Etosha in May

The land is drying out and long, warm sunny days will start turning the bush a million shades of brown. Average high temperatures are a delicious 29° Centigrade, with lows of 11°C. As things dry out, waterholes become the place to be once again, making it possible to pull up near one and see all sorts of action. By the end of this month, elephants are likely to be heading back to the central /southern areas of the park. It is still not prime holiday time for locals or international, so tourist numbers are low to moderate. A wonderful time to visit the south and east areas.

Popular Etosha National Park Safaris

These popular itineraries can be customised to match your budget and travel dates

Etosha National Park Road Trip Adventure (8 days)

Drive yourself through the majestic landscapes of Namibia en-route to Etosha and spend your days searching for, and finding the wildlife that Etosha is known for...

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Nambian Desert to Coast Self-Drive Road Trip (9 days)

From the famous Sossusvlei, quaint Swakopmund, historical Damaraland and on towards Etosa National Park, this road trip through Namibia is an authentic and different take on a safari......

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Best of Namibia, Botswana & Victoria Falls

Travel from enigmatic red sands and surreal pans to rugged coastline and open plains, before exploring pristine waterways and scenic rivers - Kwando, Chobe and lastly, the mighty Zambezi River...

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Unforgettable Namibia Safari Adventure (11 days)

Namibia is an ideal destination for travellers seeking an unforgettable African experience in a uniquely beautiful untamed wilderness...

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Family safari in Etosha

There are families who have visited Etosha for generations, sometimes in family groups that range from pint-sized grandkids to grandads. Instilling a love for the park experience – exciting drives, mammal lists, tents, and searching biscuit-coloured grassland for biscuit-coloured lions – is a delight and a privilege, no matter the budget. A safari is an enormously exciting experience…

Etosha in March

There still a chance of rain and the bush is thick and green and grasses tall… all very lovely, but it does make spotting animals that little bit more difficult! Not many people around, but as per February, not as much big game either, or not lolling around the waterholes waiting to be photographed. Our travel experts say this is a time for more seasoned travellers, rather than those…

Etosha in July

Full sunshine is the default weather forecast, with average highs of 27°C and lows of 6°C (it can and does occasionally hit 0°C). We’re now in peak season, and waterholes will be well attended by both big game and tourists! This means the central part of the park is optimum turf, and game viewing wherever there is a water source is extremely rewarding. Booking in advance is essential. ...

Etosha in January

Mokuti Etosha Lodge Average temperatures hit a sticky 34°C. It’s rainy season: incredibly for a place one thinks of as arid, this can mean mud in patches! A 4x4 will be useful and comfortable, but it is a lot more costly, and the majority of Etosha’s roads remain accessible in an ordinary city car. Park authorities also tend to temporarily close roads that will be a problem. The…

Etosha National Park wildlife

African elephants that have become accustomed to the relentless cycles of drought in Etosha and map its water sources in their memories. From just 26 in 1954, their numbers have swelled to over 2,500. It was in Etosha that a study proved that elephant can communicate using infrasonic sounds; they literally ‘bounce’ these off a thermal inversion layer in the atmosphere. This allows…

Etosha in September

Still prime dry season game viewing time. Days are hot. Average highs are around 35°C, although a warm jacket may still be welcome on early morning game drives and when the sun goes down, believe it or not. It’s still peak season for Etosha for the first part of the month, and there will be traffic and some congestion at prime waterholes, which will be seeing all the big game action.…

Private concessions in Etosha

It is possible to combine the best of two worlds: Spend hours at some of Etosha’s most desirable waterholes, ticking off a Noah’s Ark-sized list of species – and then escape to the quieter surrounds of a lodge or camp on a private reserve for the night. Etosha is completely fenced, unlike, for example, the Kruger National Park in South Africa, where fences between the public park…

Western Etosha

The western side of the Etosha National Park has its own character and appeal, plus the all-important wildlife encounters (although game is considered to be sparser). The only accommodations here, a NWR luxury eco-camp called Dolomite and a fenced, camping-only site called Olifantsrus – opened in 2010 and 2014 respectively. This section of the park was also off-limits to self-drivers…

Etosha in May

Our Recommended Itinerary

Etosha National Park Road Trip Adventure (8 days)

Welcome to Namibia

Eastern Etosha

Game viewing

Namibian vistas

Southern Etosha

Namibian wildlife

Last safari day

End of Namibian safari

Popular Etosha National Park Safaris

Etosha National Park Road Trip Adventure (8 days)

Nambian Desert to Coast Self-Drive Road Trip (9 days)

Best of Namibia, Botswana & Victoria Falls

Unforgettable Namibia Safari Adventure (11 days)

You might also like

Family safari in Etosha

Etosha in March

Etosha in July

Etosha in January

Etosha National Park wildlife

Etosha in September

Private concessions in Etosha

Western Etosha

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