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Etosha Safari Tours & Holidays
Etosha National Park is easily Namibia’s premier safari destination. The salt pans can make the landscape feel like a hallucinatory void in the heat of the day, shimmering away into eternity, yet there is magic in the air close to sunset. Luxury lodges and camps surround the park, while busy and well-provisioned camping areas lie scattered from one end of the park to the other.
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Top Rated Operator
14-Day Namibia Flying Safari
$18,723 to $27,520 pp (USD)
Namibia: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Windhoek (Start), N/a'an ku sê (Wildlife Sanctuary), Kulala, Skeleton Coast NP, Kaokoland, Etosha NP, Windhoek (End)
Wayfairer Travel
4.9/5 – 149 Reviews
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Best Seller
14-Day Namibia Breathtaking Adventure Tour
$5,720 to $5,940 pp (USD)
Namibia: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Windhoek (Start), Kalahari Desert, Sossusvlei (Sand Dunes), Namib-Naukluft NP (Namib Desert), Swakopmund (City), Twyfelfontein (Rock Art), Damaraland, Kunene Region, Epupa Falls (Kaokoland), Western Etosha, Etosha NP, Eastern Etosha, Erindi GR, Hosea Kutako Airport (End)
Kubwa Five Safaris
5.0/5 – 122 Reviews
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Best Seller
13-Day Namibia Popular Highlights Self-Drive Safari
$4,610 to $5,205 pp (USD)
Namibia: Self-drive
Mid-range Lodge & HotelYou Visit: Windhoek (Start), Kalahari Region, Namib-Naukluft NP (Namib Desert), Swakopmund (City), Damaraland, Etosha NP, Eastern Etosha, Okonjima NR, Windhoek Airport (End)
Secret Namibia
5.0/5 – 17 Reviews
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15-Day Eco-Friendly Namibian Self-Drive Safari
$3,456 pp (USD)
Namibia: Self-drive
Mid-range Lodge & Guest HouseYou Visit: Windhoek (Start), Sossusvlei (Sand Dunes), Swakopmund (City), Erongo Mountains (Mountain Range), Damaraland, Palmwag Concession (Damaraland), Etosha NP, Eastern Etosha, Windhoek (End)
Viatu
5.0/5 – 42 Reviews
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16-Day Camping Namibia Self Drive Safari
$1,458 to $1,720 pp (USD)
Namibia: Self-driveBudgetCamping & Guest House
You Visit: Windhoek (Start), Kalahari Region, Fish River Canyon (|Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld TP), Aus (Town), Sossusvlei (Sand Dunes), Sesriem Canyon (Highlight), Swakopmund (City), Spitzkoppe (Damaraland), Twyfelfontein (Rock Art), Etosha NP, Waterberg Plateau, Okonjima NR, Windhoek (End)
Great Explorations Namibia
5.0/5 – 46 Reviews
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10-Day Namibia Popular Classic Self-Drive Safari
$1,873 to $2,282 pp (USD)
Namibia: Self-drive
Mid-range Lodge & Guest HouseYou Visit: Windhoek (Start), Otjiwa Game Farm, Etosha NP, Twyfelfontein (Rock Art), Swakopmund (City), Sossusvlei (Sand Dunes), Windhoek (End)
Jangwa Tours and Safaris
5.0/5 – 2 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
5-Day Taste of Etosha
$2,401 to $2,640 pp (USD)
Namibia: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Windhoek (Start), Etosha NP, Eastern Etosha, Windhoek (End)
Nature Travel Namibia
4.9/5 – 156 Reviews
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7-Day Self Drive - Etosha Animal Kingdom
$1,584 to $1,806 pp (USD)
Namibia: Self-drive
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Windhoek (Start), Okonjima NR, Etosha NP, Eastern Etosha, Waterberg Plateau, Windhoek Airport (End)
Desert Africa Safaris
5.0/5 – 17 Reviews
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7-Day Wildlife and Cultural Exchange Tour in Namibia
$4,995 pp (USD)
Namibia: Shared tour (max 10 people per vehicle)
Mid-range Lodge & ChaletYou Visit: Windhoek (Start), Hoba Meteorite (Highlight), Etosha NP, Opuwo (Town), Windhoek (End)
Knap Tours
5.0/5 – 2 Reviews
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7-Day Best of Namibia
$2,635 pp (USD)
Namibia: Shared tour (max 20 people per vehicle)
Mid-range Lodge & HotelYou Visit: Windhoek (Start), Sossusvlei (Sand Dunes), Swakopmund (City), Twyfelfontein (Rock Art), Etosha NP, Windhoek (End)
Africa Zim Travel & Tours
5.0/5 – 118 Reviews
