Etotongwe Lodge & Camping: A Stop in Outjo on the Way to Etosha

Etotongwe Lodge & Camping sits just outside Outjo on the C38. Outjo is the town most self-drive travellers pass through on their way to Andersson Gate, 96 km north, which makes the lodge a practical overnight stop before or after a stay in Etosha National Park.

What Makes Etotongwe Lodge & Camping Different

Etotongwe runs its own open-vehicle game drives into Etosha, departing from the lodge, which isn’t something every lodge on the Outjo approach offers. Guests can choose a full day in the park or a morning or afternoon half-day drive. That gives self-drive travellers the option of handing over the wheel for the day and seeing the park from a higher, open vehicle that’s better for photography. The focus at the lodge is on personal, attentive service. Its position on the C38 also makes it a useful base beyond Etosha, with Damaraland and Kaokoland both reachable from Outjo.

Accommodation at Etotongwe Lodge & Camping

The rooms are set among indigenous gardens, in buildings styled on German colonial architecture. Each one is en-suite, with air conditioning, Wi-Fi, mosquito nets and a non-smoking policy, and is decorated with local art. Every room opens onto a private veranda where you can sit outside in the late afternoon. The in-room coffee station and bar fridge are practical for a stopover on the way to Etosha. You can make an early coffee before driving north to Andersson Gate, and keep drinks and snacks cold for a day in the park. Room guests can eat at the lodge, which serves buffet breakfasts and dinners in the dining room and has a menu option and outdoor seating at the restaurant. The pool and the bar, which has views over the grounds, round off a day on the road.

Each campsite has its own private lawn area, with electricity points and running water. That’s enough to run a fridge, charge cameras and phones, and set up comfortably for the night before or after a drive into Etosha. Campers share clean communal ablution facilities. The lodge offers individual sites for self-drive travellers as well as group campsites, which suit overland tours and families travelling together.

Location & Getting There

Etotongwe Lodge is just outside Outjo, the main gateway town for Andersson Gate, 96 km to the north. The road to the gate is tarred, but Etosha’s internal roads are gravel, so a vehicle with high ground clearance or a rented 4×4 is recommended for driving inside the park. You can also build the stop into a wider guided  Namibian safari.

• Swakopmund – Option 1 via Omaruru: 404km (4h-4h30min drive). Option 2 via Damaraland: 432km (about 5h-5h30min drive).
• Khorixas: 132km (1h20 min drive).
• Windhoek: 319km (3h15min drive).
• Otjiwarongo: 71.1km (45min drive).
• Etosha Andersson Gate: 96.3km (1h drive).

Activities & Experiences

• Open-vehicle game drives in Etosha: The lodge runs full-day drives from park opening to closing, and half-day drives in the morning (until 12:30) or afternoon (from 13:00). Water is included, but park fees and meals are not.
• Guests can also drive themselves into Etosha National Park for the day.
• Wildlife next to the lodge: A 50 ha fenced game camp borders the lodge and is home to orphaned, hand-raised antelope, including eland, as well as ostrich. The gardens also have good birdlife.
• Outjo town: Visit the German bakery, browse the curio shops, or stop at the Franke Haus Museum.
• Outjo landmarks: See the Naulila Monument and the historic water tower.

Nearby Attractions

Etotongwe sits on the approach to Andersson Gate. For lodges closer to the gate itself, see our guide to accommodation near Etosha, or if you’d rather stay inside the park, our guide to accommodation inside the national park. Before you set off, our what to pack and expect guide covers planning the drive into Etosha National Park. Once you’re through Andersson Gate, our Etosha waterholes guide will help you decide which waterholes to prioritise.