This is the Top Safari Destination in Namibia According to Lonely Planet
Safari is one of the main reasons that a trip to Africa is on millions of bucket lists.
East Africa is famous for its wildlife safaris – the Serengeti and Maasai Mara spring to mind.
But don’t leave out Southern Africa when it comes to safari. Namibia, on the southwestern coast of Africa, is home to an amazing safari location.
According to the well-known travel guidebook publisher Lonely Planet, Etosha National Park is the best safari destination in Namibia.
It’s definitely one of my all-time favourite self-drive safari destinations. If you’re looking for an easy to place to see the epic wildlife on your own, an Etosha safari might be just the ticket!
Etosha National Park Safari
Etosha National Park is a crown jewel in Northern Namibia. Etosha, meaning ‘Great White Place’, is a sanctuary for wildlife and a haven for nature lovers.
With its well-maintained trails and crystal-clear signages, Etosha is the perfect setting for a self-drive safari adventure. Most roads are drivable with a 2WD vehicles, and even you’re new to Africa you’ll have an easy time.
The landscape of Etosha is a blend of contrasts. You’ll see everything from the silvery expanses of its eponymous salt pans to green grasslands and dense woodlands.
This diversity creates the perfect backdrop for your wildlife viewing experience. And for stunning photographs, it doesn’t get any better.
One of the primary reasons Etosha is touted as the best safara destination in Namibia is the sheer abundance of wildlife. The park is home to hundreds of species of mammals, birds, and reptiles.
There are no less than 114 species of mammals to be found here. And as there have been at least 340 species of birds identified in its airspace, it’s a bird watcher’s paradise, too!
All of the Favourite Safari Animals are Here
The quintessential safari favourites – lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and giraffes – are of course present in all their glory. But Etosha is home to a variety of other animals as well.
From cheetahs to wildebeest, and from hyenas to zebras roam the Etosha plains. And sometimes it’s even more fun to see the smaller ones, like the honey badgers and bat-eared foxes.
Etosha has 6 main camps for you to stay in, with accommodation options ranging from budget to luxury. This makes it easy for self-drive safari goers to be up at the crack of dawn to see as much of the park’s wildlife as you can.
Of these six main camps, one of the most popular is Okaukuejo Camp. It’s well known with repeat visitors for offering a fantastic wildlife viewing experience.
When the sun dips below the horizon, floodlights flicker on at the camp’s watering hole. The pond sits outside of the fence that surrounds the camp, with bench seating perfectly set up for a show. I’ve spend many hours, especially night-time ones, in these seats.
I recommend you do the same!
What Roams the Park at Night?
It’s a common place for the park’s animals to stop in for a drink at any time of day, but the most excitement tends to happen after dark.
Endangered black rhinos, majestic spectacles, will swagger into view, alone or with their calves. Males who happen to show up at the same time as another male may get defensive and decide to make a bit of a scene.
Genets, small nocturnal cat-like creatures, have been known to hop up on the trees next to the seating by the fence. You just never know what you might see.
Elephants and Angolan giraffes might stop by for some midnight refreshments, as well.
This moonlight experience is one that safari goers are lucky to have, even aside from being able to sit and watch the animals come and go to their heart’s content.
Because the gates to the park are closed at sunset, the only other way to observe the nighttime behaviour of the animals is to take a night game drive.
Etosha offers an excellent opportunity to witness the iconic wildlife of Africa at your own pace.
However, you won’t see the entire contingent of the famous Big 5 here. The last known Cape buffalo was seen in the park in the 1950s. It’s said that the bull was taken down by one of the area’s lions.
The Best Times to Visit Etosha National Park
Here’s a quick rundown of the seasons in Etosha Park:
➦ Winter, or the Dry Season – May to August: Peak Season, Cool and sunny, with great wildlife spotting. Also busy and expensive.
➦ Spring Shoulder Season – April-May: The sweet spot in Namibia’s weather. Not too hot or too wet. Prices are still fairly low, and the landscape is still fairly lush.
➦ Summer, or the Wet Season – November-April: Hot & humid. Rainfalls can be torrential in January and February but are intermittent. Animals scatter and visitors are fewer. The least expensive time of year. Look for high end stays at low prices.
➦ Fall Shoulder Season – September-October, and possibly November: Temps are moderate, and wildlife is easy to find. The prices are lower, but November may still be rainy and humid.
Read More:
➵ What to Do In Namibia When it’s Your First Visit
