Etosha for a first safari

Etosha is one of the best choices for a first safari.

Suitability: ★★★★★

Etosha National Park lies in northern Namibia around a large salt pan covering roughly a quarter of its area. It is managed by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, and the rest camps inside are run by Namibia Wildlife Resorts.

Why Etosha for a first safari?

• 3–4 days are enough for a good experience.

What awaits you in Etosha

• The vast Etosha salt pan
• Floodlit waterholes at the rest camps
• Black rhino
• Well suited to self-drive
• Game viewing in open terrain

Wildlife you may encounter: lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, black rhino, giraffes, zebras and wildebeest.

Suggested time on the ground: 3 to 4 days. Most visitors drive from Windhoek on tarred roads to Andersson Gate in the south or Von Lindequist Gate in the east. Light-aircraft flights serve lodge airstrips near the park.

Activities that fit

game drives.

When to go

The best period overall is August to October.

Dry season: animals gather at waterholes, and floodlit waterholes at the camps allow night viewing.

Other destinations for a first safari

• Masai Mara Kenya
• Merzouga Morocco
• Ngorongoro Tanzania
• Pilanesberg South Africa
• Victoria Falls Zimbabwe
• Kruger South Africa

Full Etosha guideBest safaris for a first safari

No trips are listed for this destination yet. Send a request and we will check with providers.

Sources: MEFT Namibia - Etosha National Park · Namibia Wildlife Resorts - Etosha National Park · Weather2Travel - Etosha climate
Figures are approximate averages and vary from year to year.