Etosha National Park
From World travel guide
Etosha National Park is the largest of Namibia's game reserves. It spans 20,000km² in Northern Namibia. Wildlife that can be seen here include: Rhinos, Lions, Zebra, Gemsbok, Springbok, Wildebeest, Elephants, and Jackals. The park surrounds the Etosha salt pan, which attracts animals, particularly in the drier winter months, because it is a source of water in a very dry land.
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Get in
To visit Etosha, one needs a vehicle. Visitors are not permitted to wander around the park (except in the enclosed camping/hotel areas) on foot. The B1 (from either Oshakati or Tsumeb) brings you to the park's eastern gate at Namutoni. The C38, from Outjo bring you to the park's southern gate.
There are also several safari companies operating from Windhoek and Swakopmund which offer tours of varying length in Etosha. Safari companies are also allowed to enter the western part of the park which is closed to private visitors.
Get around
As mentioned above, you need a vehicle to get around the park. The roads are all well-graded gravel, so there is no need to have a four-wheel drive. Since the dust generated by traffic is damaging to the environment, the speed limit is quite low.
See
- Animals! Throughout the park, particularly at watering holes, of which there are many.
- Okaukuejo watering hole At the Okaukuejo rest camp, there is a watering hold just outside the wall. At night it is lit with flood lights and visitors can sit and watch the animals drinking, flirting and fighting well into the night. This is quite handy since visitors aren't allowed to leave the rest camp after sunset.
- see also guide to African flora and fauna
Sleep
There are three designated rest camps for visitors. They are enclosed by walls and fences, so there is no need to worry about being mauled by a lion in your sleep, nevertheless you should sleep in your bungaloo since lions are known to have entered to the camps on rare occasions. All three having facilities for camping, petrol stations, and some also have hotels.
- Namutoni At the east gate of the park. This is on the site of an old German fort which was burned down many years ago in a raid by the Ovambo people from the north. Today the fort is a hotel. There is also a shop where you can buy food and basic supplies.
- Halali South of the pan, has camping facilities.
- Okaukuejo At the south entrance to the park. There are small huts available, as well as a restaurant and pool.
Stay safe
Stay in your car; lions are dangerous. Etosha is in the malaria zone, so take appropriate precautions.
External links
All facilities inside the park are run by Namibia Wildlife Resorts, a company owned by the Namibian Government. Their web site has contact information so you can call to make reservations or find out more information.
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