Etosha National Park

Etosha is worth a visit at any time of the year, but Autumn (May to June) is best, when the bush is green, game is plentiful and the July holiday crowds haven’t yet arrived. Etosha is hot, dry and dusty in early summer (September to December), but the lack of water also concentrates game at the waterholes, leading to great sightings.

The opposite is true from January to April, when hot rainy days send humidity skyrocketing. The bushveld is beautifully green and the birding is excellent… but the game can be harder to spot.

Most visitors choose to drive the 550km from Windhoek to Etosha, as the B1 highway is tarred all the way and in good condition. Allow six hours for the journey. If you’re short on time, and staying at a lodge that offers guided safari drives, charter flights from Windhoek’s international airport are easily arranged.

Although guided safari drives are widely available, an extensive network of well-maintained gravel roads makes Etosha an accessible self-drive destination. There are two main gates to Etosha’s public section: Andersson in the centre of the southern boundary, and Von Lindequist on the eastern border.

Self-drive visitors must purchase a daily permit and sign in here before exploring the Park, or continuing on to pre-booked overnight accommodation. Remember that driving after dark is not permitted.

Aside from the private – and pricey – Dolomite Camp in the west of Etosha, Namibia Wildlife Resorts’ four camps are your best bet for sleeping inside the Park. There’s everything from camping to family chalets on offer, but at extortionate prices.

You’ll lose out on some of the wilderness feeling, but there’s far better value and comfort to be had at one of the many campsites, lodges and guesthouses just outside the Park gates.