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11-Day Zambezi Guided Group Namibia Safari
$6,481 to $8,005 pp (USD)
Namibia: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Windhoek (Start), Okonjima NR, Etosha NP, Okavango River, Zambezi Region, Mudumu NP (Zambezi Region), Hosea Kutako Airport (End)
Southbound Tours
5.0/5 – 9 Reviews
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7-Day Luxury Namibia Fly-in Safari
$12,843 pp (USD)
Namibia: Private tourLuxury+Lodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Windhoek (Start), Skeleton Coast NP, Damaraland, Eastern Etosha, Windhoek Airport (End)
CrissCross Namibia Safaris
5.0/5 – 59 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
11-Day Best of Namibia Private Guided Tour
$4,308 to $4,450 pp (USD)
Namibia: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & HotelYou Visit: Windhoek (Start), Kalahari Region, Sossusvlei (Sand Dunes), Swakopmund (City), Damaraland, Etosha NP, Eastern Etosha, Windhoek (End)
Discover Africa Safaris
4.9/5 – 420 Reviews
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14-Day Namibia Classic
$3,256 pp (USD)
Namibia: Self-drive
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Windhoek (Start), Auas Game Farm, Waterberg Plateau, Etosha NP, Eastern Etosha, Damaraland, Erongo Mountains (Mountain Range), Swakopmund (City), Namib-Naukluft NP (Namib Desert), Sossusvlei (Sand Dunes), Kalahari Desert, Windhoek (City), Hosea Kutako Airport (End)
Gazzella Tours
5.0/5 – 8 Reviews
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15-Day Zambia and Namibia Camping Safari
$2,281 pp (USD)
Scheduled Start DatesNamibia & Zambia: Shared tour (max 12 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping & Guest House
You Visit: Livingstone (Start), Victoria Falls, Zambezi Region, Rundu (City), Etosha NP, Brandberg Mountain (Rock Art), Spitzkoppe (Damaraland), Swakopmund (City), Namib Desert, Windhoek (End)
Sunway Safaris
4.5/5 – 30 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
19-Day Namibia Self Drive Adventure
$8,691 pp (USD)
Namibia: Self-drive
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Windhoek (Start), Kalahari Region, Fish River Canyon (|Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld TP), Aus (Town), Namib-Naukluft NP (Namib Desert), Swakopmund (City), Damaraland, Etosha NP, Eastern Etosha, Erongo Mountains (Mountain Range), Windhoek Airport (End)
Wayfairer Travel
4.9/5 – 149 Reviews
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10-Day Highlights of Namibia Luxury Self-Drive Safari
$6,685 to $7,101 pp (USD)
Namibia: Self-driveLuxuryLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Windhoek (Start), Kalahari Region, Namib-Naukluft NP (Namib Desert), Swakopmund (City), Damaraland, Etosha NP, Otjiwa Game Farm, Windhoek (End)
Secret Namibia
5.0/5 – 17 Reviews
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14-Day Eco-Luxury Honeymoon in Namibia
$5,213 pp (USD)
Namibia: Self-drive
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Windhoek (Start), Eastern Etosha, Western Etosha, Damaraland, Walvis Bay (City), Namib-Naukluft NP (Namib Desert), Sossusvlei (Sand Dunes), Windhoek (End)
Viatu
5.0/5 – 42 Reviews
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10-Day Guided Tour Exploring Namibia
$4,290 to $4,510 pp (USD)
Namibia: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Guest HouseYou Visit: Windhoek (Start), Okonjima NR, Onguma GR, Etosha NP, Twyfelfontein (Rock Art), Spitzkoppe (Damaraland), Swakopmund (City), Sesriem (Town), Windhoek Airport (End)
Kubwa Five Safaris
5.0/5 – 122 Reviews
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14-Day Highlights of Namibia
$2,793 to $2,963 pp (USD)
Namibia: Self-drive
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Windhoek (Start), Otjiwa Game Farm, Eastern Etosha, Etosha NP, Twyfelfontein (Rock Art), Swakopmund (City), Sossusvlei (Sand Dunes), Windhoek (City), Windhoek Airport (End)
Jangwa Tours and Safaris
5.0/5 – 2 Reviews
8 Questions About Etosha Safaris
Answered by
Anthony Ham
Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the bestselling ‘Botswana & Namibia’ guide.› More about Anthony
8 Questions About Etosha Safaris
When is the best time to visit Etosha?
