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Etosha Budget Safari Tours
There is nowhere quite like Etosha National Park. The landscape here is an intoxicating blend of vast salt pans with their seemingly eternal horizons under a sky of awesome blue. There are wildlife sightings you just don’t get elsewhere. If you’re lucky, you’ll see Etosha’s elephants caked in the white Etosha dust, rhinos communing around waterholes after dark, or maybe even lions feeding by the water while nervous gazelle herds mill around nearby. Best of all, this is one park where budget travelers will usually get to see all this just as much as those who’ve paid a whole lot more for a luxury safari. Etosha is accessible to everyone.
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3-Day Etosha Guided Camping Safari
$1,122 pp (USD)
Namibia: Shared tour (max 4 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Windhoek (Start), Etosha NP, Windhoek (End)
Mhof Tour and Safaris
4.7/5 – 3 Reviews
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4-Day Etosha Wild Escape Camping Safari
$1,274 to $1,460 pp (USD)
Namibia: Self-driveBudgetCamping
You Visit: Windhoek (Start), Western Etosha NP, Windhoek Airport (End)
Southbound Tours
5.0/5 – 14 Reviews
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15-Day Zambia and Namibia Camping Safari
$2,438 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
4.8/5 – 37 Reviews
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14-Day Namibia Camping Adventure for the Young at Heart
$1,484 to $1,830 pp (USD)
Namibia: Self-driveBudgetCamping
You Visit: Windhoek (Start), Otjiwa Game Farm, Onguma GR, Eastern Etosha NP, Western Etosha NP, Erongo Mountains (Mountain Range), Spitzkoppe (Damaraland), Swakopmund (City), Sesriem Canyon (Highlight), Deadvlei (Sand Dunes), Kalahari Region, Windhoek (End)
Firefinch Safaris & Car Hire
5.0/5 – 13 Reviews
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Best Seller
![21-Day Namibia and Bostwana - Desert and Delta]()
21-Day Namibia and Bostwana - Desert and Delta
$3,023 pp (USD)
Scheduled Start DatesBotswana, Namibia & Zambia: Shared tour (max 12 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Livingstone (Start), Victoria Falls, Zambezi Region, Rundu (City), Etosha NP, Brandberg Mountain (Rock Art), Spitzkoppe (Damaraland), Swakopmund (City), Namib Desert, Windhoek (City), Ghanzi (Town), Okavango Delta, Makgadikgadi Pans NP, Chobe NP, Livingstone Airport (End)
Sunway Safaris
4.8/5 – 37 Reviews
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![14-Day Cape Town to Windhoek - Camping Safari]()
14-Day Cape Town to Windhoek - Camping Safari
$2,590 pp (USD)
Scheduled Start DatesNamibia & South Africa: Shared tour (max 12 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping & Guest House
You Visit: Cape Town (Start), Cederberg (Mountain Range), Orange River, Fish River Canyon (|Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld TP), Namib Desert, Swakopmund (City), Spitzkoppe (Damaraland), Brandberg Mountain (Rock Art), Etosha NP, Windhoek (End)
Sunway Safaris
4.8/5 – 37 Reviews
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Best Seller
![21-Day Cape to Victoria Falls Camping Safari]()
21-Day Cape to Victoria Falls Camping Safari
$3,164 pp (USD)
Scheduled Start DatesBotswana, Namibia, South Africa & Zimbabwe: Shared tour (max 12 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping & Guest House
You Visit: Cape Town (Start), Cederberg (Mountain Range), Orange River, Fish River Canyon (|Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld TP), Namib Desert, Swakopmund (City), Spitzkoppe (Damaraland), Brandberg Mountain (Rock Art), Etosha NP, Windhoek (City), Ghanzi (Town), Okavango Delta, Makgadikgadi Pans NP, Victoria Falls (End)
Sunway Safaris
4.8/5 – 37 Reviews
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5 Questions About Etosha Budget Safaris
Answered by
Anthony Ham
Anthony has written more than 150 Lonely Planet guidebooks, including ‘Botswana & Namibia’ and ‘Southern Africa’. He writes about safaris and Namibia, as well as the wider region, for magazines and newspapers around the world. He is the author of ‘The Last Lions of Africa’.› More about Anthony
5 Questions About Etosha Budget Safaris
Anthony Ham
What is usually included in a budget safari to Etosha National Park?
