Once you have decided to venture into the vast wilderness that is Etosha National Park, you have a few alternatives as to how you would go about your trip. Guided package tours are available through various reputable travel operators which will take care of everything on your behalf including activities, game drives, meals, and accommodation either inside or on the outskirts of the park.

If you prefer to book your own accommodation at one of the NWR (Namibia Wilderness Resorts) camps within the park, there are morning, afternoon and night drives on offer which take place with an informative and experienced guide in attendance.

Etosha is the world’s foremost self-drive safari destination after the Kruger National Park in South Africa, and those who take this route have remarkable freedom to roam at will within a few guidelines, namely:

• The speed limit within the park is from 20km per hour to 60km per hour, which affects your travel time from point to point.
• The camp gates open at sunrise and close at sunset.  This is an important aspect of your planning as you may be fined if you return late.
• Certain roads may be closed for maintenance or due to flooding during periods of rain. The camp Reception will be able to confirm these with you.

Planning the next day’s outing can be an exciting part of the previous evening’s routine, but bear in mind game sightings can cause serious delays due to cars congregating at the scene, so be flexible and enjoy whatever comes your way.

There are 5 camps in the Park:

• Okaukuejo
• Halali
• Namutoni
• Onkoshi
• Dolomite

All five camps offer lodge as well as chalet accommodation and you can book to stay at all five of the camps, or just one if you so choose. It’s really depending on the time you have available. 

When entering the park, choose the gate which is closest to your camp as there may be delays along the way.  While you are free to take advantage of any route to your destination, it is less stressful to check in and settle in to your accommodation before venturing out on your first drive. If you are towing a trailer, certain roads may be off limits.

If you are travelling from your overnight accommodation in Windhoek or southern Namibia, we recommend the following when planning your trip to Etosha:

1. Proceed to Andersson’s gate in the South, about 420 km’s away.
2. Spend a night or two at Okaukuejo
3. Move on to Halali
4. Spend your last night or nights at Namutoni
5. Leave the park in the east via Von Lindequist gate

Travellers coming from north-eastern Namibia could do the following:

1. Enter at the Von Lindequist gate.
2. Stay over at Namutoni
3. Move on to Halali
4. Finish your stay at Okaukuejo
5. Leave through Andersson gate

Those approaching from the west could start their visit off at Dolomite Camp, entering the park at Dolomite Gate, then travel on to stay at Okaukuejo and Halali or Namutoni and exit at Von Lindequist gate.

If you are approaching from the east, we recommend spending you first night at Namutoni, moving on to Halali and then Okaukuejo and Dolomite, before exiting at either Dolomite or Andersson gate.

Wherever you choose to roam while visiting Etosha, the first step in your journey is booking your accommodation early and arranging your flights, and your first night’s stay in Windhoek if you are flying in.  We are happy to advise and assist when it comes to arranging your trip to Etosha National Park.

Disclaimer
Please Note: The details shared herein were correct at the time of publishing. However, with time some of this information may change. We recommend confirming information with suppliers prior to making final travel arrangements. If you do happen to find an issue with any information we’ve shared here, please feel free to contact us so that we can make the relevant changes.