Etosha National Park Travel Tips: When to go, how to get there and what to pack – Part 1
If you are in Namibia, you absolutely have to include Etosha National Park in your itinerary. Etosha is undoubtedly Namibia’s top and most visited destination. Whether you are on a self drive holiday or organised safari tour spending a few days in Etosha is highly recommended. Etosha National Park, meaning “Great White Place” is one of the largest and most important game reserves in Southern Africa and covers an area of 22 270 square kilometers. Home to 114 mammal species, well over 300 bird species, reptiles and amphibians, Etosha is a wildlife enthusiasts dream. Visitors are likely to see many different buck species, giraffe, rhino, elephant and even lions. If you are lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of a leopard or cheetah. There are also fuel stations within Etosha National Park so don’t worry about running out of fuel while you are driving around Etosha just be sure to fill up whenever you get the chance. All three of Etosha’s main camps have fuel stations (Okaukeujo, Halali and Namutoni). There are also restaurants and shops selling food stuff and other goods at these 3 camps. When to visit Etosha National Park This really depends on what you would like to see. Rainy season is from November till April– the hottest and wettest months of the year. The pans fill with water and the animals give birth during this time. Bird watching reaches its peak at this time of the year. The vegetation in the park transforms from dusty & dry to green and lush. Therefore animals and wildlife don’t necessarily visit the main watering holes and may be more difficult to find and see. A travel tip for visiting Etosha at this time of the year is to ask other travelers in the park what game they have seen and where they have seen it. One can also ask the game wardens and staff of Etosha where to go and see game. The dry season (May till October) is considered the best time to visit Etosha. You will find the animals congregating around the main waterholes to quench their thirst. The grass is also low at this time of the year and allows for much better game viewing. At times there is so much game waiting at the waterholes for their turn to drink water – it is remarkable to see so much game at one time and the interactions between them all waiting for that much needed time to drink water. The main waterholes are located at Namutoni, Okaukeujo and Halali. Between May and July (winter months), temperatures range from 18 to 25 degrees Celsius during the day with cold temperatures experienced at night. Photo Credit: Arno Dietz – Etosha Waterhole (3) How to get to Etosha National Park Etosha National Park is approximately 5 hours from Windhoek if you are driving. It is best to drive slowly to be safe, although the road can be easily navigated in one day. Etosha’s main gates are Von Lindequist (west...
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