Safari in Etosha: everything you need to know - Far and Wild Travel If you do not hear from us within 2 working days please check your spam folder, resubmit the query or email us: enquiries@namibia-tours-safaris.com. This is important until they can learn how best to protect themselves against hungry felines. Copyright TourRadar. Almost everyone reaches Etosha National Park via land having driven from other destinations in Namibia, Angola or Botswana. Winner: Best British Travel Blog By no means should this put you off. The drier southern winter months from May to October is the best period to visit Etosha National Park. Get yours here. Generally speaking, nightly rates for tented camps and lodges vary quite a bit, depending on the style of the camp/lodge, the time of year, as well as which package you go with. Reviews, Etosha Since this is the popular season Etosha may feel at times crowded. Conditions become drier as the winter season progresses. Very professional. We traveled to Etosha in the low season (January, the Namibian summer) and it was very quiet around the camps then. We stayed at the Namutoni, Halali and Okaukuejo camps and traveled through the park from one camp to the next. Best Time To Visit Etosha (Month by Month) - SafariBookings Tours, Ethiopia The park had no coverage, unfortunately. You will be happy in the warm summer months to cool off in the afternoon. I had wanted to visit Etosha National Park for so long! 7 Tips for Self-Guided Safaris in Etosha - BEST TIME 2 TRAVEL That being said, there are perks to visiting Etosha any time of year. There is a lot to see here throughout the seasons, but as with other national parks, game viewing is much better during the dry season. Self-driveMid-rangeCamping & Lodge, You 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), $2,996 More About Us. Learn everything about the parks changing seasons to the prime time for game viewing in this guide. The park is at its best, however, in the dry season, when the pan Etosha is home to a range of wonderful species, black rhinos, lions and elephants. Etosha National Park | Best Namibia Tourist Attractions - Uyaphi.com Many of the bigger mammals (such as elephants) will move north towards the Namutoni camp as this area will have more rainfall than down south at Okaukeujo. This is also the time of rutting and the males vying for females setting up their territories and harems. The average precipitation recorded around this time is 0.18 mm. (Although plenty of nimble wildlifeincluding wildebeest, cheetah mothers with cubs, and all sorts of antelopehead out onto the pan to take refuge from predators, such as lions and hyena, we quickly learned. Overland tours covering Namibia almost all make a stop at Etosha for 2-3 nights, otherwise travelling north from the cities of Windhoek or Swakopmund, or west from Botswanas Okavango Delta, are good options. Worried about tourists flocking or closing hours of Etosha National Park while planning your trip? Its different from other national parks in Africa, as you dont need a guide but can visit the park on a self-drive safari with your own (rental) car! The uniqueness of Etosha makes it very special, as does its gigantic size. May 17, 2022; Why Africa's Great Wildebeest Migration Is A Must. That being said, this style of pop-up camping is a nature and wildlife lovers dream holiday for a lot of visitors. You can go on an Etosha tour at any time of year, although many will argue that the best time of year to visit the Etosha is during the dry winter months. Summer is not bad, but winter is definitely better for wildlife . However, it does come at a price as barren Etosha is far from the most beautiful national park. This creates the most magnificent panorama of mammals and birds, all coexisting in relative harmony. The plentiful wildlife and generally good weather means the park gets quite crowded at this time. From black-faced babblers to the crimson-breasted shrike, birders will not be disappointed. Youll also need to take all the food and water you will require and lots of it! This is when wildlife is most easily spotted and humidity is lowest making for the most comfortable trip. Or if you prefer a more adventurous safari trip like we did! Anthony is the author of the 'Botswana & Namibia' Lonely Planet guide. . Because of the remoteness of the park, hiring a vehicle to drive here or taking a land-based tour, are by far the 2 most popular options. Etosha National Park, covering more than 20,000 sq km, is one of the world's great wildlife-viewing venues. The weather of Etosha National Park is favorable along with the best of activities during this particular time in Etosha National Park. I love this one from Hello Sunshine. If you want classic safari-style, go with Onguma Tented Camp, where just seven tented rooms encircle an active watering hole in the Onguma Nature Reserve. Information will be sent to the email provided above. #4 Sun Hat Namibia is hot and dry and often, windy as hell. It is home to a number of animals including cheetahs, leopards, lions, elephants, rhinos and zebras among others. Open a list of all cookies, Below you can decide which type of cookies you would like to keep switched on. Predators also need to search more for food and are then not that easy to be seen. Buy at home or while travelling and claim online from anywhere in the world. June 28, 2018. by Designer Journeys. Safaris, Exceptional wildlife viewing during the Dry