Complete Guide to Visiting Etosha National Park (2025)
Etosha National Park, one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife reserves, is renowned for its vast salt pans, game viewing at watering holes, and diverse animal populations, including elephants, lions, rhinos, and more. It is also one of the few parks in all of Africa that allow for self-guided game drives! We recently spent 3 weeks exploring Namibia and dedicated 4 incredible days to uncovering the best of Etosha.
During our time there, we gained invaluable insight into how to navigate the park for a truly immersive safari experience. From choosing the ideal place to stay—whether inside or outside the park—choosing guided game drives vs. doing it independently, to knowing the best times and locations for wildlife sightings, we’ve compiled all the tips and strategies we learned firsthand. This guide to visiting Etosha is designed to help you make the most of your Etosha adventure, so you can have a truly unforgettable safari experience!
Why Visit Etosha National Park?
Located in northern Namibia, Etosha National Park offers a truly unique and unforgettable safari experience. If you’re considering why Etosha stands out compared to other renowned parks in Africa, like Kruger or the Masai Mara, here are some of the top reasons that make it a must-visit destination:
Self-Drive Option
This was one of the main reasons why we decided to visit Etosha National Park. It is one of the few game reserves in the entire Africa that allow you to explore the park in your own vehicle. Being able to freely explore on your own, spending as much time as you would like with the animal sightings was truly a unique and rewarding experience. For example, we were able to follow and watch a pride of lions for over 3 hours, witnessing their interaction with a nearby herd of elephants, offering a rare insight into the complex dynamics of the animal kingdom.
Affordability
This was another key reason we chose to visit Etosha National Park. Compared to neighbouring safari destinations in Botswana, Kenya, and Tanzania, Etosha offers a much more budget-friendly experience. Given the option to self-drive through the park, staying at Etosha park’s campsites is not only cost-effective but also provides a unique and immersive nature experience.
Waterhole Game Viewing
Due to the dry and arid landscapes in Namibia, the watering holes in Etosha are a prime source of water for the animals. This attracts wildlife from all over the park to convene at the numerous watering holes, providing a primary focal point to see the wildlife activity. Some of the camps in Etosha even have floodlit waterholes, allowing for nighttime wildlife observation from the comfort of the lodge/camps. This unique setup makes Etosha one of the best places in Africa for close, consistent wildlife encounters.
When to Visit Etosha National Park?
For the best overall wildlife viewing, the dry season (May to October) is ideal, with September and October being particularly rewarding for concentrated sightings around waterholes. The temperature during this season is also a lot more comfortable, with frequent clear and sunny days. Also, during the dry season, the vegetation is quite barren which ensures few obstructions from spotting the wildlife. Given that this is the best season for wildlife viewing, it is considered their high season which results in higher prices and fewer availabilities for lodging.
If you prefer fewer crowds and lush landscapes, the green season from November to April can be rewarding as well, especially for birdwatching and photography. Many animals also give birth during this season so you have a higher chance of spotting young animals. However, the weather can be unpredictable, with occasional thundershowers, and temperatures at times rising to over 30°C.
How Long to Stay in Etosha National Park?
With all safaris, there is the understanding that the longer you stay, the higher the chances are that you will encounter a wider variety of wildlife, witness rare animal behaviours, and experience more memorable sightings. However, you don’t have unlimited vacation time so may be wondering what is the ideal time to stay in Etosha.
Having experienced safaris in both Namibia and South Africa, including visiting Etosha, we feel like staying 3-4 days in Etosha National Park is ideal.
This duration allows you to explore the diverse landscapes and wildlife across the park’s various sectors, such as the open plains, dense bush, and unique salt pans. You can also take the time to visit the primary watering holes at the different lodges, where the wildlife activity is often most concentrated and you can witness the activity at night.
During both our experiences at Etosha and Kruger National Park, we were extremely pleased with the abundance of wildlife we encountered within the 3-4 days there.
Below, we’ll outline our 3 to 4-day Etosha itinerary, highlighting the must-see locations for an unforgettable safari experience.