“As part of your pre-trip planning, it’s important to get a complete list of what is included (and what is not) in your Etosha budget safari. Most safari operators will be happy to provide such a list. On a budget safari, you’ll either camp in basic tents in a camping area with shared facilities, or sleep in a simple bungalow room with a shared or en suite bathroom. In the park’s main camps, the campsites and bungalows are part of the same complex. These often have a swimming pool, excursion booking office, restaurant, bar and small grocery store. Most budget safari tours and packages include two guided game drives each day. This is when you’ll go out to look for animals in the company of an expert guide. If you’re on a self-drive budget safari, you will be provided with a vehicle, camping reservations and an itinerary.”
1What type of accommodations can I expect on cheap Etosha packages?
“There are two main types of accommodations for those on an Etosha budget safari. Both occupy sprawling accommodation complexes, which are run by the park authorities right next to the park gates. There may also be privately owned versions of these camps a little farther afield. If you are camping, you’ll stay in a campsite and sleep in a basic tent with a ground mattress. Not many campsites have shade, and they can be a little crowded. All camping areas are fenced to keep the animals out. The campsites have buildings with separate shower and toilet facilities for women and men. There’s usually hot water for the shower. If you are staying in one of the bungalows, you can expect simple rooms that may or may not have en suite bathrooms. Some are part of larger buildings with shared bathrooms and a communal lounge area.”
2What are the pros and cons of a self-drive Etosha budget safari?
“There are many benefits to making your Etosha budget safari a self-drive adventure. The most obvious of these is the independence. Although you’ll have an itinerary and camping reservations, you otherwise have complete freedom to go when and where you want. If you want to stay longer to look at elephants, no one’s going to stop you. Etosha’s tracks are also excellent, so even inexperienced 4x4 drivers should have a great time. The downside of self-drive safaris is that you won’t be accompanied by a guide. That’s not so much of a problem for finding your way around: trails are well marked and maps are available from the park gate. It’s more that you won’t have someone with you to explain what you’re seeing and to help you find the animals. You also won’t have the opportunity to meet other like-minded safari travelers while you’re driving around.”
3How much will this safari cost?
“There are lots of different variables when it comes to calculating the cost of your Etosha budget safari. This includes which accommodations you choose, whether it’s a group, private or self-drive safari, and how big your group is. In general, prices start at around US$125 to US$150 per person per day. On a budget safari of this kind, you can expect the quoted price to include a guide, driver, vehicle, accommodations (including camping fees and equipment), fuel, meals, water, some drinks and game drives. Other things that you will have to pay for include park entry fees, a transfer to the starting point of your safari and another back from its finishing point. If you’re on a really cheap budget camping safari, you may be expected to help with chores around camp. If you’re on a self-drive budget safari, you won’t have to pay for a driver or guide. But you’ll have to pay for your own fuel, and you will be expected to purchase your own supplies.”
4Is 3 days a good length of time for a safari in Etosha?
“In my opinion, 3 days is the minimum for a safari holiday in Etosha. Having a few extra days would make it even better. Keep in mind that a 3-day trip means only 2 nights and 1 full day in the park. On day 1, you will travel to Etosha, hopefully with an early start, and on day 3 you will leave, preferably late in the day. Within this time frame, you should be able to enjoy at least four game drives in the park. Etosha is a very large park. With only 3 days at your disposal, you shouldn’t try to see too much. I would recommend getting to know one area of the park really well, although you might be able to explore two areas and use the drive between them as a way of seeing more. You could possibly even combine your transfer with a game drive.”
5Etosha 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...
CA
I liked seeing the variety of animals. I was amazed at how close we were to the animals. The water holes provide an excellent opportunity to see many animals up close - they come to you rather than you to them.
US
Don't Miss Staying Up at the Waterholes
Visited Namibia and Etosha after spending a week in Kenya. While not as game rich or scenic as the parks in Kenya, Etosha certainly has a character in its own. Etosha is unique because of its sprawling dry landscape and its waterholes that...
NL
Etosha is stunning. It has a great infrastructure but it is a pity that maintenance is apparently not a priority. Roads are poor compared to other parts of the country and the NWS accommodations could use a make over.
US
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...