The Etosha Safari is a 5 day accommodated tour that visits the Etosha National Park in northern Namibia, the town of Tsumeb and Mount Etjo Safari Lodge, both located further south. The tour sets off northbound to Okahandja, the formal tribal centre of the Herero people, before heading on to the larger town of Otjiwarongo, (Herero for 'the place where fat cattle graze'). The emphasis on this tour is game viewing, flanked by visits to local places of interest on the outward and return journeys.

Etosha National Park is renowned for wildlife and landscapes. Elephant populations now number over 2,500, wandering and eating their way through acacia, sandveld and mopane woodlands in search of water. Breeding herds of females, calves and young males numbering 20 to 50 are common. Black and white rhino can often be seen in the late afternoon and throughout the night. As they are water dependant, frequent visits to the floodlit waterholes in Okaukuejo and Halali after dark are a regular occurrence. Several rare and endangered species (including the black rhino) such as black-faced impala, red hartebeest, roan and sable antelope have been re-introduced.

Most species of plains game frequent waterholes in the same habitat. This in turn attracts predators such as lion, leopard and cheetah, who make good use of Etosha's excellent ambush sites. Etosha Pan itself has no outlet and the evaporation of water leaves salt-enriched mineral deposits on the surface. The salt content is so high that only only Seuda atriculata, a salt-loving shrub can grow on, and along, the pan. Hence the most widely used of local names for Etosha Pan; ' A Great White Place'.

Tsumeb was founded in 1905 being closely linked to the mining industry. The town's streets are lined with beautiful jacaranda trees and bougainvillea. Mount Etjo Lodge is where the new Namibia was born. The historic 1989 Mount Etjo Declaration was signed under the supervision of the United Nations. Mount Etjo is 2,086m high.

This safari is perfect for those with only a short time available to visit northern Namibia, and can be perfectly combined with the Sossusvlei Shuttle to form a trip visiting the two main highlights of Namibia.

Day 1: Windhoek - Etosha National Park

Guests will be collected from their accommodation in Windhoek at around 7.45. Your tour begins with a drive northwards to Etosha National Park via Okahandja, Otjiwarongo and Outjo. The Garden Town of Okahandja is the former tribal centre of the Herero people. Arrival time in Etosha is scheduled for the early afternoon, with a game drive starting from Andersson's Gate on in. After the rains, large numbers of giraffe and mountain zebra visit Ombika waterhole, as do many waterbirds. The floodlit waterhole at Okaukuejo has been the scene of many an extraordinary wildlife encounter. Lions, black rhino, huge herds of elephant, zebra and giraffe visit, as do many species of plains game.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Okaukuejo or similar

Day 2: Etosha National Park

A full day of game-viewing in Etosha National Park, which is dominated by a massive pan measuring more than 5,000km². Today, this former giant lake is no more than a semi-arid depression in the ground, although seasonal rains ensure that it remains core to the survival of many a local species. In the dry season water is scarce and Etosha's wildlife tend to congregate nearer waterholes. When the rains fall, animals disperse all over the park. Your overnight accommodation is at Halali Restcamp. The floodlit waterhole, Moringa, is named after a mopane woodland that used to surround the waterhole. Elephants have destroyed or pushed over most of them, but it is probably the best place in Etosha to see leopard and white rhino. (Sightings not guaranteed, but a night by the waterhole might prove to be productive).
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Halali or similar

Day 3: Etosha National Park

After an early breakfast, another full day's game driving and viewing along the pan is on the cards. On arrival, look to see which animals are drinking and what the others are doing. Antelope may drink at one side of a waterhole, looking to the other. Predators may be lying in wait in the bushes. Because of their height, giraffe can spot lions at some distance. In the late afternoon, you will game drive outside of the park to your overnight accommodation. !Uris Safari Lodge is located 20kms west of the town of Tsumeb, between Lake Otjikoto and Etosha National Park and borders a number of historic German mines.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: !Uris Safari Lodge

Day 4: Etosha - Erindi

After breakfast there is a visit to Lake Otjikoto and the Tsumeb Mine Museum. An impressive collection of rare minerals can be observed. After lunch (on own account) the tour proceeds via Otjiwarongo to your overnight accommodation.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Mount Etjo Safari Lodge / Erindi Private Game Reserve or similar

Day 5: Mount Etjo - Windhoek

Homeward bound to Windhoek via Okahandja and it's woodcarvers market, with a visit to the graves of the great Herero chiefs, and the old cemetery with graves of members of the German Schutztruppe.
Meals: Breakfast

This itinerary is valid from 1 Nov 2010 - earlier departures are likely to use different accommodation & routing

Included

Tour in a group with an English speaking driver / guide.
Porterage & park-entrance-fees

Excluded

Beverages
Items of a personal nature
Tips
Travel Insurance

Route & Accommodation

The itinerary above is a guideline only and whilst we try to adhere to it there may be circumstances when it may change - for example weather and/or road conditions, seasonal daylight hours etc. Overnight stops on occasion may be altered from those indicated.