Namibia's Etosha National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa and the best place to spot wildlife. Once the national park was so large that it reached as far as the Skeleton Coast. Today it covers an area of some 20,000 square meters. Although the park has shrunk in size, Namibians can be proud of a game reserve larger than the Serengeti in Tanzania and similar to the Kruger in South Africa.
With as many as 40 waterholes and multiple campsites inside and outside the fences of Etosha National Park, it's natural to wonder where to go. So in this article we are happy to share our best tips for waterholes (no guarantee of spotting wildlife), a handy itinerary through the park and the finest places to stay in the park.
The gates to Etosha National Park in Namibia
There are four gates to Etosha National Park and all four are managed by Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR)..
Galton Gate is the westernmost entrance and is close to Olifantsrus Campsite. The best place to start your journey through Etosha National Park when coming from the Skeleton Coast.
Andersson Gate is the most ideal entrance when traveling to Etosha via Outjo and staying in Okaukuejo.
Van Lindequist Gate lies to the east and is closest to Namutoni in Etosha. The best place to start your trip through Etosha National Park if you are going on safari directly from Windhoek. Or as in our case, the end point of our route through Etosha. From here we traveled on to the Waterberg Plateau.
Nehale Gate lies furthest north and is usually only visited by travelers traveling from the north to Namutoni in Etosha.
The ideal itinerary through Etosha National Park
If you are familiar with our itinerary through Namibia then a visit to Etosha National Park is second to last on the schedule. Andersson Gate in our itinerary is the ideal entrance to start your safari through Etosha. The campsite closest to this is Okaukuejo. The ideal base for the first night in Etosha National Park.
You can choose to spend several nights in one camp in the park, but it's all the more fun to spread your nights over several camps in the park. That way you'll travel on different roads through the park each day and visit multiple waterholes. This increases the chances of spotting game and you also see more of the game reserve.
So the next stop in Etosha National Park where you will stay is Halali. Centrally located in the park and surrounded by the equally stunning waterholes. The last place in the park is Namutoni. By following the route Okaukuejo - Halali - Namutoni (or vice versa) you will see much of the national park.
The image below shows our route through Etosha National Park in which we also marked the most beautiful waterholes.
The most beautiful waterholes in Etosha National Park
Etosha National Park, dominated by the white salt flats of the Etosha Pan, is home to more than 100 mammals. Including four of the Big Five (no buffalo). You will therefore undoubtedly spot animals in the national park, but unfortunately you are never sure to see a lion or leopard. The most beautiful waterholes in the park and the ones where we saw a lot of wildlife are (in order of itinerary Okaukuejo - Halali - Namutoni):
1. Okaukuejo
At Okaukuejo, you can watch animals come and go 24 hours a day at the lighted waterhole at the edge of camp. The waterhole is separated from the camp by a stone wall and a game-proof fence. You can take a seat on one of the benches here. Animals that often come here to drink are elephants and black rhinos, but giraffes, kudu and buck are sure to come here as well. The best time to spot a black rhino at Okaukuejo is during dusk and later in the evening when it is dark.
2. Nebrowni
Nebrowni is a constructed waterhole in a vast plain near Okaukuejo. It was the first stop of our evening safari and here we immediately saw several wild animals. An elephant that stood alone relaxing until a lioness came to drink at the waterhole, followed by a lion. Many bucks and wildebeest stayed well away to watch if the lions moved on to action.
3. Gembok Plain
Not far from the Nebrowni waterhole you will find the Gembok Plain. It is a nice drive through a vast plain to the next waterhole. The waterhole at the Gemboks Plain is a unique place for us in Etosha National Park because here we were able to observe a pride of lions for a long time. Initially we were overjoyed to see one lion and one lioness at Nebrowni, but what luck we had here. On the way back to Okaukuejo, we passed another herd of zebras. This provided a nice picture during sunset.
4. Homob
Homob is a beautiful natural waterhole that you can easily visit on the way from Okaukuejo to Halali. The parking lot is higher than the waterhole which gives you a great view of the pool. Try to be here early in the morning when you have the best chance of spotting animals.
