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It’s possible to combine the best of two worlds: tick off a Noah’s Ark-sized list of species at the waterholes of Namibia’s Etosha National Park, and then escape to the quieter surrounds of a lodge or camp during an Etosha private concession safari in the evening.
It’s the perfect, quiet side of Etosha – an Etosha private concession safari offers a gentler, more refined way to experience northern Namibia’s most celebrated wildlife region. Instead of queues at park gates and busy waterholes, you arrive to open horizons, discreet service, and time that feels entirely your own.
This is Etosha, softened – where the wild still thrills, but the rhythm is calm, controlled, and deeply restorative.
At Etosha private concessions, the landscape creeps into your soul through experiences like night drives beneath a rising moon, guided walking safaris at first light, and lingering sundowners as the animals settle into their nighttime rhythms.
Why Choose a Private Concession in Etosha National Park
Just under half of Namibian territory is under some sort of conservation management, including national parks, communal conservancies, and private reserves.
Inside the national park, wildlife viewing is exceptional, but your sightings are shared. Outside the boundaries, on privately managed land, everything slows.
On a private concession, game drives in Etosha unfold without pressure. Guides aren’t watching the clock and vehicles aren’t limited by strict routes. If a cheetah melts into golden grass at dusk, you stay. If the light softens and silence settles, you pause – simply because you can.
There’s also the quiet relief of ease: no gate times, no queues. You move seamlessly from airstrip or private transfer straight to your lodge, greeted with cool towels, unhurried smiles, and the sense that someone else has taken care of everything.
Etosha accommodations are varied, and couples searching for romance and wildlife, solo travellers, and families are all catered for on their Etosha safari.
Personalised Experiences
Private concessions open the door to a richer, more intimate safari, with the comfort of knowing you have a private, knowledgeable guide at your side.
Night Drives and After-Dark Encounters
Once the sun slips below the horizon, a different Etosha emerges. Night drives could reveal elusive species – aardvarks, porcupines, bat-eared foxes – while predators become fluid silhouettes in the dark.
Walking Safaris and Rhino Tracking
On foot, the bush is closer. Armed guides lead you safely through the landscape, reading tracks, interpreting birdsong, and revealing the smaller details that vehicles miss. In select reserves, you may track white or black rhino on foot – a powerful, humbling experience that speaks to conservation success in Namibia.
Whether in the national park or a private concession, exploring on foot allows for the contemplation of smaller species, such as impossibly cute elephant shrews, springhares, lesser bushbabies, and many more.
Conservation at the Forefront
Reserves such as Ongava Game Reserve are internationally recognised for their role in rhino conservation. Staying here isn’t passive; instead, your presence actively supports anti-poaching units, monitoring programmes, and long-term habitat protection. It’s a rare chance to combine luxury with meaningful impact.
Etosha Lodges Designed for Deep Rest
Etosha lodging on private concessions is about sanctuary.
Many of the finest Etosha lodges feature expansive suites with private plunge pools, shaded decks, and uninterrupted views across plains or waterholes. Some sit on rocky escarpments, offering clifftop perspectives that stretch endlessly into the distance. Others are set within ancient mopane woodland, wrapped in birdsong and soft light.
After a dusty drive, the return feels ceremonial. A warm shower. A quiet room. Linen that cools your skin. Perhaps a spa treatment as the sun fades, or a long bath while the bush exhales outside. This is deep comfort, allowing stillness to take over.
Where Are Etosha’s Best Private Concession Safaris?
Eastern Etosha
Bordering the park, near Von Lindequist Gate, Onguma Nature Reserve offers more than 34,000 hectares of pristine wilderness. It’s known for elegant lodges, excellent plains game viewing, and superb accessibility, making it ideal for fly-in or short-stay safaris.
Southern Etosha
Near Andersson Gate, Ongava protects rugged hills and open savannah rich in wildlife, including lions and black and white rhinos. Its lodges are among the most refined in the region, balancing understated design with exceptional guiding.
The 30,000 hectare reserve encloses parts of the tongue-twisting Ondundozonanandana foothills (the name translates roughly as ‘the mountain where the boy took the calves’).
Each location pairs beautifully with time spent inside the national park, creating a seamless blend of iconic Etosha waterholes and exclusive private-land experiences.
Is an Etosha Private Concession Safari Right for You?
If you’re drawn to wildlife but want to avoid crowds, if you value silence as much as sightings, and if you want every detail handled with quiet precision, then yes – absolutely.
This is Etosha for travellers who want to let go, who want to feel restored, who believe luxury is space, time, and kindness, all delivered effortlessly.
Practical Advice for Etosha Private Concessions
- High-end lodges pride themselves on the skill of their guides. Many have particular interests, such as birding or botany. Let the lodge know of your interests in advance.
- Etosha National Park gate times must be respected. The opening and closing hours are based on sunrise and sunset hours and change weekly. Most accommodations will provide a detailed timetable.
- Not all high-end lodges welcome children. Do check child policies before setting your heart on a particular destination. Over-12s are generally accommodated.
- A swimming pool is a real asset in the summer, as is a waterhole in the winter.
- Neutral-coloured clothing (not white) is recommended for walks and activities.
- Lodges don’t supply all guests with binoculars. Do bring a pair – it revolutionises game viewing and birding.
- Because of the terrible poaching threat to rhinos in Africa, you may be asked to delete GPS or location data on pictures taken of the animals.
- Small aircraft flights limit luggage to just 20 kg/44 lbs (including hand luggage and cameras), and bags must be small, soft, and flexible enough to fit into the aircraft.
Does an Etosha concession safari sound like your next chapter? Speak to one of our safari experts and begin planning your private Etosha escape.
