Etosha National Park
A major wildlife park built around a huge salt pan. Elephants, lions, giraffes, rhinos and many antelope gather at waterholes, especially in the dry season.
Etosha National Park
At waterholes in this wildlife park, centred on a vast salt pan, zebras, lions, rhinos and elephants gather.
Attractive locations
Etosha Pan
A vast, flat salt pan that forms the heart of Etosha National Park and can be seen from space. Wildlife gathers at waterholes around its edges, making the park one of southern Africa's best places to see animals.
Okaukuejo Rest Camp
A rest camp on Etosha's southern side with a well-known waterhole, where animals come at all hours. Rhinos, elephants and lions are often watched from a viewing wall.
Namutoni Fort
A white fort-style rest camp on Etosha's eastern side, built in the German colonial period. Visitors climb the tower for views over the savanna and the edge of Fischer's Pan.
Okaukuejo Waterhole
A floodlit waterhole beside Okaukuejo rest camp where elephants, rhinos, lions and other animals come to drink, including after dark. Visitors watch from a low wall.
Airports
Halali Airport HAL
It is about 34 km in a straight line from Etosha National Park.
Ondangwa Airport OND
It is about 106 km in a straight line from Etosha National Park.
Scams and safe taxis
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Namibia page
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan27.1 °C95 mm
- Feb26.2 °C99 mm
- Mar25.6 °C70 mm
- Apr24.0 °C21 mm
- May20.8 °C1 mm
- Jun17.6 °C0 mm
- Jul17.4 °C0 mm
- Aug20.6 °C0 mm
- Sep24.6 °C2 mm
- Oct27.8 °C14 mm
- Nov28.3 °C38 mm
- Dec27.7 °C60 mm
Driest months: Jun, Jul, Aug. Wettest months: Jan, Feb, Mar.
Costs
Prices here are about 41% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Festivals and events
nature
Dry-season wildlife (Etosha)
Game viewing is at its best, with animals gathering at the waterholes.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 10111. 112 from a mobile phone. Ask your hotel or operator for the nearest ambulance number.
local government
Namibia Tourism Board
Helps with: Namibia's national tourism board. Contact its Windhoek head office for visitor information. It also lists offices in Swakopmund, Rundu, Ongwediva and Luderitz.
Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Namibia or planning a trip there.
Phone: +264 61 290 6000
Email: [email protected]
Address: C/O Haddy and Sam Nujoma Drive, Windhoek, Namibia
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Namibia
Helps with: The UN migration agency, in Namibia since 2011. It works on anti-trafficking referral, labour migration, migration health and resettlement or voluntary return for remaining refugees.
Who qualifies: Migrants, trafficking victims and refugees. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +264 61 231 639
Address: 38-44 Stein Street, Klein Windhoek, UN House, Ground Floor, Windhoek, Namibia
local government
Police emergency number 10111
Helps with: Reaches the police. UK government travel advice lists 10111, 999 and 112 together for ambulance, fire and police; the Canadian government page also gives 10111 for police.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 10111
local government
Medical emergency number 10177
Helps with: Reaches medical assistance (ambulance). This number comes from Government of Canada travel advice for Namibia.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors.
Phone: 10177