Tip: You can also spot wildlife on the way to a waterhole. For example, we saw a beautiful antelope in the morning light on our way to Homob.
5. Salvadora
When you think of a safari landscape you undoubtedly envision a vast savannah with the iconic acacia tree in front of you. This typical image of safari can be found in the area of Salvadora. The ideal environment for spotting a leopard.
6. Charitraub
A waterhole not often mentioned in articles but recommended is Charitraub. Ideally combined with Salvadora. A natural waterhole where we saw many springbok drinking water. The landscape in the immediate area is different with reddish bushes among dried grasses.
7. Reed Fountain
One of the most famous waterholes in Etosha is Rietfontein. It is a large waterhole located centrally in the park and many animals migrate here. You can regularly see different animals near the waterhole. And don't be surprised if you see animals chasing each other here.
8. Halali - Moringa waterhole
From Halali Campsite, a path leads to Moringa waterhole. Here you can look out from the rocks over the pool surrounded by bushes. Especially at night it is good to watch for movement among the bushes. Perhaps, like us, you might spot a hyena quietly waiting its chance to drink water.
9. Etosha Pan
One of the few places in Etosha National Park where you are allowed to leave your car is at the Etosha Pan Lookout (if you dare). In fact, you can drive onto the salt flats here and stop at the "traffic circle" to enjoy the spectacular view. Because of the lack of water, few if any animals come here. The most special thing about this stop are the mirages you can observe on warm days.
10. Goas
Our absolute favorite watering hole in all of Etosha National Park is Goas. Call it perfect timing but when we drove here there was a huge herd of zebras. And we do mean hundreds of zebras drinking or playing together. Incredibly beautiful to see. One great thing about this waterhole is that there is a path around it. So regardless of whether you come here at sunrise or sunset, you can always stand on the right side of the waterhole relative to the sunlight.
11. Chudob
Another fascinating place where we spent a long time is at waterhole Chudob. Here we saw different animals such as giraffes, antelopes, zebras, elands and elephants. And then especially the elephants caught our attention as they were playing with the water and sand. It is wonderful to observe animals in their natural habitat.
12. Namutomi
As at Okaukuejo and Halali, you will also find a waterhole at Namutomi that you can observe from the campsite. The waterhole here is a lot swampier with lots of reeds. You are therefore more likely to spot different kinds of birds here than wild animals. But this does not mean that they do not come here.
13. Klein Namutomi
Less than a five-minute drive from Namutomi you will find the natural waterhole Little Namutomi. Because of its ideal location, we went here several times to see if there was anything to stay. Only the last time we got lucky when a herd of elephants, from young to old, stood here drinking. How incredibly cool to witness!
On a game drive in Etosha National Park, Namibia
You come to Etosha National Park to see wildlife, nature and beautiful scenery. And the only way to do this is to go on a game drive. Our preference is to drive yourself, but there are also options to go on an organized game drive. One advantage of this is that guides are in contact with each other and keep each other informed of the locations of special animals such as the leopard. Here are some tips for organized game drives in Etosha National Park.
Etosha National Park in Namibia: where is the best place to stay?
What you may have already gathered from the text is that you can choose to stay in or outside Etosha National Park. Personally, we will always recommend staying in the national park because it is a lot more adventurous. You can drive straight into the park at sunrise and at sunset you will also be back in one of the camps in no time. If you stay outside the park, you will have to drive all the way into or out of the park. Etosha is a popular destination among travelers. It is therefore advisable to book your stay well in advance.
Staying in the park
There are six established camps inside the park where you can stay. All six offer options from camping in tents to a luxury stay in a chalet. We stayed at camps Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni which are part of Namibia Wildlife Resorts. All three camps are secured at night and have a waterhole for wildlife spotting. The camp sites, where we stood with our 4×4 jeep, are equipped with a power point, light and there are washrooms nearby. Facilities at the camps include a restaurant, small store, gas station, swimming pool and the possibility of booking an organized safari.