season, Floodlit waterholes for night-time viewing, Several accommodation options catering to different budgets, Wildlife viewing is more difficult during the Wet season, Rest camps catering to self-drive visitors make it less exclusive. More About Us. ", "Julia is efficient, helpful and knows what it takes to plan a great holiday. Etosha National Park Guide - The World Pursuit #2 Metal Water Bottle Bring your metal water bottle so you can refill from big 5l bottles here in Namibia, helping the environment and your small pockets at the same time. The reason this is the better time for game viewing is because there is little to no water available in the "veld" and the animals have to trek every day to water holes. So, one would not find the large herds of wildlife congregating at water holes but rather spread out in the open plains and bush. The maximum speed in the park is 60 km/h and in the camps 20 km/h. That means you don't have to arise at the crack of a freezing dawn, you can amble out for a leisurely game drive mid-morning instead. No safari would be the same without seeing and photographing the wildlife with the backdrop of the most impressive sunset that Namibia has to offer. By now though, after several days and more than a few hundred kilometers self-driving through Namibias vast and sparsely populated landscapes, we knew the drill. The zebra were the first of dozens of species wed encounter casually crossing the parks roads in the next few days, including towers of giraffes and even a herd of elephants, who had a raucous good time splashing about in a roadside mud pit refreshed from the recent rains. Guided Safaris How Long Should You Stay? Always triple-check exactly whats included with the rental before confirming the bookinga stop at SafariDen, Namibias version of REI, will fill in the blanks with whatever else you might realize you need or forgot to pack. The reason behind this unusual behaviour is simple: its too hot for predators to hunt during the day. Etosha is a classic dry-season dry season reserve, with the weather getting progressively hotter, the later in the year you travel. The plains animals like springbok, zebra and wildebeest give birth during this season. Simply put the best time to visit Etosha is the dry season from June through to October. Light, compact and robust its been perfect for my Africa travel adventures. Where to Stay Quick Facts About Etosha National Park Located in northwestern Namibia Home to four of the "Big Five" (lions, leopards, elephants and rhinos) Became a game reserve in March 1907 By clicking Accept All Cookies you agree with the use of analytical and tracking cookies. Just park your car next to one of the many water holes, then wait and watch while a host of animals lions, elephants, springboks, gemsboks etc come not two by two but by the hundreds. All Rights Reserved. Hi Im Steph and Im a travel addict! Youll take many, many photos in Etosha for sure. Etoshas floodlit waterholes provide a rare opportunity for nighttime wildlife-viewing. Four of the Big Five are present, with only buffalo absent. They are especially great for solo female travellers, as its easy to make friends and feel very safe with them. Etosha National Park: A Self Drive Safari in Namibia What this time of year does is send animals flocking to the few remaining waterholes, meaning the chance of spotting a huge amount of wildlife is even higher. With eight months of peak game viewing, Etosha National Park, like the rest of Namibia, is almost a year-round destination. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Take at least two, but preferably three days to explore. To give a sense of it, the park is around two-and-a-half times the size of Yellowstone, and includes varied terrain, including grasslands, forests, tree and shrub savannahs, and abundant watering holes sprinkled about for the wildlife. Required fields are marked *. Bring enough food with you if you plan to cook your own meals. Trains and buses also pass through these towns from Windhoek / Swakopmund, as well as the usual spattering of local minivans. Tucked in the northern corner of Namibia, Etosha is remote, hard to get to and set in some wild desert terrain, all of which hardly amounts to it being the most accessible of wildlife-spotting destinations in this continent! When it comes to weather, as well as cost and availability, April and November can offer you the best of two worlds. So make sure you have offline maps on your phone before you drive to the park. The pan itself looks spectacular at this time of the year. Visit Etosha National Park, Namibia - Audley Travel UK Youll also want to ensure youre not being charged overseas transaction fees or getting poor exchange rates when using your card abroad, which is why I always take my Wise card away with me wherever I travel. With some of the first earth-soaking rains of the season on the horizon, wed have to rely on the blue dot of the Google Maps route for the next 250 or so kilometers. So why not make the car hire part of the adventure? The best time to visit Etosha National Park would be a time when you can completely soak in the experience and not worry about such hassles. Ive believed in this man, Top 5 Luxury Sri Lanka Hotels Not that you would want that in a park with lions and elephants, I guess. Before you set off for Windhoek, the countrys exciting capital, from where you can easily access Etosha, find out the best time to visit this part