Etosha 3 or 4 day Self-Drive Itinerary
This is the 3 to 4-day self-drive itinerary we created for our trip to Namibia, showcasing the best of what Etosha has to offer. It includes visits to the most impressive watering holes in the park and combines experiences in both a private game reserve and public safari parks.
You can follow this itinerary from west to east as outlined, or in reverse if you plan to head to the western coast after, including Spitzkoppe or Swakopmund.
This itinerary combines two nights inside the Etosha Park, and two nights staying outside the park in a Private game reserve. However, we will also provide lodging options for outside the park that still follow the proposed itinerary. If you want a better picture of how Etosha fits into a Namibia road trip itinerary, check out our Complete Namibia Itinerary planning Guide.
Entrance Gates to Etosha Park
For this West to East Etosha itinerary, we suggest entering from Anderson Gate on the South-western border of the park. This entrance is one of the most popular in the park and also the closest to your first lodge, Okaukuejo. If you will be doing the itinerary in reverse, then you will be entering from the Von Lindequist gate in the East.
Reaching Anderson Gate takes over 4 hours from Windhoek, and around 6 hours from Swakopmund.
Once there, it serves as a checkpoint and you need to fill out a form providing your details, the specifications for your car, as well as where you will be staying throughout your visit to Etosha. One thing we did find a bit frustrating was that we ended up filling up the same information at least 4 times before finally being allowed to check in to Okaukuejo. For this reason, plan for some extra time.
Day 1: Okaukuejo Camp
We recommend arriving at Anderson Gate as early as possible to give you more time to explore Etosha park on your first day. Once you have passed through Anderson Gate, you will head straight to Okaukuejo where you can pay for your park permit and necessary fees for your stay in Etosha. This should take around 30 minutes.
Once done, settle into your campsite or lodge. If you have time you can head out for your first independent game drive. Alternatively, if you are tired after the long drive, or do not have much time remaining before sunset, then we would recommend simply enjoying the watering hole at Okaukuejo.
Okaukuejo is known for having the best waterhole in the entire Etosha Park. We watched the sunset from there and saw a herd of giraffes, rhinos, and impalas.
Where you will be staying: Okaukuejo Camp inside Etosha National Park.
Alternative: You can stay at Etosha Village or Etosha Oberland Lodge which are located right outside Anderson Gate. This is very important to consider since the only way to get into the park are through those Gates.
Day 2: Halali Camp
Morning before check-out from Okaukuejo
On your second day, wake up bright and early to do a sunrise game drive. You can do this independently or you can go with the park’s guided game drives. Sunrise times vary throughout the year, so be sure to check with the reception for the exact time. We suggest exploring the western section of Okaukuejo for 2 to 3 hours before returning to Okaukuejo to have breakfast and checkout of your campsite/lodge.
Afternoon after check-out, heading towards Halali
Then, make your way East from Okaukuejo to explore the more central sector of Etosha, heading towards your next camp, Halali. Since this game-viewing route will also lead you directly to Halali, you can take your time driving at a leisurely pace and explore the incredible waterholes along the way.
During our trip, we spent about 6 hours traveling from Okaukuejo to Halali, often stopping for extended periods at various watering holes to observe the wildlife.
Once you arrived at Halali, check in to your accommodation and then head straight for the waterhole to watch the wildlife and sunset.
Where you will be staying: Halali Camp inside Etosha National Park
Alternative: If you are staying outside Etosha, we would recommend just staying a second night in Etosha Oberland Lodge or Etosha Village. This way, you won’t need to check-in and check-out, pack and unpack, for each day which can be tiring.
Day 3: Private Game Reserve
Options: Onguma Private Game Lodge, Mokuti Lodge, or Mushara Lodge
Morning in Etosha
On your third day, repeat the same routine of waking up at sunrise and doing a quick 2-3 hour game drive before heading back to Halali for breakfast and check-out. Since we had seen some amazing wildlife at a nearby waterhole, we returned there in the morning to see if we can spot more action.