“An Etosha safari is best enjoyed from July to September, which falls during the Dry season. During these months – when lodges and tented camps are at their most expensive – expect dry conditions, firm ‘road’ surfaces, good concentrations of wildlife and big safari crowds. Etosha safaris in May or June have many of these advantages without the crowds and with lower prices, while October sees animals draw near to waterholes in numbers, but what makes them do so (the extreme heat) also makes it an uncomfortable time to visit. The Wet season, while not as strong as elsewhere in southern Africa, begins in November (which is also when migrating birds begin arriving en masse), but really takes hold in March and April, making it less ideal for Etosha safari trips.”
› More about the best time to visit Etosha 1How big is the pan and can you walk across it?
“Etosha Pan runs for almost 120km/75mi through the park and covers an estimated 4800km²/1853mi². It is dry for most of the year, although it can have some shallow surface water after rain – the high rates of evaporation in these parts ensure that the water rarely remains for long. Left behind are salt deposits (the name Etosha translates as ‘Great White Place’) that shimmer in the heat haze and seem to have no end. We do not recommend walking across the pan. In any case, most of the pan lies within the national park boundaries and any such crossing would be illegal. Also, most of the animals and the best scenery are found along the pan’s southern shore. As you explore the area in a vehicle, you can still get a sense of the beauty and scale of this vast natural feature.”
2Is Etosha good for a self-drive safari?
“Self-drive Etosha safari visitors rave about coming here. A good network of well-maintained trails crosses the park in every direction, and the camping areas are more like not-so-small villages, with a host of organized safari activities, swimming pools, restaurants, grocery stores and more. For some, the ease of reaching Etosha (paved roads connect Etosha to the rest of Namibia) and exploring the park once there means that it is not quite adventurous enough, but such is the appeal of its wildlife and rather special scenery that most are willing to make an exception to their need for hard-core adventure.”
3What animals can I expect to see on safari in Etosha?
“Elephants caked in the Etosha dust are a recurring Etosha image, as is a lion feeding by a waterhole while gazelle, giraffe, gemsbok and zebra watch nervously nearby. There are as many as 500 lions within Etosha, making it Namibia’s primary lion stronghold. Rhinos draw near to the floodlit waterholes alongside the rest camps after dark, while giraffe and wildebeest are also commonly seen – watching the former, legs splayed and drinking warily at a waterhole, is another memorable Etosha image. Two near-endemic species to watch out for are the elegant black-faced impala (only found here and in Angola), and the tiny Damara dik-dik, which mates for life and is never far from its partner. If you’re lucky, you might also encounter the honey badger and bat-eared fox.”
› More about the wildlife of Etosha 4How long is the drive to Etosha?
