You'll be collected at one of 4 locations in Swakopmund between 8.30 - 8.45 am. Onwards to Etosha on a paved road all the way to the park. We are introduced to the park with a short game drive between the main entrance gate and Okaukuejo Camp with a good chance to spot big game right from the very start. Etosha is just over 22,000 square km in size and home to 114 species of mammals, 350 bird species of bird and 110 species of reptiles.
After setting up the campsite, depending on time, we will head out for a short late afternoon game drive in search of big game. Elephant, rhino, giraffe and the big cats are often seen in this area. We also look for the smaller species, several types of antelope and gazelle abound, zebra are common and the bird life can be spectacular.
All visitors must be back in camp at sunset, but the ‘game show’ doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Okaukuejo is famous for its flood-lit waterhole where we are afforded the chance to see all of Etosha’s treasures.
Driving time: ~6 hours
We have the whole day to explore Etosha, and we want to make the most of it. The park gates open at sunrise and after a quick cup of coffee and a snack we will aim to be on our way as the sun breaches the horizon. We head to the gate where we meet our local guide for today. We will explore Etosha with him and our guide on an open game viewer today. Early morning is usually a productive time for game viewing, and first thing in the morning is a good time to catch big cats returning from the hunt.
Etosha is a desert landscape and water is the most scarce natural resource. There are, however, numerous waterholes here, and our game-driving technique is to take in as many as possible.
Along the way, we will make a stop at a designated picnic area for a quick breakfast before continuing our game drive. There will also be time for a swim in the pool.
On our way back to Okaukuejo we will stop to have a closer look at the Etosha Pan. The over 4,700 square km of white mineral pan is so big that it can be seen from space. We wind our way back to Okaukuejo, we aim to arrive back at our campsite just before sunset.
After leaving camp, we will game drive to the park exit, hoping to catch sight of some magnificent predators and plains game before heading south to Windhoek, we stop briefly at the small town of Okahandja to refuel our vehicle.
This is also where we will find Namibia’s largest wood carving market. Craftsmen from all over Namibia come here to showcase a wide variety of items both large and small. Here we have the opportunity to collect a truly Namibian souvenir and at the same time to support the local artists and communities.
We aim to be back in Windhoek in the late afternoon. There will be a shuttle service to take you to your accommodation within the Windhoek City limits and the airport. We recommend Chameleon Backpackers for a great value, centrally located accommodation. We also recommend that departure flights are not scheduled for today.
Driving time: ~4-5 hours
Okahandaja Craft Market