Afternoon in Etosha towards Private Game Reserve
Following check-out, head East towards the Von Lindequist Gate to reach your next private game reserve. These are located just outside Etosha National Park and will provide you with a different safari experience. During our trip to Namibia, we decided to stay two nights at Onguma and had an incredible experience there. Participating in the informative guided game drives at the private game reserve perfectly complemented the two days of independent exploration we enjoyed in Etosha.
🦁 The three private game reserves that we would recommend checking out are Onguma, Mokuti Lodge, and Mushara Lodge.
- Onguma Game Lodge
- Beautiful African Decor at Onguma Lodge
Evening at Private Game Lodge
After arriving at the private game lodge, we recommend booking your Sunrise and Sundowner game drives for the next day (or the same night if there is availability).
On sundowners, you will do your game drive as per usual but you will then find a quiet spot where you can get out of the vehicle and enjoy the sunset while savouring snacks and sipping on a refreshing cocktail.
During our Sundowner with Onguma, we were fortunate enough to have a pack of elephants walk right past us, making for an unforgettable experience!
🐘 Game drives in their private game reserve costs around 630 NAD per person. This is the same price for sunrise drive and sundowner drive.
Where you will be staying:Onguma Private Game Lodge, Mokuti Lodge, or Mushara Lodge
If you have 4 Days to Visit Etosha
If you have one more day, then we would highly recommend staying one more night at Okaukuejo camp as it had the most impressive and active waterhole.
Alternatively, you can stay one more night in the Private Game Lodge like we did. In this way, we had time to do a sunrise game drive and a sundowner game drive.
The Private Game Lodges also offer far more luxurious lounges, pools, and accommodation, so we thoroughly enjoyed relaxing there in the afternoon between our game drives.
🦁 The three private game reserves that we would recommend checking out are Onguma, Mokuti Lodge, and Mushara Lodge.
Opening Hours & Fees at Etosha
Entrance Fees
- Per day cost: NAD 150 per adult, NAD 50 per vehicle with 10 seats or less
- Children under the age of 16 are free of charge
- When you enter the park, you must show proof of identification, either in the form of a passport or driver’s license due to protection against poachers.
- Entrance fees are paid at the first lodge that you will be staying at. In our case, this was Okaukuejo.
- You can visit the official Etosha Website for the most up-to-date information.
Opening Hours
- Opening hours vary significantly based on the time of year following the time of sunrise and sunset. There are the primary Park gates (Anderson Gates and Von Lindequist Gates) that are located at periphery of the Great Etosha Park, and then there are the individual Camp gates.
- Keep in mind that the drive from Anderson Gates to Okaukuejo camp takes around 30 minutes so make sure to factor in this time to arrive at your camp before sunset.
Guided Game Drive Costs
- The cost of a Guided Game drive varies depending on which campsite you are at. But to give you an overall idea, the cost of a daytime Game drive at Okaukuejo costs 650 NAD per person, while the Guided night drive costs 750 NAD per person.
- If you are doing self-driving through Etosha, then it is free.
Meal Costs in Etosha Lodges
If you are staying at the lodges, or are camping and would like to enjoy a meal at the restaurant, you can expect to pay around 150 NAD per person for breakfast, 230 NAD for lunch, and 280 NAD for dinner.
Where to Stay when Visiting Etosha
Several factors will influence where you should stay when visiting Etosha National Park. Key considerations include your planned itinerary, whether to stay inside or outside the park, choosing between public Etosha lodges or private game reserves, your budget, and deciding on your preferred level of accommodation.
If you are following our 4 day Etosha itinerary, then we you will be spending two nights inside the National Park, and two nights in a Private game reserve. For us, we did one night in Okaukuejo, one night in Halali, and then 2 nights at Onguma Private Game reserve. This allowed us to experience both self-driving tour of Etosha, as well as professionally guided game drives in an exclusive Private game reserve.
However, these itinerary choices were made based on our personal comfort level, style of travel, budget, and knowing exactly what each of the lodging options offered in terms of advantages.
To help you make an informed decision and understand the pros and cons of each option, we’ve put together a dedicated guide on Where to Stay When Visiting Etosha National Park.
