Etosha National Park

Don't expect too many animals during the wet season

In general, Etosha seems to be a great park to go to. The facilities were good, camping was fun and the scenery is just lovely. As we went there in the wet season of February, Etosha was very green, with plenty of water everywhere, so finding animals was very hard, even for our nice and very experienced guides. We did end up with a few sightings though, highlighted by a young leopard, who was drinking some water in the middle of the road. We saw plenty of giraffes, ostriches and springbok, but the rhinos were unfortunately hiding! It was fun to spot birds and also smaller animals like honey badgers, even though hard when the car was moving. I can definitely recommend going there, but would personally try again in dry season!

Many sightings of animals (sadly no leopard although we did see black rhino)

A multiday adventure in Namibia

When visiting Etosha, try to plan your stay for several days. the park has multiple camps (with bungalows and tent places) from where you can discover the wild life of Etosha.

The Etosha N.P. has several waterholes which, during drought, are roamed by zebra's, giraffes, lions, rhino buffalo, leopards and so on. All these waterholes are near the roads making this is almost a guarantee to see a great variety of animals.

I was in Etosha for 4 days and stayed for the first days at the Okaukuejo camp. On the campsite is a large swimming pool and small stores where you can buy food, drinks and books about the park and animal recognition.
During the day I joined various safari's where you follow the dirt road at slow pace and hold at every waterhole.
This campsite also has its own waterhole. My advice is to visit it after sunset. Its easily accessible and the spectator area is on a rocky hill giving a beautiful overview of the waterhole and area.
This was our first encounter with a leopards who came for a drink.

My second destination was the Halali-camp which also has its own large waterhole. During the day I (obviously) went on safari where we found a pride of Lions. In the evening we went on a 3
5-hour night safari where you go off the road with jeeps and red flashlights.

Overall I enjoyed my stay and will go there again in the future.

Fine park must see!!!

We went in the wet season and there were less big animals, I think it’s better in the dry season because they have to come to the water holes.

Best place on earth to see black rhinos. Okaukuejo waterhole is the best waterhole on earth (saw 3 of 5 big 5, lion, black rhino and elephant). Clear routes. Depends on the time you drive, is hardly to see good sightings. Possibility to see rare sightings like Rock Monitor Lizard.

At the waterholes in particular we had some great animal viewing.

We very much enjoyed our time in Etosha National Park. The park was easy to get around in, and the people we met were kind and courteous. Animal viewing was terrific. Although we didn't see the numbers of animals we've seen elsewhere in Africa, the dry climate and associated waterholes made for some great, concentrated sightings, with some unique poses. We highly recommend this park as an animal viewing destination.

Amazing

I went to Etosha for a week, and i have to say it has been awesome ! In just five days I had the chance to see 11 lions, a cheetah (with is usually rare in the area), Rhinos, and other wildlife... I was expecting that much.
the scenery was great, though the disappointing part, is that Etosha in July, August is so dry and deserted. The weather was fine, and the accommodation far beyond my expectations. Food is difficult to find in camps.

The heart of the Namibian wildlife

The park lies in a large endorheic salt pan, forming part of the Kalahari Basin in the north of Namibia. The park thus has a unique combination of landscapes (spanning from waterholes to stretches of salt) and wildlife, in particular elephants, lions, zebras and birds. The park is very wide, as compared to other parks in countries like Botswana, so, in order to spot wildlife rangers often needs to communicate via radio devices.
The weather in winter (July-August) is relatively dry and days are mostly sunny.
Regarding the accomodations there are a few options just outside of the park, which are comfortable, cosy and often green. Inside the park, lodges put you very close to waterholes, where you can easily watch animals assembling.

Incredible experience

We went to Etosha using our car rental during 2 days. It was our first safari and i have to say it was amazing. From the entrance of the park until the last meters we literally felt like on another planet.
Imagine after 30 seconds in the park you see an elephant quietly walking along the road. This elephant is being looked at by 2 giraffes who seem to be waiting for you to move along.
The following hours were then exceptional. Srpingbocks, rhinos, gembocks, hyena, more elephants, more giraffes. We could barely ask for more.
We followed the main road for the first day and did a bit of side roads on day 2. Main roads are fine, used by most vehicles. Side roads were clearly more challinging, especially "Eland drive" with holes as tall as the 4x4.
Overall, Erosha was totally worth it and I would go back any time.

Etosha is a huge safari park. Each game drive here is unique. You'll see a lot of animals, but it will be a surprise what it will be. I was three days in Ethosa and we saw a lot of rhino's. From a distance, but also up close near a water hole. We saw two cheetahs watching gemsbok. And then a large group of giraffe walking on the road. We did not see any elephant. That was a disappointment.
A large proportion of the park cannot be visited: the Etosha pan and the area north of the pan. That's the part of the park where National Geographic photographers do their work.
We slept one day in the park in Okaukujeo. The rooms and restaurant are OK, but not great. I prefer lodges like Etosha Safari Lodge & Camp just outside the park.