Tour Length
Rates in USD $ – Change Currency
Per person, excl. international flightsOperator Rating
Other Tour Features
Filter by Operator
Filter by Accommodation
Etosha Camping Safaris
Camping in Etosha National Park is a great way to experience one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations. It is also unusually accessible and affordable. An Etosha camping safari is an excellent budget-friendly option. There are many outfitters offering camping tours to Etosha, and self-drive safaris are popular too. You don’t need a lot of experience or 4x4 driving skills to head out here. This seasonal park is at its best from July to September when animals congregate around the waterholes. At this time, you can often see a large variety of species drinking at the same time, and the photo opportunities are out of this world.
-
Top Rated Operator
19-Day Namibia Self Drive Adventure
$5,977 pp (USD)
Namibia: Self-drive
Mid-range Camping & LodgeYou Visit: Windhoek (Start), Kalahari Region, Fish River Canyon (|Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld TP), Aus (Town), Namib-Naukluft NP, Swakopmund (City), Damaraland, Etosha NP, Eastern Etosha, Erongo Mountains (Mountain Range), Windhoek Airport (End)
Wayfairer Travel
5.0/5 – 111 Reviews
-
Top Rated Operator
19-Day Classic Namibia - Camping Tour
$2,614 pp (USD)
Namibia: Self-driveBudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Windhoek (Start), Quiver Forest (Highlight), Fish River Canyon (|Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld TP), Sossusvlei (Sand Dunes), Swakopmund (City), Damaraland, Opuwo (Town), Etosha NP, Eastern Etosha, Okonjima NR, Hosea Kutako Airport (End)
Dunas Safari
4.9/5 – 61 Reviews
-
3-Day Etosha Camping
$560 to $590 pp (USD)
Namibia: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Windhoek (Start), Etosha NP, Windhoek (End)
Oshili Namibia Travel and Tours
5.0/5 – 11 Reviews
-
15-Day Tribal and Wildlife Tour
$6,200 to $6,300 pp (USD)
Namibia: Shared tour (max 11 people per vehicle)
Mid-range Camping & LodgeYou Visit: Windhoek (Start), Waterberg Plateau, Etosha NP, Ruacana Falls, Epupa Falls (Kaokoland), Kunene River (Kaokoland), Palmwag (Damaraland), Twyfelfontein (Rock Art), Swakopmund (City), Sossusvlei (Sand Dunes), Windhoek (End)
Africa Uncovered Safaris
5.0/5 – 2 Reviews
-
21-Day Namibia Botswana Southern Circle
$3,410 to $3,592 pp (USD)
Scheduled Start DatesBotswana, Namibia & Zambia: Shared tour (max 12 people per vehicle)
Mid-range Camping & LodgeYou Visit: Livingstone (Start), Zambezi Region, Rundu (City), Etosha NP, Brandberg Mountain (Rock Art), Swakopmund (City), Sesriem (Town), Windhoek (City), Ghanzi (Town), Maun (City), Nata (Town), Kasane (Town), Livingstone (End)
Sunway Safaris
4.4/5 – 24 Reviews
-
Tour Operators Offering Custom Tours
Didn't find the tour you were looking for? Get a free quote for a custom tour from the tour operators below. They can arrange private tours to any destination in Namibia.
Related Searches
6 Questions About Etosha Camping Safaris
Answered by
Ariadne van Zandbergen
Ariadne is a renowned Africa expert and photographer. She and her husband form a team who write and update many Bradt guides. She has visited Namibia and Etosha several times. She loves camping in wild places; it’s one of the best ways to feel close to nature and to bond with fellow travelers.
6 Questions About Etosha Camping Safaris
Ariadne van Zandbergen
What are the pros and cons of a camping safari in Etosha?
“There are many pros and a few cons of doing a camping safari – we run you through them below. When booking for Etosha, a range of accommodation is available, and you can either opt for a camping safari or a lodge safari. If you don’t mind getting back to basics, camping is a great choice. It is often the most budget-friendly option. Some of the campsites are in excellent locations with lots of animal action and game-drive options. Camping can enhance your bush experience greatly. Without all the mod cons, you’ll feel close to nature. Sitting around a fire at night and sleeping under canvas add to the adventure. The bush doesn’t go to sleep when the sun sets. You’ll be amazed at the range of animal noises you’ll hear in your tent at night. That said, camping isn’t everybody’s cup of tea. If you prefer to have solid walls around you at night, or you’re terrified of any creepy-crawlies that might lurk around the campsite, a lodge safari might be a better choice for you.”
1What facilities can I expect in the campsites in Etosha?