We will present the pros and cons of staying inside vs. outside Etosha Park, the pros and cons of doing a private game reserve vs. self-drive in Etosha, as well as highlighting many of the best accommodation options both inside and outside of the park. This way, you can tailor your visit to Etosha according to your preferences, rather than just following our suggested itinerary.
What Animals Can You See in Etosha
Etosha National Park offers incredible wildlife viewing, featuring most of the iconic “Big 5”. Of the Big game animals, you can see elephants, lions, leopards (rare), giraffe, and rhinoceros. The animal that is missing in Etosha that is part of the Big 5 is the buffalo. Cheetahs are also present in Etosha but are far less commonly seen as compared to lions.
Hyenas, both spotted and brown, can be seen in the park, especially at night.
There are no hippopotamuses in Etosha national park due to the scarcity of water. If you want to see them, you will need to head to Caprivi.
In addition, it is common to see the grazing animals such as springbok, oryx, kudu, eland, wildebeests, and zebras.
Overall in Etosha, we saw fewer of the Big 5 as compared to Kruger National Park, however, we saw greater concentrations and herds of animals.
Wildlife Viewing Tips for Etosha
- Stay inside the Etosha National Park at lodges or campsites that have their own lit up waterholes. Each of the main lodges (Okaukuejo, Halali, Namutoni, Olifrantsrus, and Dolomite) have their own lit up watering holes. Personally, our favourite was at Okaukuejo.
- Bring binoculars. Since Etosha Park is quite immense, with vast open plains, it is useful to bring good binoculars to spot the animals.
- Drive slowly within the park. This is not only important for the safety of yourself and the animals, but will also increase your chance of spotting wildlife. There were times when we were driving on the road with dense bushes on both sides, just to then realize that a giraffe was hiding amongst the bushes. We only spotted it only because we drove slowly and saw a flicker a movement.
- Try to stay at a watering hole even when there are no animals at the moment. Some of the best wildlife sightings we had were at waterholes that initially had very few animals. We simply parked there, grabbed our packed sandwiches and snacks, and sat waiting for some action. Then after 5-10 minutes, an entire family of elephants showed up. Therefore it pays to be patient.
- Take the time to observe the interactions between the animals—a unique experience that we found less frequent on guided game drives or in places like Kruger National Park. At Etosha, we were able to sit quietly in our car for hours, witnessing the fascinating dynamics among different species and within animal families. It was amazing to see the natural hierarchy play out right before our eyes.
- If you spot a cluster of vehicles, there’s likely something exciting to see. We experienced this firsthand when we approached a gathering of cars near a tree. At first, we couldn’t see what had caught everyone’s attention. Then we noticed a female lion resting by the tree, perfectly camouflaged in the grass. Without the other vehicles, we could have easily driven right past her unnoticed.
- Don’t hesitate to ask other vehicles passing by if they saw something interesting. Everyone is happy to share their exciting findings and this will help save you time.
- Consider joining at least one guided drive, as the guide’s expertise in spotting animals is incredibly helpful. We spent two days exploring Etosha independently and two days on guided game drives. Both approaches offer unique advantages, so it’s worthwhile to experience both for a well-rounded safari adventure.
- Consider staying at one of the private game lodges, such as Onguma Private Game Lodge, Mokuti Lodge, or Mushara Lodge. These lodges offer exceptional game drives and provide a distinct African cultural experience combined with a relaxing ambiance that’s unique compared to the lodges within Etosha itself. They also offer a far higher quality of accommodation compared to the lodges within the park.
Our Favourite Waterholes in Etosha
Charitsaub Waterhole
We had the most luck at Charitsaub watering hole, located in between Sueda Watering hole and Salvadora Watering Hole. What made this site special is the close proximity of the road and ‘vehicle stopping area’ is to the watering hole.
There is also a single large tree there which tends to be a good shaded resting point for lions. Given that there are 2 more watering holes within a few minutes drive from Charitsaub, you can easily hop between the three once the action at one dies down. You will find Charitsaub at around the midpoint between Okaukuejo Camp and Halali Camp.
