Waterholes in Etosha Safari Park Namibia 04 january 200727 November 2007
There are a lot of waterholes in Etosha national park Namibia are accessible by the public roads, and there is normally a reasonable sized area where you can park and watch the activity at the waterhole. It is worth being patient sometimes as waterholes that are deserted when you arrive can fill up with wildlife at any time.
It is worth enquiring at the camp offices which waterholes are dry as not all the waterholes are in use all year round - some may have dried up naturally and others may be undergoing maintenance work.
Some of the waterholes are natural, some are natural waterholes that have been expanded by man, and some are man-made.
This is not intended to be a full list of the waterholes, rather it is a suggestion of some of the waterholes that might be worth visiting or avoiding.
Andoni
This waterhole is a long drive North from Namutoni and is a fair distance from any of the other waterholes. The waterhole is clearly visible from the car parking area and is in a large shallow bowl. I have sighted lion here, but the distance to this waterhole make it one to avoid unless you’ve had no luck elsewhere.
Chudop
This waterhole is around 6km from Namutoni, and is another waterhole with a Spotted Hyena den close to it, and game sightings can be excellent here.
Dik-Dik drive
Not actually a waterhole, this is a 6km drive in a circular route near the Klein Namutoni waterhole. This is a good place to see the Damara Dik-Dik - the smallest antelope species found in the park. These are often found near the road under large bushes. Dik-Dik drive is also a good place for sightings of black faced impala and zebra and giraffe sightings are also common here.
Etosha
Not actually a waterhole, this is a lookout on the edge of the pan. There is also a short drive out on to the pan which is open when the pan is suitably dry, so you can drive approx 20 metres out onto the pan on a short road marked by ropes. When you drive on to the pan like this you get an idea of how vast it is - the pan extends a far as the eye can see and is totally empty and barren.
Halali
This waterhole has en my experience proved to be the best one for sightings of Black Rhino, and sightings of elephant are also good here. If staying at Halali camp it is well worth spending as much time as possible in the evening at the waterhole to maximise chances of spotting Rhino. During the day there is a steady flow of wildlife coming in to drink.
Helio
This waterhole is dry and is usually deserted - one to avoid.
Khoinachas
This waterhole is fairly close to Namutoni and is within the home range of the Hyenas living at Chudop, so Spotted Hyena can sometimes be seen here drinking or scavenging on a kill.
Klein Namutoni
This waterhole is just 3-4 minutes drive from Namutoni camp, and as such it is very popular with tourists shortly before sunset as they can continue watching wildlife as long as possible. This waterhole is well used by wildlife including Giraffe, Zebra, Springbok and more. There is also a Spotted Hyena den nearby so Spotted Hyena sightings are possible, particularly around dawn.
Namutoni
The rest-camp’s waterhole can be active during the day with Springbok, Oryx and Warthog, but the view is restricted by the large mass of reeds in the centre. Of the three rest camp waterholes, this is the least busy.
Nebrownii
This waterhole is about 9 Km East of Okaukuejo, just off the main East-West road through the park. The waterhole is adjacent to a flat plain and also has some scrub nearby. Game sightings can be good here, particularly during the dry season.
Oryx wait close to the Nebrownii waterhole in Etosha
Okaukuejo
By far the busiest of the camp waterholes, this is a good place for sightings of elephant in the evening, and during the day the waterhole can be crowded with springbok, kudu, oryx, zebra and other wildlife
Springbok crowd the waterhole at Okaukeujo Elephant and other wildlife at Okaukuejo waterhole A Rhino visits the okaukuejo waterhole at night
Okondeka
This waterhole is located North of Okaukuejo and is on the very edge of the Etosha Pan. A pride of lions is resident in the area and can sometimes be spotted. The view across the vast empty waste of the Etosha Pan is spectacular
A lion walks near the Okondeka waterhole with the Etosha Pan in the background
Ombika
This waterhole is located near the Anderssons Gate entrance to the park, and is worth visiting as you enter or leave the park, but it can be frustrating to see wildlife arrive then vanish out of sight - the waterhole is in a large dip, and as animals go down to drink they can sometimes move out of sight
Namutoni Rest Camp Etosha Park Namibia 04 january 200727 November 2007
The main feature of the camp at Namutoni is an old German fort which dates back to 1906. This now contains some of the accommodation for tourists and the forts tower is used by many guests to view the sunset. The majority of the accommodation is bungalows nearby.