“All campsites in Etosha have power points, communal ablution and barbecue facilities. All the camps are fenced and child-friendly. The four campsites in Etosha are widely spread out and are all in excellent locations. All have access to floodlit waterholes providing great photographic opportunities. Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni Camps offer camping as well as rooms. These camps have most facilities including restaurants and swimming pools. The new Olifantsrus Camp is quieter and offers camping only. This means visitors need to be well prepared and bring all their own food. ”
2How much does a camping safari cost in Etosha?
“The average price of a 3-day camping safari in Etosha is US$350 per person. This is only a guideline as there are several factors determining the price of a camping safari in Etosha. Group camping packages are most cost effective, but you might prefer the flexibility of a private tour. Self-drive is a popular option in Namibia, and Etosha is well equipped for this, as the roads are good and the campsites have great facilities. A self-drive tour is usually more budget-friendly than a guided tour. However, consider that the guide brings a lot of knowledge and experience to the safari. They tend to be excellent animal spotters too, so your chances of seeing lots of animals are better on a guided trip.”
3Is it better to camp inside or just outside of Etosha National Park?
“It is usually recommended to camp inside Etosha NP. The campsites are well equipped and each one has access to a floodlit waterhole. If you’re tired of driving around, you can enjoy watching wildlife from the camp, and the action doesn’t stop at night. You have a good chance of seeing nocturnal (active at night) animals coming to drink at these waterholes. Black rhino is a regular visitor too. Another advantage of staying inside the park is that you’ll be able to leave the camp at dawn, which is the best time to see predator action. Entering the park from outside is only permitted slightly later, and you’ll have to deal with entry fees before commencing your game drive. However, the park campsites are very popular and can be busy or even fully booked, especially during Namibian and South African school holidays. In that case, you can also stay in a campsite just outside the park. Even when you have the choice, you might consider staying outside the park as the campsites outside the park generally offer better facilities and service. ”
4Is a camping safari in Etosha safe?
“Camping in Etosha is very safe. All the campsites are fully fenced, so no dangerous animals can move around the campground. There are snakes and scorpions around, but encounters are extremely rare. It is, however, recommended to keep your tent closed. There are few insects or other creepy-crawlies in the dry environment. Most importantly, there is no risk of getting malaria as Etosha is located in a malaria-free area. The roads in the parks are suitable for any car without any risk of getting stuck. You won’t get lost either. There are good maps available and the signage inside the park is clear. Last but not least, crime is virtually unheard of in any of Namibia’s parks, including Etosha. ”
5When is the best time for a camping safari in Etosha?
“The best time to visit Etosha for a camping safari is from July to September. This is during the Dry season when animals tend to congregate at the park’s 40-odd waterholes, each of which has its own character and offers great photographic opportunities. The Dry season is also the high season, so you’ll need to book a spot long in advance and the campsites might be busy. October and November are also good for wildlife viewing, but tend to be very hot. You’ll see fewer animals in the Wet season from December to April and days are hot. Although it never rains a lot, afternoon showers might spoil your camping experience. However, this is when the landscape is lush and the sky is free of dust. Moreover, there are very few travelers about at this time, and the birding is fantastic. ”
› More about the best time to visit Etosha National 6Etosha Reviews
Stephen is a travel writer and avid conservationist whose work appears in prestigious magazines such as Africa Geographic and Travel Africa.
The Great White Place
The national park comprises the vast pan surrounded by a gigantic chunk of arid wilderness in central-northern Namibia. Etosha means ‘The Great White Place’ and this is an extremely apt description for the bleached landscapes of...
Lizzie is a reputed guidebook writer and author of the Footprint guides to South Africa, Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Exceptionally good game-viewing in unusual environments
Etosha means ‘Great White Place’ in the Herero language after the giant, parched and dazzlingly white Etosha Pan. I find this the perfect environment for silhouetting the animals – a lone wildebeest or herd of handsome gemsbok can be...
Happy to have been. An abundance of animals and viewing spots, barren landscape and bumpy roads.
I visited the Etosha National Park from a campsite outside the main gate. Even before reaching the first Lodge inside the park I had seen two lions. The roads were quite drivable, even in a two wheeled car. There were plenty of watering...
US
Spectacular and exciting photographic tour site
When I visited Etosha NP in May and June 2017, the weather was beautiful; highs in the mid-70s (F), dry and pleasant, and there had been recent rains which brought the flowers evident in so many of my photographs. The large animals were...
ES
It was not crowd, but some popular places remind you were not out totally out of civilization. The salf plan, salvadora plains and rocky areas are very scenic, but most of the park is very monotonus, specially large patches of mopane. I...
DE
My first time I saw wild elephants, rhino & hyena!
I was in Etosha National Park in April 2017. It is end of the rainy season so there is enough water for the animals in the nature. That is maybe the reason why we had not so much good luck at waterholes. We had best sightings in the East...