Goas 1 and 2 Wasserloch
Another watering hole we had good luck with was Goas 1 and 2 Wasserloch. There is a road that leads to these 2 watering holes and we frequently saw large groups of zebras, wildebeests, and elephants. The animals also tend to cross the road, thus passing right in front of you, as they go from the watering hole to head further West. You will find the Goas Wasserloch watering holes East of Halali Camp.
Etosha Lodge waterholes
Finally, don’t forget about the famous watering holes at the Etosha Camp Lodges. Okaukuejo in particular is famous for this waterhole which is floodlit so you can watch the animals even at night.
In our experience, Okaukuejo had the best waterhole of all the lodges we visited. During our stay, we saw rhinos, giraffes, a pack of elephants, and many different types of birds. Halali’s waterhole is significantly smaller and had way fewer animals when we visited.
However do note that with all wildlife sightings, it comes down to luck!
Variability at the Waterholes
Also, when driving around Etosha’s waterholes, keep in mind that the presence of water there varies significantly depending on the time of year. I had marked down many of the ‘favourite watering hole’ locations from other travelers before coming to Etosha, but most of them ended up not having any water, and thus no animals. For this reason, when you do find a good waterhole, with some presence of animals, we recommend that you stay there and enjoy it as much as possible.
This post is part of our series about Namibia. If you want to learn more about Namibia, planning your trip, and some of the best experiences there, check out the guides below:
Photography Tips in Etosha
If you enjoy photography, I would highly recommend bringing a proper camera for your safari experience. Given that you will be doing self-driving in Etosha, you will usually be further from the animals than let’s say what we experienced in Sabi Sands Kruger National Park. Sabi Sands is one of the few parks in all of Africa where the game drives can go off-road, bringing you much closer to the animals.
In contrast, at Etosha, the animals will usually be between 10-100 meters away.
Camera Gear
For this reason, it is advisable to bring a good telephoto lens. I shoot with Olympus EM1 Mark II (a micro four thirds camera), and shot most of my photos with the Olympus 12-100 F4.0 pro lens. In terms of focal length, this is equivalent to 24-200mm in full frame.
I was definitely happy having the longer end of that range as I often needed it to get a better shot of the animals.
Sometimes you will be lucky and the animals will walk close by your vehicle, in which case shooting with a cellphone will also produce great shots.
Camera Settings
In terms of settings, you will usually need to shoot at a shutter speed above (faster than) 1/500 since the animals tend to always be in movement. If you shoot at a slower shutter speed, then oftentimes the animal will appear blurry. The exception is if the animal is lying down or sitting relatively motionless. In this case, I would recommend shooting at a speed of at least 1/100.
The Aperture (F) can be flexible depending on if you want a shallow depth of field or not. Finally, you can let the camera decide on the ISO based on the availability of light, while ensuring your shutter speed of 1/500 or faster.
Camera Bag
Also, the game drives can be dusty and bumpy, so make sure to have a smaller sling/bag to protect your camera. I really loved using my WANDRD 6L ROAM sling, which is not only small, and padded, but perfectly fit my camera, lens, batteries, with a slot for an additional lens!
If you don’t want to spend the money buying the telephoto lens, there are options available online where you can rent it.
Driving in Etosha National Park
- You don’t need a 4×4 but you will definitely be more comfortable in one. The roads in Etosha can sometimes be quite bumpy, however a sedan is able to manage it. If you will be doing a road trip through Namibia anyways, we would highly recommend an SUV (like Toyota Hilux) for better comfort on the very long drives.
- Drive slowly within the park and respect the speed limits (usually around 20-40 km/h).
- Do not get out of the car unless in the designated safe zones. Since Etosha is a park with most of the predatory Big 5, you are prohibited to get out of your vehicle, or even stick your arms out of the vehicle. There are specific designated fenced-up zones where you can rest and use the washrooms.
- Do not drive off-road. This is prohibited and you will be charged a hefty fine. Also, driving off-road will destroy the natural soil and vegetation, as well as disturb the habitat.
