Where to stay in Etosha
Etosha National Park in northern Namibia is built around a vast salt pan, with waterholes along its southern edge where animals gather in the dry season. You can stay inside the park in the government rest camps, which have floodlit waterholes, or just outside the gates in private lodges that often have better comforts.
Okaukuejo (inside the park)
Okaukuejo, near the southern Anderson Gate, is the park's best-known rest camp. Its floodlit waterhole is one of the best places in Africa to watch elephants, rhinos and lions come to drink at night. Rooms and campsites are simple, but you stay inside the park.
Halali and Namutoni (inside the park)
Halali, in the middle of the park, has its own floodlit waterhole, Moringa. Namutoni, in the east, is a former German fort near the Von Lindequist Gate, close to waterholes such as Chudop and Klein Namutoni. Staying in two camps lets you see more of the park.
Outside Anderson Gate
Several private lodges and reserves near Anderson Gate and the town of Outjo offer more comfortable rooms, good food and guided drives. You must be back outside the gate by sunset, but you can enter the park at sunrise for the best game viewing.
Outside Von Lindequist Gate (east)
Lodges near the eastern gate, including the private Onguma reserve, are close to the Namutoni area and the Fischer's Pan waterholes. They offer comfort and wildlife on their own land, with a short drive into the park.
One thing to think about
Park gates open at sunrise and close at sunset, and you must be inside a camp or outside the park by then, so plan drives carefully. Distances inside the park are long and roads are gravel, so do not try to cover the whole park in one day.
Once you have a bed
The things that sell out first in Etosha are the small-group tours and the skip-the-line tickets.
Common questions
Is Etosha good for self-drive safaris?
Yes. Etosha is one of the easiest parks in Africa to explore by car. The main gravel roads are suitable for a normal car in the dry season, the waterholes are signposted, and you can simply park and wait for animals to come. Drive slowly and stay in your vehicle.
When is the best time to see animals in Etosha?
The dry season, from about June to October, is best, as animals gather at the waterholes and vegetation is thinner. The wet season, from about November to April, is greener and good for birds and newborn animals, but wildlife spreads out and is harder to find.
Do I need to book Etosha rest camps in advance?
Yes, especially in the dry season and during holidays. The rest camps inside the park are popular and limited in size. Lodges outside the gates also fill up. Book early, and make sure your route lets you reach each camp before the gates close.
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