The restaurant at Namutoni differs from those in the other camps as its lunch menu is not a buffet - instead it offers an a la carte menu including some delicious choices - the Kingclip (a type of fish) is excellent and serves as a welcome change from the usual meat based diet.
The waterhole attracts some wildlife including Springbok and Oryx, but very little in comparison with the waterholes at the other two camps. Some wildlife does roam the camp - Banded Mongooses are common, and Ground Squirrels, Warthogs and Jackal can also be seen on occasion within the camp.
Stamps can be purchased at Namutoni, but the post tends to be far slower for items posted here than for items posted at Okaukuejo.
The fort at namutoni rest camp in Etosha
Halali Rest Camp Etosha Park Namibia 04 january 200727 November 2007
The camp at Halali has a waterhole that is located a few minutes walk from most of the accommodation. This means there is less background noise to disturb wildlife, but does mean that a torch is essential to find your way back to the accommodation. The viewing area at the waterhole is raised, so people look down at the waterhole. There are a couple fo benches, but most people sit on the rocks, so it can get cold when seated for long periods. The waterhole can get quite busy at night, with plenty of rhino sightings, as well as hyena, elephants and other wildlife.
The camp is unfortunately not very close to any of the other waterholes in the park. This means that if you are staying the night at Halali, you need to leave whichever waterhole you are at well before sunset to ensure you are back at the camp before the gates are locked.
Okaukuejo Rest Camp Etosha park Namibia 04 january 200727 November 2007
Okaukuejo is the oldest and largest of the rest camps, and is the main administrative centre for Etosha as well as housing the Ecological Institute which carries out nature and conservation research .
Like all the camps, Okaukuejo contains accommodation, facilities for camping, a restaurant, bar, petrol station and shop. Okaukuejo also has a post office where you can purchase stamps and post letters and cards.
The restaurant operates a buffet service and normally has a choice of two or three meats available including one game meat (e.g. springbok, kudu, ostrich). In the evening it is often a good idea to dine early and then head down to the waterhole to watch the animals come and drink.
The camps waterhole is separated from the camp by a wall and low fence to prevent wildlife entering the camp without obstructing the view for tourists. The waterhole is floodlit at night and is normally busy during the day time as well as night. It is quite common to see elephants at the waterhole as well as Zebra, Springbok, Oryx and others. Rhino can also be seen here. The waterhole is very close to some of the rondavels where tourists stay. Whilst this can be convenient, it can be a problem if noisy groups are staying in one of them as the noise can disturb the wildlife. This problem seems to be worst at weekends. While there is some lighting throughout the camp, it is advisable to carry a torch when going to the waterhole at night to help find your way back to your accommodation.
The tower in the camp, located near the entrance, and the restaurant is a good place to view the sunset from, and provides a good view during the day time as well.
Rest camps, Accommodation in Etosha National Park 04 january 200727 November 2007
There are three rest camps within the Etosha National Park - Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni.
Okaukuejo is located near the Andersons Gate entrance to the park and is the most westerly of the three camps.
Namutoni is located near the Von Lindequist Gate entrance to the park and is the most easterly of the three camps.
Halali is located approximately half way between Okaukuejo and Namutoni.
All three rest camps contain accommodation, camping areas, a restaurant, a bar, a shop and petrol station. Each of the camps is built bordering a waterhole so visitors can view the wildlife at the waterhole from inside the camp. The waterholes are floodlit at night.
Detailed Information about the Rest Camps in Etosha wildlife Safari Park;
Wildlife in Etosha National Park Namibia 04 january 200727 November 2007
The park is home to a vast array of wildlife - over 110 mammal species, over 300 species of birds, and more than a dozen reptile species.
The amount of wildlife you see will depend on when you visit. During the rainy season and for some time afterwards, there may be water on the Pan, and lots of small pools may form around the park. This means wildlife is less dependant on the permanent waterholes, and as such are less likely to visit them. During the dry season these temporary water sources dry up and animals become dependant once again on the permanent water holes, and tend to remain fairly close to them, and this becomes more pronounced as the rainy season approaches again and water is more and more scarce. With game such as springbok, wildebeest, impala and zebra congregating around the waterholes, this acts as a magnet for the predators so sightings of Lion and other predators are better. August and September are good months for game viewing but are when the park is busiest with tourists.