Keep in mind that all camps in Etosha National Park have strict closing times at sunset. Do not arrive late or you risk a fine.
Stays outside the park
Should you wish to stay just outside Etosha National Park, that is of course also possible. You will find several private lodges with a large piece of private land. You can book game drives in which the chance of spotting a leopard, for example, is much greater than in Etosha National Park. Etosha National Park itself.
Note: Different access and closing times do apply for stays outside the national park than if you stay inside the park.
What is the best time to visit Etosha National Park?
You can visit Etosha National Park in Namibia all year round, and the chances of spotting wildlife will be about the same during all months. You will read a lot that the dry season from May to October is the best time to visit the national park. There is undoubtedly a grain of truth in this because during this period the animals move faster to the water holes because of the drought.
But during the wet period, Namibia can also be heartbreakingly dry. A plus of the wet period is that this is the breeding season for most animals. If it does rain a lot, this can affect the quality of the roads in the park. Driving around in a 4WD is therefore always recommended, especially since the roads are largely unpaved.
Helpful tips for visiting Etosha National Park in Namibia
There are some helpful tips we'd like to share with you before you visit Namibia's largest game reserve:
Take your time. If Etosha is the only place on your itinerary through Namibia where you can spot wildlife, make sure you have enough time to see wildlife. The chances of spotting all the wildlife in one day are not that great.
Make sure you are on safari when the animals are active. In the hours after sunrise and before sunset the animals are most active. If you are on safari then you are most likely to see them. Around noon it is almost the quietest.
Make inquiries at the front desk. Perhaps you haven't thought of this, but before you go on safari, stop by the reception desk. Ask where the guides have seen lions, elephants or leopards. This will increase your chances of ticking off the wildlife on your bucket list.
Drive slowly. The speed limit in the park is 60 kilometers per hour, but even this seems too fast in the park. During a self drive you will soon find out that on average you are driving rather 30 kilometers per hour because of observing everything around you.
Take a detour. Upon arrival in Etosha National Park, you will be given a map showing the roads, camps and waterholes. On this you will also see several routes on which a detour is designated. Often these trails are unpaved but are the most beautiful to drive.
Don't underestimate the distances. On the map everything seems close, but since you won't be driving much faster than 30-40 kilometers per hour it will take longer than you are used to getting to places. Give yourself enough room to drive back to the camps, especially in the evening when you need to be in on time.
Photograph with a telephoto lens. Nothing is more fun than capturing all the animals you see during safari. And this is really only best done with a camera with a considerable zoom. On safari I always use my Tamron telephoto lens with a zoom up to 300, but I'm considering using even a bigger zoom next time on safari!
Bring binoculars. No animals at a watering hole? Don't drive off right away and scour the bushes with your binoculars. Who knows, there may be a wild animal lurking in the shadows.
Don't forget the smaller animals. Full of expectations, most travelers come to Etosha. Seeing a lion, leopard and rhino are often at the top of the list. Very logical because they are also beautiful animals, but also enjoy the smaller animals around you. Such as the many magnificent bucks, squirrels at the campsite, herds of wildebeest and zebra, and the many birds twittering merrily.
Plastic bags are prohibited. Of course, the welfare of the animals in Etosha is extremely important. It is therefore strictly forbidden to bring plastic bags.
Navigate with maps.me's offline maps. Upon arrival in Namibia, we bought a sim card with internet and calling minutes at the airport. Keep in mind that there is hardly any coverage in the park. Navigating is therefore recommended with the offline maps from maps.me.
Take a tour of Namibia
Do you want to take a trip through Namibia, but aren't quite sure how to go about it? And maybe you're not sure about the itinerary and destinations yet? We will help you get started. During a 1-on-1 video interview we will map your wishes and advise you on the most beautiful places that suit you. Would you rather leave it all up to us? No problem! We organize your trip completely customized. Ask for a travel proposal for your vacation to Namibia.
