DESTINATION

Etosha

Wildlife viewing shaped by water, distance and patient observation.

WHY GO

Etosha: what to know before you go.

Etosha National Park is Namibia's best-known wildlife destination. It centres on a vast, shimmering salt pan, and its waterholes offer reliable game viewing — elephants, giraffe, lions, rhinos and plains game — often from the comfort of your own vehicle.

When to visit

The dry season (roughly May to October) is best, as animals gather at waterholes and are easy to find. The wet season (roughly November to April) is greener with newborn animals and excellent birding, though game is more dispersed.

How to get there

Etosha is roughly 5 to 6 hours by road from Windhoek to the southern Anderson's Gate, on good paved roads. The park is suited to self-drive on its gravel roads in a normal vehicle, and many travellers stay at park camps or nearby lodges.

Highlights

Waterhole viewing

Floodlit and natural waterholes bring wildlife to you, especially in the dry season.

Etosha Pan

A huge salt pan visible from space, with striking views across the white plain.

Rare species

The park is known for black rhino, lion, leopard and many antelope species.

Self-drive freedom

Drive at your own pace, with guided game drives available through camps and lodges.

Practical tips

Book park camps and lodges well ahead for the dry season. Stay in your vehicle outside designated areas, and follow park gate times. Distances and driving times are approximate and depend on route, season and road conditions. Tsawises confirms the route, vehicle and timings in your written proposal.