of Africa. Even that is just a sampling of the enormous amounts of wildlife that run amok in one of the largest national parks in Africa. The park also gets very crowded at this time. Travel doesnt get better than that right? Your enquiry has been submitted. Etoshas winters (May to October) are pleasant and dry, while the summers (November to April) are wet and prone to thunderstorms. Less water is available during this time and the animals tend to gather around the few sources that are available. Cape Town to Namibia Overland: Etosha National Park During this dry season, many European countries have their summer holidays. For example, March and April are best for seeing game on the plains and observing wildlife activity. Water is scarce at this time, forcing the various animals to come to the waterholes to drink. Best Time to Visit Etosha: Month By Month Guide - TourRadar Year-round is the simple answer; Winter is obviously the best time as the days are cooler and there is little to no rainfall. Read more: everything you need to know about camping in Etosha. By continuing to use our site you agree to us using cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy. SafariBookings is the largest online marketplace for African safari tours. All Rights Reserved. However, during this period is when many of the plains game like springbok, zebra and wildebeest give birth. A perfect trip!, NTS was AMAZING! to $3,292 pp (USD), Namibia: A guidebook would also be good to give you some background info. Dambulla is t, Best Time to Visit Sri Lanka! to $3,292 pp (USD), Namibia: So camping is the way to go if youre on a tight travel budget for Namibia. While there is a possibility of . Learn more in this post I wrote all about the best time to visit Namibia. This makes for really great wildlife spotting! Etosha National Park in Namibia is very large, so this is not a park to explore during a day trip. Bone dry much of the year, the Etosha Pan has a cracked, crusted topsoil so salty that nothing grows on or lives within it. The maximum temperature of the period is 100 and is only as low as 54. Etosha National Park The best time to visit the park is during the dry season which in Namibia, is during the winter months. 2023 Lonely Planet, a Red Ventures company. How we keep this site running? Months with no rains or lowest rains in Etosha National Park is May. It makes sense why many species give birth just then too it provides excellent camouflage protection for young ones who are vulnerable. Pack loose, cool clothing so youll be comfortable. It being summer, the rains also bring a welcome cool to the air; and there's nothing quite like a summer thunderstorm. But this only applies to the high season and youll be perfectly fine without a booking in the low season. Read more: camping in Etosha and the diary of our 4 day self-drive safari. The best time to visit Etosha National Park is anytime! Namibia When Is the Best Time The Etosha National Park is the main attraction of Namibia, with a quarter of a million visitors annually. All rights reserved. Be sure to bring warm clothes, especially if you plan to go on morning game drives in the parks open safari vehicles. Error! Best time to visit Etosha National Park For the highest concentrations of wildlife around Etosha's waterholes you'll want to travel in the dry season from May to early November . Now this may cause a little discomfort, but we are sure not complaining! The pans become a beautiful location for landscape photographers. All Rights Reserved. Just make sure that you have everything for your safari with you in the car, so you dont have to go get it from the trunk. Safaris, Tanzania When youre walking on the dunes, taking day trips or hiking here youll be exposed to the sun for long periods of time, so making sure you pack a sunhat for adequate protection is key. 3,914. Tours, South Africa These typically include private ensuite bathrooms, perhaps an outdoor shower, comfy beds draped with mosquito netting, fans and air-conditioning, chilled drinking water, a chance to hop on wifi, daily housekeeping, and chef-prepared meals. In addition, crowds are larger on the roads and at the waterholes during some parts of the year than others. However, while wildlife viewing is more challenging in the wetter months, youll get away from the crowds and the scenery is lush. Games drives will also allow you to take in the landscape and the vastness of this dry, flat, hot and baked land and can be taken during the day or at night (no self-drive wildlife watching allowed at night). Tours, Malawi Such a contrast to their usual stark white surroundings during the dry season. I had an amazing time at the desert sand dunes of the Namib Desert and then to the. Yes, the gravel roads are sometimes in bad shape. For anyone craving a few more comforts while on holiday, the tented camps and lodges around Etosha are the way to go. However, we do have our hot and cool seasons, wet and dry periods, and open skies and cloudy times. Mornings and evenings are still relatively cool, the crowds have thinned, and the trees and bushes are just starting to leaf out. I travelled through Namibia as part of an amazing adventure with Absolute Africa who I highly recommend for their excellent prices, great customer service, wonderful itineraries and amazing overall experience. I feel that Edward is honest, extremely helpful, and a true professional. While summer and winter are both amazing times to visit Etosha, they arent your only options. Of course, in nature there is no such thing as hard and fast rule and the wildlife also meet at waterholes any time of the day or night. It becomes this huge expanse of white that lends itself to the most amazing photographs. Lowest temperature in Etosha National Park is recorded as 41 in July and August. 