Things to see & do in
Etosha National Park, Namibia


Our Namibia Holidays
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The Most Authentic Way to Discover This Stunning Country
What can you see in Etosha National Park?
Home to four of the Big Five (buffaloes were last seen here in the 1950s) and 110 other mammal species, Etosha is one of the best places in Africa to spot big game. Numerous small waterholes are backed by the vast Etosha Pan, a shimmering, almost featureless expanse of clay and salt covering some 5,000sq km and a quarter of the national park. Vegetation here is sparse and limited to short, salt-tolerant grasses, and water is in even shorter supply. Wildlife relies on the permanent small waterholes, which become a magnet for Etosha’s animals throughout the year.There’s no need to head out on long safaris drives in search of a fleeting glimpse of an elephant here; simply pull up at a waterhole, sit tight and wait for the wildlife – including rhinos, giraffes, elephants, lions, cheetahs, zebras and gazelles – to come to you. You might even be lucky enough to see a leopard. During the dry season the concentration of waterhole wildlife is simply astounding.
Etosha’s most famous residents are its black rhinos. They may be critically endangered across Africa, but here in the harsh dry environment of the Etosha Pan, a healthy and hardy population adapted to desert life, is thriving. And it’s not hard to spot them either. A few of the waterholes adjacent to Etosha’s main camps are floodlit at night, offering a unique way to view the animals’ nocturnal activities as you sip a sundowner on a deck, a safe distance away. The waterhole at Okakuejo, for example, attracts black rhino almost every night, along with white rhino, lions and elephants.
Even impala, which on many safaris are quickly (and perhaps unfairly) dismissed as ‘yet another impala’, are worth a second look. Here, the endangered black-faced impala is flourishing and the park has played a major role in the recovery of one of Namibia’s endemic animals.
Etosha & the San
What does a holiday in Etosha entail?
The waterholes make wildlife viewing in Etosha relatively (in safari terms) predictable. Gravel roads link each of the park’s main viewpoints and as such this is an ideal place for self drive safaris. Most self drive holidays will give you the freedom to explore Etosha independently, with the help of a clear map and guidelines on how to approach wildlife safely. However, game drives can be arranged by your lodge should you prefer the company of an expert naturalist guide, or if you would simply like to relax and turn your full attention to the animals around you. Whether guided or not, you’ll likely spend your days driving between each waterhole, parking up, watching and waiting. Have patience and Etosha’s fauna will come to you.
Most holiday itineraries, either self drive or a tailor made or small group tour, will include one to three days exploring Etosha as part of a longer itinerary encompassing Namibia’s other highlights. Of course, on tailor made and self drive adventures this can be tweaked and adjusted to suit your interests.
Family holidays in Etosha
Etosha National Park highlights
Self drive safaris
Well maintained, and well mapped out roads in the park mean it is possible, and popular, to explore Etosha independently. While the roads are gravel, 4x4s are not strictly necessary and there is no technical driving involved, although the higher clearance can make for easier wildlife viewing. Guidelines on how to approach wildlife safely, and maps of the park’s road network are provided to self-drivers.Etosha Pan
Shimmering under the intense Namibian sun, the vast Etosha pan can seem full of water even at the height of dry season. Very occasionally it actually is, and rather than a mirage a thin layer of water mirrors the Namibian sky and attracts huge flocks of flamingos. At its driest, the cracked salt and clay drives animals to the small permanent water holes that dot its outskirts.Water holes
Etosha’s waterholes are its lifeblood, sustaining its populations of elephants, rhino, lions and more. Some, like Okakuejo are flood lit each evening; head here to see the black rhino and elephants that visit almost every night. Okondeka is a haven for lions, Halali regularly welcomes leopards and Sueda and Salvadora offer stunning Etosha pan vistas with regular cheetah sightings.Our top Namibia Holiday
Namibia self drive holiday, big cat conservation
Self drive trip taking in Namibia's highlights
This trip can be tailormade throughout the year and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary