​User Reviews – Etosha NP

Sort By: Date Most Helpful Rating 71-80 of 125 Reviews
Nico   –  
France FR
Visited: April 2015 Reviewed: Jul 28, 2015

Email Nico  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Incredible experience
Overall rating
4/5

We went to Etosha using our car rental during 2 days. It was our first safari and i have to say it was amazing. From the entrance of the park until the last meters we literally felt like on another planet.
Imagine after 30 seconds in the park you see an elephant quietly walking along the road. This elephant is being looked at by 2 giraffes who seem to be waiting for you to move along.
The following hours were then exceptional. Srpingbocks, rhinos, gembocks, hyena, more elephants, more giraffes. We could barely ask for more.
We followed the main road for the first day and did a bit of side roads on day 2. Main roads are fine, used by most vehicles. Side roads were clearly more challinging, especially "Eland drive" with holes as tall as the 4x4.
Overall, Erosha was totally worth it and I would go back any time.

YOYO182 Visited: June 2015 Reviewed: Jul 19, 2015

Etosha always delivers as a safari experience.
Overall rating
5/5

This was our second trip to Etosha National Park and like our first encounter, we were blown away by the variety and quantity of wildlife we saw.

We are experienced safari tourists but Etosha drew us back because the freedom of a self drive holiday and the quality of wildlife on offer is pretty near an unbeatable combination for us.

We spent 15 nights in the park and encountered numerous big 5 animals including 8 separate black rhino sightings in one day. We also saw several lions (including watching 6 lion cubs at play for over 2 hours at a waterhole), several cheetah, two leopards and a close up encounter with a magnificent Martial Eagle. But there are just droves of game at or near every waterhole and numerous birds and other creatures to be found between waterholes. The weather and light is also incredible for photography.

To maximise the hours we could spend inside the national park, we stayed at camps within the park's boundary. The lodges are basic but adequately clean. Food at the restaurants is pretty good although vegetarians may struggle to get variety. The new restaurant at Namutomi camp serves excellent food.

If viewing or photographing big game, birds and other wildlife is your aim, then you will have to go a long way to beat Etosha, and all of this against the surreal backdrop of the massive pan.

Carolyn   –  
Canada CA
Visited: June 2015 Reviewed: Jul 19, 2015

Email Carolyn  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

3 Fabulous Days in Ongava / Etosha
Overall rating
5/5

My time in Ongava Game Reserve and Etosha was fabulous! Admittedly, this was my first safari so I don't have a point of comparison but I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. At Ongava, I liked how the animals were more integrated into the land so the guides had to do some tracking for us to see them. My favourite were the lions since we got to see them hunt (positively primal), play, play fight and do all sorts of high-flying acrobatics when the mother and cubs greeted. Walking with the white rhino was pretty spectacular too. Etosha itself was very different, with animals congregating more so at the watering holes, so it provided a nice contrast. I enjoyed watching the crashes of zebras run, the springbok males locking horns over the females, the innumerable giraffes of all colours from orange-brown to dark brown, seeing oryx, wildebeest, ostrich, etc... Seeing the pan itself was also pretty spectacular. Facilities-wise, Ongava Tented Lodge was beautifully appointed with fabulous food and it's own watering hole where we were able observe white rhino, black rhino, elephant (they had broken in from Etosha the day I arrived), kudu, etc... daily. It does get quite cold in the evenings so definitely bring warm clothing and treasure the hot water bottle that they leave in your bed in the evenings! For photos of my Namibian adventure, click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/carolyncheng/sets/72157655744210916 (the animals are at the end of the album).

Nicole Visited: February 2015 Reviewed: Jul 8, 2015

Highly recommended-it doesn't get better than this!
Overall rating
5/5

An African Safari Trip had always been high on my bucket list & finally, this Feb. 2015, it became a reality! The trip really started in Cape Town South Africa where a group of us travelled many miles by jeep,saw amazing scenery and wildlife but, it was nothing in comparison to the wildlife we encountered in Namibia's Etosha Park.
When we entered the Park through the Anderson's Gate and immediately saw our first elephant leisurely enjoying a mud bath along with an audience of zebras and giraffes, I knew I was in for a real treat. It was a great welcome to my first Game Park! From then on animal sightings were numerous. From impalas to springboks, to steenboks, warthogs, a variety of foxes, to my favourite gemsboks (oryx) there was never a dull moment.The lonely,solitary wildebeest trekking through the dry scrub towards our jeep,the hyena glaring at us, the black rhino in the distance, really got the adrenaline going. The kudus peeking out of the bush, the juvenile steenbok jumping in front of the vehicle, the vervet monkeys racing across the road were all pleasant surprises. The fact that the animals were in smaller group settings during that time of year was to my advantage when it came to photography.The giraffes in their calm & nonchalant ways were most photogenic and I never tired of photographing the stunning zebras.
The landscape had a surreal feeling to it, interspersed with sparse vegetation, low shrubs and vast salt pans.The low concentration of human activity brought peacefulness to the area and was much appreciated. The few waterholes along the countless roads attracted numerous species of animals and provided us with an excellent vantage point from which to view and photograph game.
The bird life was also prolific.The European Bee-Eater, the Lilac Breasted and European Roller, and the various Weavers were common throughout the park. We also spotted Ostriches, Kori Bustards, Storks, Secretary Birds, various Hornbills, numerous prey birds, and flamingoes amongst many other water fowl.
Our first night was spent at the Halali Camp. We were treated to beautiful spacious accommodations & excellent meals. The Namutoni Camp was our second night's destination. It was equally as lovely a spot, with attractive, clean rooms and once again exceptional food. Staff was always pleasant and friendly.
No complaints really, other than next time around, I would probably omit the night drive as it was not conducive to any decent photography even though it was interesting enough and we got to see a herd of rhinos speeding along the side of us in the bush and others drinking at a water hole.I would definitely extend my stay in the park for a few more days.
Much kudos to two wonderful, professional and most knowledgeable guides who went out of their way to look after our needs and made this adventure so successful! To be in their presence was truly a blessing!
Our last day ended magically ( and of course too quickly as one never wants a beautiful dream to end!) with a glowing sunset and dark thunder clouds looming overhead, announcing a storm on it's way. Last but not least we witness a farewell sighting of two silhouetted giraffes in the far distance momentarily necking and then galloping off like lovers into the coming storm! Luckily, the lack of rain had definitely played in our favour while in the park,but now it would be welcomed!
I must say that never in my wildest dreams did I expect such a rewarding safari expedition. Etosha Park will be embedded into my memory forever!