For the best wildlife viewing, you have to arrange your day to fit in with the times when the animals are most active. This means when staying at one of the rest camps, you should set the alarm for before dawn ! This means you can be dressed and ready to set off as soon as the camp gates are unlocked and opened at dawn. This is the best time to see wildlife as most of them are active at this time. After a game viewing session, its a good idea to head back for a quick breakfast before another game drive in the morning. There tends to be little activity during the middle of the day due to the heat, so this is a good time to relax, have a short sleep, or remain at one of the rest camp waterholes. Then a final game drive in the afternoon as the temperature starts to drop is a good idea as the animals start getting more active as sunset approaches. At night, visiting the rest camp’s floodlit waterhole is another chance to get good game sightings - most of the sightings I have had of rhino in Etosha have been at the rest camp waterholes (Halali and Okaukuejo).
Etosha National Park Namibia 04 january 200727 November 2007
Etosha is the best known of the Namibian National Parks, and is located 4-500 Km North of the capital Windhoek. The park covers a huge area being around 110Km across East-West and 60Km North-South.
Of this area, tourists are restricted to a small percentage of the park in the southern half, but this small percentage is still a considerable area with plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities.
The name Etosha means “the great white place”, and takes its name from the dominating feature of its landscape - the Etosha Pan, a vast shallow depression of around 5000 square Kilometres. When the rains have been good, the pan fills with water to become a huge lake, but for most of the year it is a dried out expanse of white cracked salty mud.
Etosha was until the 1960’s the largest game reserve in the world, but it was reduced in size by a massive 77%. Even after the reduction in size, at 22,270 square kilometres it is still one of the largest parks in Africa.
Travelling to Etosha from Windhoek is an easy drive. From Windhoek, take the main B1 road North. The first town you will reach is Okahandja, home to an excellent wood market where local craftsmen sell their goods. From Okahandja the road heads north to Otjiwarongo. At Otjiwarongo, the choice of road depends on where you intend to stay.
If you are heading for Okaukuejo then take the C33 road towards Outjo, then the C40 from Outjo north to Etosha. If you are heading for Namutoni then continue on the B1 north from Otjiwarongo, passing through Otavi and Tsumeb, until you eventually reach the turn-off for Etosha - the C38 which takes you to the park.
If you are heading to Halali then either route is ok but its then a few hours drive to Halali once you reach the park gates. No off-road driving or driving at night is allowed in the park - tourists must stay on the roads, and make sure they are either out of the park, or inside one of the rest camps before sunset each day. The roads are the gravel roads found across much of Namibia and are fine for both 4WD and normal 2 wheel drive cars. There is a 60Km/hr speed limit within the park and it is important to stick to the speed limit as it gives you more chance of stopping if an animal walks out in front of you (plus speeding could lead to you being thrown out of the park).
Driving slowly also helps reduce the amount of dust thrown up behind you so is better for the environment and for any drivers who may be following you. Most drivers do tend to drive fairly slowly although there are normally a few who leave it a bit late to get back to the rest camp before the gates are locked at Sunset so this is when most speeding occurs. Animals in Etosha always have the right of way - especially Elephants.
When encountering animals on the road, it is best to stop at a safe distance - do not approach too close to rhino or elephants as they are capable of destroying your car with ease, and are capable of surprising speed. Do not get too close to elephants near the road - especially if they have young as the mothers are likely to be very protective of their young. When passing elephants at the side of the road, move over as far as possible to the other side of the road, and drive past slowly to avoid startling them.
Elephant on the road in Etosha - one of the larger driving hazards you might meet. One important thing to remember (which unfortunately many tourists forget) - The rules are that when outside the rest camps, you must stay within your vehicle at all times - there are lots of dangerous animals in the park and although you may not be able to see anything nearby, that doesn’t mean there is nothing around - predators such as lions have excellent camouflage. When waiting at waterholes, it is equally dangerous to leave the car door wide open. If you break the rules you risk being banned from the park.
One of the most important things to do if you are driving yourself is to make sure you have a map of Etosha. These are available cheaply in the rest camp shops, and show the roads that are open to tourists, as well as the locations of the waterholes, and the distances between them - this helps you find your way around and means you can estimate how long it will take to travel between places (vital when trying to judge how late you can leave it before heading back to the camps before sunset).
Check the parks features and attractions in detail:
Wildlife in Etosha National Park
Water holes in Etosha Namibia
Rest camps for safaris accommodation in the park