Etosha National Park, Etosha Safari Lodges, Camps and Hotels
Etosha
Those interested in watching wildlife in the beautiful Namibia, Etosha National Park should be Part of your itinerary. It has a varied vegetation cover including woodlands, and the savanna all crowded with wildlife. Covering about five thousand square kilometers, the park has its biggest portion covered by the Etosha Pan which for the biggest half of the year an empty whit area, shining with mirages and distant animals looking for water.
The several natural springs in the area attract numerous animals ranging from the prevalent small ones to the large elephants. Out of the 114 animal species in the park, majority of them are endangered and very uncommon like the black rhinos as well as the black-faced impala. On the other hand big predators like lions, leopards plus cheetahs are all ready to hunt. The park is also a fine bird watching destination with more than 340 bird species some of which are migratory birds.
Wildlife Safaris in Etosha
There are more than 115 animal species in Etosha National Park among which are the endangered black& white rhinos plus the black-faced impalas. There are no monkeys, hippos, crocodiles and buffalos in the park. In the dry months starting June up to November, the large game are attracted towards the water points enabling tourists to easily spot them and at that time there are approximately 150 Animal species present. Lucky visitors will catch sight of the leopards plus cheetahs in addition to other uncommon species like the gemsbok plus tssesebe.
Birding Tours in Etosha
More than 340 species of birds reside in the Etosha. Among the thousands of birds that fill the skies are flamingoes which are attracted to the water in the Etosha pan. The permanent springs on the rim of the Pan also attract large numbers of uncommon bird species. Similar to all bird watching spots in Southern Africa, Namibia is mainly toured for birding in during the rainy months starting October through to April. It’s during this season that Palaerctic and African migrants reach this place to breed.
When to Visit Etosha National Park
Game viewing in the Etosha National Park is very unique during late May to the highlights of the September. This is the cooler season in Namibia and during which visitors will see most elephants, rhinos, lions and giraffes. At the start of the rainy season from October until April towards the end of summer, animals are hardly seen at the water spots found on the tourist routes, hence this is not the ideal time to visit the park for game viewing.
Getting There
The park is served by a fine road network that joins the three major campsites and other auxiliary roads that point to the waterholes. Proceed to Von Lindenquist Gate via Otjiwarongo plus Tsumeb, further to Namutoni camp which is about eleven kilometers into the park. The major entrance to the park is at Andersson Gate adjacent to Okaukuejo in the southern direction. The Von Lindequist Gate next to Namutoni is the eastern entrance. The new Mpingana Gate or King Nehale Gate opened at the start of 2003 is in the north east. Using the Eastern route will take to the park after close to 552 kilometers from north of Windhoek and all the roads on the route are welled tarred hence no inconvenience.
There are several private game reserves near Etosha National Park like the Ongave Game reserve plus the Onguma Game Reseve. The benefit of residing in any of these reserves is that you get the opportunity to enjoy night game drives and bush walks in the company of a well trained guide. The accommodation offered is perfect and perhaps among the very luxurious lodging in the country. Our most-like private camps are the Ongava Lodge, Onguma Tented Camp and Little Ongava Camp.
Etosha Safari Lodges and Etosha Hotels
The park has a wide assortment of comfortable lodges. You can select any of the private lodges on the outskirts of the park like Ongava or Onguma that provide day time trips into the park. Good about residing in the lodges inside the park is that you can spend the night sitting at the waterholes watching the animals visiting animals coming to have a drink. It’s for this reason that we overlook their ordinary accommodation facilities and include them even in luxurious and standard expeditions. The private reserves near Etosha National Park operate game drives during the day in the park. However you can pleasure in game drive or bush walk in the evening on private allowance.
Little Ongava Camp
The Little Ongava Camp is small and can accommodate a maximum of six guests. However the lodge has beautiful prints and offers incomparable luxury. The camp overlooks a scenic waterhole in a private reserve that is bordered by Etosha National Park to the north.
Ongava Tented Camp
This Tented Camp is a rural and warm lodge located in a private reserve neighbored by Etosha National Park in the north. The lodges overlook the reserve and the vast major lodge overlooks an often visited by animals.
Onguma Tented Camp
Seven large suits have a great view of a water hole and offer great luxury, and posh lodging facilities. It is located in a private reserve at the rim of the Etosha National Park.