susan yeomans   –  
United Kingdom UK
Visited: June 2015 Reviewed: Jul 5, 2015

Email susan yeomans  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

Etosha: a truly special place
Overall rating
5/5

Etosha is a truly special safari destination, from the other worldly beauty of the pan to the up close and personal viewing of wildlife at the waterholes; it is an unforgettable experience that calls you back.
Many waterholes offer parking very close to the action - great for both the wildlife viewing and wildlife photography. It's important to do research both before going and whilst on the trip (from the sightings books in the camps within the Park). This will maximise your chances of seeing the wildlife you are looking for. On our two trips to the park we've been rewarded with multiple sightings of lions, leopards, cheetahs, rhinos, elephants, hyena, Martial Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Battaleur Eagle, numerous other raptors and birds and an abundance of grazing animals. The camps in the park are good but not luxury camps, but allow quick access to the inner areas of the park for wildlife viewing (vegetarians like me have to muddle through on food - but this is more than made up for by the wildlife).

sangre vista   –  
United States US
Visited: June 2015 Reviewed: Jul 3, 2015

Email sangre vista  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Ethosha National Park should be at the top of your list if you visit southern Africa
Overall rating
5/5

The quantity and variety of wildlife in Etosha is outstanding. Other than the lion, we saw all of the Big Five and the Ugly Five. There are numerous water holes throughout the park, some of which are kept full with pumps, so even in the dry season the wildlife gather. We saw countless elephants, with a highlight of our visit being the youngsters playing in the water at the feet of the adults. We also witnessed a cheetah lying in wait as a herd of springbok wandered toward the water hole that he had staked out, and saw his (unsuccessful) attack. The Etosha Pan is a stunning place, with no clear horizon visible in places. Away from the Pan, the scenery is quite varied and lovely. We stayed two nights at Mushara, with very nice accommodations and two guided tours (morning and evening) to familiarize ourselves with the area. Our last night was at Andersson's Camp after a self-drive day through the park. The accommodations there offer a tented camp experience, and the water hole at the lodge offers a blind for close up photography of the wildlife and birds. Don't miss Etosha.

michielbesseling   –  
Netherlands NL
Visited: April 2015 Reviewed: Jun 15, 2015

Email michielbesseling  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Overall rating
4/5

Etosha is a huge safari park. Each game drive here is unique. You'll see a lot of animals, but it will be a surprise what it will be. I was three days in Ethosa and we saw a lot of rhino's. From a distance, but also up close near a water hole. We saw two cheetahs watching gemsbok. And then a large group of giraffe walking on the road. We did not see any elephant. That was a disappointment.
A large proportion of the park cannot be visited: the Etosha pan and the area north of the pan. That's the part of the park where National Geographic photographers do their work.
We slept one day in the park in Okaukujeo. The rooms and restaurant are OK, but not great. I prefer lodges like Etosha Safari Lodge & Camp just outside the park.

Raul Virto   –  
Spain ES
Visited: October 2012 Reviewed: May 26, 2015

Email Raul Virto  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Overall rating
5/5

Diverse and high quantity of wild life. We travelled with a bird lover and she tought us about several different birds.

Franck Giraud   –  
France FR
Visited: August 2014 Reviewed: May 10, 2015

35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

Overall rating
5/5

Dean Visited: October 2014 Reviewed: May 8, 2015

One of the last great wilderness region ..... i could go back there again and again !
Overall rating
5/5

I had always wanted to visit Etosha ao i finally decided to do it. It was everything i expected and will keep the memories forever. Im a keen photographer and we saw plenty of wildlife on the wide open spaces. If i could, i would go back to Namibia and Etosha year after year.

Average User Rating

  • 4.7/5
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding

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  • 2 star 0
  • 1 star 1
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