Going on safari is something that is on a lot of people’s bucket list. But ask many of them where they would like to do some game-spotting, and chances are they’ll say something like the Serengeti or perhaps Kruger National Park, since those are two of the biggest names in Africa.
But guess what? There are TONS of protected areas throughout Africa that are home to lions, elephants, rhinos, and more.
Take Etosha National Park, for example.
Etosha is located in northwestern Namibia, and covers more than 8,600 square miles. It’s been a game reserve for more than 100 years, and is home to hundreds of different types of animals. You can spot herds of zebra, lions, giraffes, and even the critically endangered black rhino.
Here are just a few reasons why wildlife spotting in Etosha is top-notch:
Easy access
You don’t have to book a tour or special game drive in order to discover Etosha National Park. You can drive the park’s system of well-maintained roads in your own vehicle, stopping to watch animals as long as you’d like. This is great if you’re doing a self-drive tour around Africa, or if you’re on an overland trip like I was. We were able to drive around Etosha in our Acacia Africa overland vehicle, which gave us a great vantage point for game viewing.
Etosha pan
Etosha gets its name from the Etosha Pan, which is a huge expanse of salt flats that make up almost 25% of the park. Some say you can even see the salt flats from space! Roads go alongside the pan, and it isn’t unusual to spot animals crossing it. (We saw a few lions napping in the sun.)
Watering holes
The real star of Etosha is the park’s watering holes. Some are natural, while others are manmade. They all provide the park’s inhabitants with clean water, and in the dry, winter months especially, you can simply park your car near a watering hole and wait for the animals to come to you.
This was definitely the highlight of the game drives I did with my Acacia group in Etosha. We stopped at a handful of different watering holes, and saw everything from a huge bull elephant to large herds of zebra and wildebeest. We also were lucky enough to see a young male lion come in for a long drink. It was fascinating to watch all the other animals nearby – antelope, wildebeest, giraffes, and more – warily watching the lion the whole time.
Camps inside the park
Lastly, there are a number of accommodation options right inside Etosha National Park to suit every budget. My group stayed at the Okaukuejo Camp, which offers everything from standard campsites to luxurious chalets. Staying in the park made it easy to go on early-morning game drives, or to come in just after sunset for dinner.
The real highlight of the camp, though, is the watering hole that is illuminated by floodlights at night. Once it gets dark, you can sit behind a low fence and watch everything from elephants to black rhinos come to drink under the stars.
Do you want to visit this amazing game park? Check our all tours here.