Ongava Lodge
The Ongava Lodge located on the outskirts of the Etosha Park is a private lodge with a high-class level of comfort all in a very warm and sociable setting in Ongava.
Onguma Bush Lodge
The Onguma is a luxurious private lodge on the eastern rim of Etosha National Park found within a private reserve. It has six rooms that include a tiny campsite plus a family compartment. The ambiance is quite relaxing and intimate with endless opportunities of bird watching as well as game viewing.
Villa Mushara
You may feel lazy to leave your nice bed when at the Mushara Villa. However, we propose that you participate in at least one game drive in the Etosh National Park which is just ten minutes drive from your villa in the company of your ranger.
A comfy tented camp on the outskirt s of Etosha National park is the Mushara Outpost that comprises of 8 canvas tents and each having a wooden open deck that unveils the immaculate African bushes.
Eagle Tented Lodge and Spa
On the southern end of Etosha National park within a private reserve is the Eagle Tented Lodge and spa. The High tented rooms provide luxury and breath taking views of the valley plus the surrounding area are covered in thatch plus stones.
Epacha Game Lodge and Spa
At the rim of the Etosha National Park within a private reserve is Epacha Game Lodge and Spa a very comfortable stylish colonial fashioned hotel. It has eighteen lodges each spacious and comfortable enough with a self contained bathroom, private balcony and air conditioning. The unique game viewing is almost outshined by the great luxury.
When you think of Namibia, the first thing that crosses your mind is the large desert land. Yes this is very true but there is this one place that will prove to you that other than the Namib Desert, Namibia has more to offer. Etosha National Park is the ideal place to experience the beauty of a true Safari holiday on the continent of Africa.
Etosha National Park that lays in the northern region of Namibia was once the largest game reserve in the world until the year 1960 when it was reduced from 100,000 square kilometers to 22,000 square kilometers that it is currently covering. The downsize of this National Park is attributed to the political pressure that it faced during that time. Despite this down size, Etosha National Park is still a very popular National Park in Africa.
Other than the wonderful scenery and beautiful landscape, Etosha National Park has a perfect infrastructure that spices up the day trips making them more exciting. Namutoni, Okaukuejo and Halali are the three camps found in the park and these are joined together by well looked after gravel roads. These camps have restaurants, shopping stores, swimming pools and not forgetting camping sites, hotels and chalets.
The pan
The name Estosha which means “Great White Place” was derived from the large endorheic salt pan in this area. The pan spreads over 25% of the park’s landscape and covers about 120 square kilometers, draining its waters from River Ekuma.
Etosha
Many years ago the Etosha pan used to be a lake getting water from River Kunene. When this river changed its course, the lake dried up, resulting into a large depression with clay and salt. What remains of this once existing lake is lifeless baked earth and a little water on its outer edge.
The Etosha Pan’s characteristic green and white surface is a breeding ground for many Flamingos especially in the rainy season when its waters have become shallow at a depth of roughly 10 centimeters. The overwhelming number of resident pink flamingos that cover the entire pan like a blanket has attracted hundreds of photographers and tourists from all over the world annually.
The wildlife
Another exciting activity in the Etosha Park is game viewing. With the numerous watering holes found on its outskirts, chances are that you may not only sight at Flamingos only but some animals too. Lions, giraffes, elephants and rhinos are some of the animals that come to drink from the Etosha pan. On a lucky day visitors may be lucky to a glimpse at the timid leopards and cheaters.
More than game
It is said that rules must be broken, but when it comes to Etosha National Park, the rule that ‘no visitor should get out of their vehicle once they leave their perimeter camp areas’ as it is with all parks should never be broken. The price to pay for breaking this rule is quite a big one.
There are two main reasons why this is emphasized.First and foremost, it is for your own safety because these animals are frightened by people and not vehicles. Once frightened, these animals become so dangerous and their next move is never predictable.
Secondly, it’s for the sake of protecting these endangered animals species in Africa. The Namibian government is fighting poaching. This park is just one hundred kilometers from the country’s boarder; so the South Africa’s Defense Force carries out training within the park in an effort to discourage and take into custody any poachers.
You may be asking yourself the reason as to why one would go for a Safari in Namibia that will endanger their life. The answer is very simple; the truth of the matter is that probability of these risks happening is very minimal. The park has put in place extreme measures to ensure the visitors’ safety. Luck enough, poaching is done majorly in the night so there is no need for fear.
