At night they are lit with flood lights and visitors can sit and watch as the animals come down to drink, flirt and occasionally fight well into the night. They are ideal places to wander down to with a sundowner after getting back from a days game spotting.
Visitors are not allowed out of the rest camps after sunset so the waters holes can provide the opportunity to continue watching the animals after dark.
- see also guide to African flora and fauna
Buy
Eat
Drink
Sleep
There are three designated rest camps for visitors. They are enclosed by walls and fences, so there is no need to worry about being mauled by a lion in your sleep. All three having camping and more permanent accomodation, petrol stations, pools and shops for those things you forgot.
- Namutoni At the east gate of the park. This is on the site of an old German fort which was burned down many years ago in a raid by the Ovambo people from the north. Today the fort is a hotel. There is also a shop where you can buy food and basic supplies.
- Halali South of the pan and situated about half way between the other two rest camps. This has the most impressive floodlit water hole with a viewing platform - you can walk down after setting up camp and sit here at sunset, drink a sundowner and watch the animals come down to drink.
- Okaukuejo At the south entrance to the park. There are small huts available, as well as a restaurant and pool.
Stay safe
Stay in your car; wild animals can be dangerous. There are plenty of pinic spots around the park where one can alight from your vehicle, but these are not all fenced so be on the lookout for animals.
Etosha is in the malaria zone, so take appropriate precautions.
Get out
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