- Make sure to bring snacks as you will likely be out driving for a good 4-6 hours before returning to your camp. We always packed our lunch so we could enjoy it in our car while parked next to a waterhole.
- Make sure to plan for fuel. There are fueling stations only at the main camps of Okaukeujo, Halali, and Namutoni. Make sure not to get stuck in the safari out of gas.
How to get to Etosha
Reaching Etosha takes over 4 hours from Windhoek, over 6 hours from Swakopmund, and over 8 hours from Sossusvlei. Generally from Windhoek heading North towards Etosha, the road conditions are paved and of excellent condition. South of Windhoek, towards Sossusvlei, the roads are oftentimes gravel and dusty. Make sure to arrange for extra time when driving in Namibia.
For example, we drove from Spitzkoppe to Anderson Gate which on Google map, it said it should take about 4.5 hours. In the end, it took slightly over 6 hours due to the bumpy roads as well as needing to take a quick lunch stop. Seeing as you will not be permitted through Anderson Gate if you are too close to the sunset time, it is better to always leave early and factor in extra travel time.
Tours to Etosha National Park
There are many incredible tours that take you through Namibia, including Etosha National Park. This 21 days Southern African Southbound: Dunes, Deltas, & Falls tour, for example, will bring you through the best highlights of Namibia, as well as going through the Kalahari in Botswana and ending in Victoria Falls.
For a 21 day trip, this G Adventures tour is incredibly well-priced
If a 21 day trip is too long, and you would prefer to focus more on just Namibia, then you can check out this 14-day Overland Namibia Tour! It will bring you to all the highlights in Namibia including Etosha National Park.
Go2Africa – Specialized Africa Tour Operator
If you would prefer to organize your trip with a Tour operator that specializes in all things Africa, then we would highly recommend Go2Africa. They are Safari experts with first-hand experience of all the safaris and lodges, they support local conservation projects, and even provide 24/7 support once you are on your trip. This is especially important as you can encounter many obstacles while traveling through Africa and having a local to guide you can save you from a lot of stress.
They have a perfect 10-Day Self-Driving Namibia Tour that visits all the highlights that we personally visited, including Etosha National Park. However, on this tour, you will be staying at some stunning lodges rather than camping. Also note that oftentimes, tour operators can get better rates than what you can find online.
We compared booking our trip independently vs. with a tour operator and the difference was often negligible. Also, keep in mind that all their tours are customizable so if you want anything changed or added, they will be happy to help!
Where to Go After Etosha
After visiting Etosha National Park, most people will head south through Namibia. First you will encounter the stunning rock mountains of Spitzkoppe, then the German-architecture town of Swakopmund where you can kayak with seals, and finally the stunning sand dunes of Sossusvlei. If you head further North East, you can find more wildlife experiences at the Caprivi Game Park.
For a full overview of how we planned our entire Namibia Road Trip, check out our Namibia Self-Drive Itinerary Guide.
Or if you just want to see what other incredible things you can experience, check out our list of 18 unforgettable things to do in Namibia!
Using WISE card in Namibia
When taking cash out of an ATM while abroad, you will most likely be charged both a foreign exchange fee and a foreign transaction fee by that country’s ATM. With my Canadian card, this can easily be 3-4$ + 2.75% + a markup on the exchange rate charged by my bank, and then another 3-5$ charged by the foreign ATM.
This can be really costly. For this reason, we recommend using WISE card which has only minimal fees and just about no foreign currency exchange markup. This helps me save at least 5-7$ every time I take out money from an ATM. If you want to see our full review of the card showing exactly how WISE can help you save, check out our WISE Travel card Review post.
Recap: Guide to visiting Etosha National Park
Etosha offered an unforgettable safari experience. We especially appreciated that Etosha is one of the rare parks in Africa where you can do a self-guided game drive in your own vehicle. This freedom allowed us to have remarkable encounters with wildlife and the opportunity to fully observe the fascinating interactions between animals at our own pace.
A visit to Etosha is truly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, and we hope this guide has provided helpful insights for planning your journey!
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