7 from $108 per adult Safari in Etosha national park with professional tour guides born in Etosha. With eight months of peak game viewing, Etosha National Park, like the rest of Namibia, is almost a year-round destination. I used, A smile says it best! Never one for staying at home for too long, Ive been travelling for over 15 years! Highly recommended for a safari break! To see our cookies and how to opt out of them, view our full. At such a bustling time with many activities going on, it is also prime mating season. Much like many other parts of Southern Africa, Namibia has two seasons The wet season or "Green season" runs from November through to May and the dry season, as previously mentioned runs from June through October, although give or take a few weeks . to $2,368 pp (USD), Namibia: Alan is a travel writer and author of over 20 Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guides to Southern Africa and Zambia & Malawi. In the middle of the day, many animals lie down to rest under the cool trees. Tours, Namibia The best time to visit Etosha is during the dry season, when the further limitations of this arid area are upped to the max. As well, and many birds come out to feed on insects at ground level where most grasslands occur due to quick growth rates after rainfall. Even though it rains in the wet season, rain usually falls in the afternoon and not everyday or for long. Was it what he (and they) hoped for? Id suggest at least 2 weeks in Namibia to ensure you have the chance to tick most of the major sights off your list. Adventure is always around the corner. The winter season in the southern hemisphereMay through Octoberis the peak season to visit Etosha, as weather conditions are generally warm, but also dry and mild. Did I already mention that youll want to take a lot of photos? #3 There is no best time to visit Etosha National Park. Best time to go to Etosha National Park. Any rain that does fall tends to do so in the afternoon and doesnt last all day. Etosha National Park Travel Guide - Discover the best time to go During the dry months, animals are easier to spot as they stay by the limited waterbodies. The wildlife are always there, its just easier to spot them when its dry. Whatever you want to do, we can arrange it for you at the most competitive rates and reliable travel advice. So when our booking turned out to be on the wrong date oops! These cookies do not contain personal information and are not used for analytical or advertising purposes. At the reception of each Etosha camp, is a book in which visitors write down where they have recently seen a specific animal. We saw them both during our overnight stay there around sunset. It is always advisable to ask the rangers for information on where the animals are being spotted during your time at the park. 1,951, 41 days from 4,605 Check out my range of travel eBooks here! If you decide to journey to Etosha in the winter, remember that this is peak season in the park. The Wet season (November to April) is less productive for spotting wildlife because the animals tend to scatter. This makes it easier to spot wildlife. It was still about an hours drive from Etosha National Parks Anderson Gate when the local cellular network started to cut out. You can see males vying for females, male animals fighting over females. Open a list of all cookies. Weve travelled. A good 2WD would also be fine for the park. ", "Veronica is easy to work with, she's efficient with great advice and a wonderful positive attitude. Expect an average precipitation of 11.42 mm. And visited the water holes at the camps during the evening as well. And eventually, I couldnt resist any longer. The salt pan appears like a mesmerizing, shifting mirage of gray-greens and chalky whites against various hues of blue sky. The average temperature is 80. Visiting Etosha National Park in Namibia: 25 practical tips Please select which cookies you would like to keep switched on. The large herds then spend the cooler times feeding away from the waterholes where it is safer. This is actually when they will congregate around water holes in large herds due to their need for hydration. Most humid month in Etosha National Park is February. Bear in mind, that there are not vast differences in seasons as you would find in Europe, North America, and areas further away from the tropics. The best time to visit Etosha National Park is during the dry winter months from July to October. The hotter, rainier summer season goes from November through April. Things to see & do in Etosha - Responsible Travel Winter = Dry Season (May - October) Often you can see up to seven different species of animal at any one waterhole, and in their numbers: 200-300 zebra, 300-400 springbok, large herds of elephants and whole prides of lion. Find something that suits your pocket or adventure type, and check in weekly for fresh new deals. to $2,368 pp (USD), Namibia: The best time to visit Etosha National Park in Namibia is during the winter months, from May to October. Situated in Namibia, Southern Africa, the park itself boasts a wide spectrum of