Namibia » Etosha
Etosha National Park in Namibia is one of Southern Africa's finest and most important Game Reserves. Etosha takes its name from, and is dominated by, a massive mineral pan that stretches about 120 km from east to west and at its widest point is about 70 km across. The total pan area covers 5000 square km. Etosha means 'Great White Place' in the Herero language and in the heat of the day the surface of the pan is dazzlingly white.
The main entrance to the park is called the 'Andersson Gate' situated near Okaukuejo in the south. The eastern entrance is called the 'Von Lindequist Gate' and is near Namutoni. The new 'Nehale lya Mpingana Gate' gate, (King Nehale Gate) was opened at the beginning of 2003 in the north-east.
Traditionally visitors to Etosha had a choice of three rest camps - Namutoni, Halali and Okaukuejo. Each camp has tourist facilities such as a restaurant, a shop (selling only basic goods), a motor garage for fuel and basic repairs, and a swimming pool, as well as various grades of accommodation and camping facilities.
September 2008 heralded the opening of Onkoshi Camp a brand new lodge inside Etosha - this was the first development inside the park in several decades and looks set to offer an environmentally friendly luxury experience. Accommodation options inside the park where further increased with the opening of the Dolomite Camp in the previously restricted western area of Etosha.
Non-resident visitors to Etosha, i.e. those residing at one of the many private lodges and hotels around Etosha, can stop off at these camps for rest, recreation, and refueling. All three camps have floodlit waterholes, two of which provide excellent night game viewing. Rhino and elephant are often seen at the waterhole at Okaukuejo, while the newer waterhole at Halali is fast attracting more wildlife. However, the Namutoni waterhole is somewhat disappointing, probably because there are so many other waterholes in the vicinity.
Lodges in and around Etosha
» View all Etosha Lodges (Western & Central region)
» View all Etosha Lodges (Eastern region)