“It’s around a six-hour drive (435km/270mi) from Windhoek to Etosha along a paved road, although only the most impatient travelers make the journey in one hit – there are so many fine places to stop along the way. If you’re heading east toward the Zambezi Region (formerly Caprivi Strip) or Khaudum National Park, count on a journey of around eight hours, most or perhaps even all of it on reasonable paved roads. If you’re heading west towards Damaraland or Kaokoland, the roads west of Etosha are rarely paved and often in terrible condition, which makes for slow going.”
5What condition are the roads in within the park?
“An Etosha safari may be a staple on the Namibia safari circuit, and the number of vehicles to pass through here is higher than any other Namibian park or reserve, but even so, the roads inside the park are generally well maintained. They’re not paved, but graded regularly and easily navigated in an ordinary 2WD vehicle. This situation may change after the rains, when conditions can become slippery and even downright treacherous, but really heavy rains are rare out here. Beyond the park, roads to many other destinations in the country are paved and well maintained.”
6What types of accommodation are available?
“Most of the luxury accommodation options on Etosha tours are found beyond the park boundaries, particularly to the south and east of the park. These lodges and tented camps are quiet, rarely crowded and well located for launching forays into the park. Etosha safari prices are generally quite expensive, but there are some good budget options as well. Inside the park, everyone should spend at least one night in one of the rest camps, not least because you’ll wake up right on the cusp of prime wildlife-viewing terrain in the heart of the park. Even if the rest of your Namibia tour has been spent in more exclusive surroundings, the rest camps offer the chance to see black rhinos at the floodlit waterholes adjacent to the camps. You can even take a glass of wine to enjoy while you watch one of the great spectacles of Namibia safari lore. The campsites are too closely spaced at some of the rest camps, but there are simple motel-style rooms on offer as well.”
7What lodges or camps would you recommend for an Etosha safari?
“I’ve stayed at many Etosha lodges and camps and don’t really have a favorite. On my Etosha tours, I always try for a mixture of tented camp beyond the park (with the promise of a quieter, more intimate safari experience, and higher levels of comfort) and the good-natured friendliness and utter lack of pretension in the rest camps, which also lie close to some of the best wildlife-viewing locations. Perhaps it’s because I’ve explored many of the more popular areas of Etosha at length, but in recent times I’ve particularly enjoyed the quieter trails out in the west of the park, with Dolomite Camp and Olifantsrus Camp two excellent options.”
8Etosha Safari Reviews
Lizzie is a reputed guidebook writer and author of the Footprint guides to South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Exceptionally good game-viewing in unusual environments
Etosha means ‘Great White Place’ in the Herero language after the giant, parched and dazzlingly white Etosha Pan. I find this the perfect environment for silhouetting the animals – a lone wildebeest or herd of handsome gemsbok can be...
Mike is an award-winning wildlife writer, former editor of Travel Zambia magazine and author of the Bradt Guide to Southern African Wildlife.
White dust and waterholes
Etosha’s harsh landscape is not to everyone’s taste: the wilderness of dusty, rubble-strewn thorn scrub surrounding the vast, featureless salt pan is impressive rather than beautiful. The wildlife, however, is consistently outstanding...
It is breathtaking. Unique and beautiful place.I love everything the wildlife and the nature amazing
Etosha is home to a range of wonderful species, black rhinos, lions and elephants. The reserve is doing a excellent work protecting, rehabilitating the animals. The service was excellent respectful staff. Accommodation was amazing, the...
Just an amazing place teeming with wildlife but you had to make the effort too which added to the fun. Plenty of people but it was so big you never really noticed. Reasonable food, drink and accommodation to be had there too within the park...
Happy to have been. An abundance of animals and viewing spots, barren landscape and bumpy roads.
I visited the Etosha National Park from a campsite outside the main gate. Even before reaching the first Lodge inside the park I had seen two lions. The roads were quite drivable, even in a two wheeled car. There were plenty of watering...
Spectacular and exciting photographic tour site
When I visited Etosha NP in May and June 2017, the weather was beautiful; highs in the mid-70s (F), dry and pleasant, and there had been recent rains which brought the flowers evident in so many of my photographs. The large animals were...