terrain. Etosha National Park Weather in January: The month of January is considered as the best time to visit Etosha National Park owing to temperatures ranging from 61 to 99. Plus the park has more than 340 bird species and reptiles both ready to strike (snakes and scorpions) and strikingly beautiful (the leopard tortoise). Prices for night game drives start from $40-$45 USD per person. Many people would think that this park might be an ideal place for viewing animals during freezing dawn hours. Were here to share our top travel tips and destination guides to help you feel at home in travel, no matter where youre headed. Sla, Wat we tot nu toe eerlijk van Zuid-Engeland vinden, Ken je die verhalen van blije ouders als hun baby, renting a car in Namibia and driving in Namibia. See all ETOSHA PARK SAFARI with local guides in 9-seater 4x4s 44 4WD Tours from $108.70 This is when many of the animals are concentrated at waterholes and the grass is low, allowing for a better viewing experience. During the wet months, they are scattered all over the park - making it much harder to locate them. The semi-desert landscape of Etosha is almost bereft of rainfall during the Dry season (May to October). Open a list of all cookies, Below you can decide which type of cookies you would like to keep switched on. On your self-drive tour, you may be lucky enough to spot elephants, endangered black rhinos, lions, giraffes, and possibly even leopards. The vegetation becomes sparse during the winter months. It is known for its elephants and rhinos sightings. By clicking Accept you agree that we use Analytical cookies for gathering information about how our Summer or winter, the water holes are always popular with animals for drinking. The dry season The dry season known as the peak season is experienced from May to October and is considered to be the best time to go for game drives in Etosha National Park. Even if there isnt much precipitation (this is largely an arid country) temperatures at this time can soar and humidity can be intense. READ MORE: The Best Time to Visit Namibia and Other Top Travel Tips for this Country. Everyone staying in the park must have entered a campsite by sunset, after this, its only official, camp-operated night drives that are allowed. The chances of seeing many species of animals in the low grass is greatly increased as a result. Dale is a multi-award-winning writer and photographer with more than 500 published magazine articles featured in magazines such as National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Travel Africa, and CNN Travel. There are over 35 species of raptor, including the yellow-billed kite, steppe eagle and pygmy falcon. does not contain personal information, cannot be traced back to you, and, (Animals congregate around the waterholes), Etosha Safaris, Rwanda Tours, Ethiopia Etosha National Park Namibia | Yellow Zebra Safaris guidance. The best time to visit Etosha is between May and December for game viewing, while the rainy months from January to March are amazing in their own way. 2023 Etoshanationalpark.org| All Rights Reserved |. It is this heat that dries up the salt pan and watering holes, which in turn encourages all of the wildlife out on the hunt for new water sources. Expert Hacks for Affordable Adventures But take a few sweaters, the afternoon heat can cool leaving the night air quite chilly. The young are weaned only when there will be plenty of food available. These animals know whats coming next. And if youre a keen birdwatcher then you will be in your element! I visited Nambia during the months of January and February, and can definitely attest to this! Etosha National Park, covering more than 20,000 sq km, is one of the worlds great wildlife-viewing venues. Big cats are spotted at dawn and dusk and black-backed jackal is very common. Dont let the rains put you off though! Paradoxically, Etosha is probably the one place in Africa where the best time to view game would be during the hotter parts of the day when the animals come to drink. The days are sunny, and the average temperature is 73 which is just perfect to put on those sneakers and go exploring Etosha National Park. July through to October is peak season for game-viewing. partners) to personalize our advertising campaigns and to allow you to share on social media. The pan itself looks spectacular at this time of the year. Its best to visit Namibia during the dry season from June / July through October. Etoshas Wet season (November to April) is hot, with nighttime temperatures of around 17C/63F. As there are fewer visitors at this time of year, the park will be quieter and so will the camp. Sign up for free and earn commission on every booking by registering as an accredited TourRadar Agent. Otherwise, if youre interested in a self-drive trip organised by a great company, then email me at [emailprotected] and Ill send you my top recommendations simple! She's efficient, concise and a pleasure to work with. Water sources being so central in the dry season, predator and prey alike must drink from the same places. I suppose you could fly into one of the nearby airstrips and from there make your way to Etosha, but Ive never met anyone whose done this and have no information about such a feat I imagine its expensive and difficult. SafariBookings is the largest online marketplace for African safari tours. The service and follow-up was excellent.
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