Experiences in Etosha | Timbuktu Travel

What to do in Etosha

The largest salt pan in Africa and a magnet for wildlife, it’s safe to say that Etosha is about one thing, and one thing only: safari. Game viewing is centred around the waterholes. In this dry environment, the water attracts animals from far and wide and spending a few hours at the edge in a 4x4, binos at the ready, is a sure-fire wildlife win. You’ll more than likely spot elephant, rhino (white, and perhaps black), warthogs, and giraffe, with lions not far behind. Waterhole-watching isn’t limited to the daylight hours either with spotlights illuminating the water allowing you to catch the elusive night species. Game drives depart twice a day (morning and afternoon), and occasionally, night drives may pop up, but when the sun goes down, you’ll probably want to be stationed at a waterhole. If you’re used to driving through grassy savannah, it’s a treat to bounce across the silver salt in search of desert species including black-faced impala, Hartmann’s zebra and the Damara dik-dik. A highlight is, of course, seeing black rhino, and Etosha’s population is famed as one of the most stable in the world.

Encounter Etosha's wildlife at the waterholes

Etosha has a unique drawcard...more than 40 waterholes which are a magnet for thirsty wildlife. And you'll be waiting nearby in an open 4x4 to watch the residents of Etosha drink at the water's edge, predator and prey alike. Families of elephant sidle up to bathe in the mud, giraffe swoop in a yoga-like pose to take a sip, warthog trot to the water's edge and lions sit side-by-side with an eye always on the plains game. Most camps have a spotlight on nearby waterholes where you can spy on the secretive black rhino or shaggy hyena. The crusted salt pan becomes a giant waterhole after the rainy season ends in March, where flamingos and pelicans land in their hundreds.

Track the Etosha's wildlife on a game drive

In Namibia's far north, you don't have to look far for the wildlife. In the early morning light or once the midday heat subsides, head out on a game drive where your seasoned guide will share the headline and low-key creatures of Etosha. Zig-zag between nearby waterholes where the big cats stop for a drink as herds of zebra and antelope gather in herds on opposite banks. Let your eyes wander across the plains where tall giraffes and tiny Damara dik-diks graze, and families of elephant stroll among the mopane trees. Not to mention the chance of spotting the endangered white rhino! Stop for a steaming cuppa or sundowner before returning to camp.

Spot the Black and White Rhino in Etosha

In Namibia's desertscape, Etosha is the green lung where plentiful wildlife gathers in droves. It's here that endangered species thrive too, including the tough-skinned black and white rhino. Leave your lodge in a 4x4 to track the hoof prints of these solitary animals. After being brought to the brink of extinction, the rhino has found a haven in the wild spaces of Southern Africa and your seasoned guide will know just how, where and when (often before or after the midday heat takes hold) to find them as they trot between waterholes and graze on sweet grasses. You'll have the chance to see them up-close without disturbing their own itinerary for the day.

Etosha

What to do in Etosha

Encounter Etosha's wildlife at the waterholes

Track the Etosha's wildlife on a game drive

Spot the Black and White Rhino in Etosha

More experiences

Discover Etosha's smaller wildlife on a bush walk

Visit the Ongava Visitor Centre in Etosha

Still not sure what to do?