Overview–namibia

Etosha National Park

Etosha is Namibia’s most popular park for wildlife watching and is characterized by the vast, saline Etosha Pan. During the Dry season, the waterholes around the pan become crowded with large concentrations of animals. Four of the Big Five are present, with only buffalo absent. Etosha’s floodlit waterholes provide a rare opportunity for nighttime wildlife viewing.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Etosha National Park is during the dry winter months from July to October. Less water is available during this time and the animals tend to gather around the few sources that are available. The Wet season (November to April) is less productive for spotting wildlife because the animals tend to scatter.

May to October –Dry Season – winter

Best time for wildlife viewing with large numbers of animals at waterholes
The weather is good, although October is very hot
July to September is the high season and it gets very busy
The sky is filled with dust and it can be hazy

November to April –Wet Season – Summer

Rainfall comes as a relief, although it rarely rains for long
The landscape is attractive and the skies are clear
Wildlife is in peak condition and plenty of babies can be seen
Prime birding during the migrant season
Animals are dispersed making viewing difficult
It tends to be very hot

Scenery

Translated as 'Great White Place', Etosha takes its name from the enormous Etosha Pan – a large silvery-white salt pan that acquires a thin layer of salted water after heavy rains. The water becomes deep enough for the pan to act as a breeding ground for greater and lesser flamingos. It is the artificial waterholes and natural springs, among the grassy plains and mopane woodland that attract most of the wildlife.

Excellent

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Jun

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Rates

From: $319 to $2000 pp/da

Best Time to Go

From: July to September (Animals come to water)

High Season

From: July to November (The park gets crowded)

Size

From: 22,935km² / 8,855mi²

Wildlife & Animals

Wildlife viewing in Etosha is exceptionally good during the Dry season. The variety and sheer number of animals is outstanding. Four of the Big Five are present in good numbers, only buffalo is absent. A constant stream of herbivores is commonly seen at waterholes. They include elephant, blue wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, and several desert-adapted antelopes such as springbok and gemsbok.

Wildlife Highlights

Etosha has two near-endemic antelopes; the elegant black-faced impala, which can be found in breeding and bachelor herds, and the tiny damara dik-dik, usually spotted in pairs. Dusk and dawn are the best times for spotting lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Some of the less common predators are honey badgers and bat-eared foxes. The black rhino is a rare treat in the park, best spotted at night at one of the floodlit waterholes.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Etosha is a very seasonal park and, although it can be visited throughout the year, all the action happens during the dry months from May to October. At this time water supplies are restricted to a few waterholes and the grass is short, making wildlife-watching very easy. Animals disperse during the Wet season from November to April.

General Wheather

Etosha National Park is hot and relatively dry. Like most semi-desert climates there is a large variation in temperature between night and day. Rain usually falls in the form of heavy thunderstorms. There is a Wet season, which coincides with the summer months of November to April. During the dry winter months, from May to October, rainfall is a rarity.

Dry Season –May to October – Winter

Rainfall is almost completely unheard of during the coolest months of the year. Conditions become drier as the winter season progresses. Water sources for wildlife become fewer and vegetation thins out.

May, June, July & August – It’s dry and sunny at this time of year. Afternoon temperatures are pleasant, with an average high of 27°C/80°F. Cold morning temperatures of 9°C/48°F mean you’ll need to come prepared with warm winter clothing. This is the coolest time of year.
September & October – Temperatures rise rapidly during the day to an average of around 33°C/91°F. Morning temperatures are normally warmer too, averaging 16°C/61°F. Rains usually begin in late October or early November.

Wet Season –November to April – Summer

The Wet season coincides with the summer months, yet rainfall is little and usually occurs in the afternoon. Days are typically hot. The bitter cold mornings of the winter months are gone and averages of 16°C/61°F at night are common.

November & December – The rains usually start in November with the occasional thundershower. When the first rain falls, it comes as a relief after a long dry winter. These are the hottest months and afternoon temperatures are around 35°C/95°F.
January, February & March – Although it remains mostly sunny, these are the wettest months with frequent afternoon showers. Afternoons average 34°C/93°F.
April – April sees a dramatic decrease in rain. The temperature hovers around 32°C/90°F during the day as the Wet season comes to a close.

Prons

Exceptional wildlife viewing during the Dry season
Floodlit waterholes for night-time viewing
Easy self-drive destination
Several accommodation options catering to different budgets

Cons

Wildlife viewing is more difficult during the Wet season
Rest camps catering to self-drive visitors make it less exclusive
Very hot climate

How To Get There

Etosha National Park is located 435km/270mi north of Windhoek. It is easy to visit either independently (self-drive) or on a tour. The drive on paved roads takes about 6 hours*. The roads in the eastern section of the park are accessible by 2WD car.

Most people arrive in Namibia at Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH), located 40km/25mi east of Windhoek, and start their trip from there by 4x4 vehicle. Fly-in trips are also common, consisting of chartered flights taking travelers from park to park.

*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) and what tickets would cost.