By Self Driving

Inside the park, driving and navigating is straightforward. There's only one main route across the park which has apparent detours and side roads to various waterholes and viewpoints. It's very hard to get lost, and you are likely to find everything you came to see.

Etosha National Park is well suited for self-drive. Well-maintained, and well-mapped out roads in the park mean it is possible, and popular, to explore Etosha independently. While the roads are gravel, 4x4s are not strictly necessary, although the higher clearance can make for easier wildlife viewing. Off-road driving is strictly prohibited in Etosha, so a 4WD is not necessary. Guidelines on how to approach wildlife safely, and maps of the park’s road network are provided to self-drivers.

Apart from a couple of roads near the entrances, the vast majority of the driving in Etosha is on gravel tracks. Most are relatively straightforward and easy to drive on but some can become rutted, making journeys a bit slower (and a lot bouncier). During the rains, mud can cause road closures.

Keep a slow pace. The speed limit is 37 mi/h and this is achievable on many of the roads. But game viewing is not about speeding along and potentially missing incredible things. Take your time and travel at something closer to 25 mi/h – and you will find it much easier to spot game.

Distance

The park is big and the distances are large. It takes 4 hours to drive from Dolomite Camp to Okaukuejo Camp (without stopping to watch game at all).

Another 1 hour, 30 minutes to get to Halali and 1 hour, 30 minutes more to get to Namutoni. Make sure you don’t have to drive too far, there is nothing worse than having to rush past a great viewing opportunity because you have a long way to your camp or exit gate.

Fuel

Inside the park, fuel is only available at three places: Okaukuejo, Namutoni and Halaliand - and sometimes they run out. So never let your gas tank get too low. We recommend filling up whenever you pass a station.

The Out of Park Experience

Outside the parks, there are private reserves, which neighbor the National Park. It is the same area, same views, just outside the official border of the park. These reserves are home to generally smaller camps, from campsites to luxury lodges and offer a more refined safari experience. They also have private waterholes on-site.

The rules are different between the reserves and the park. In Etosha, you can't drive in the park after 5:30 pm, and you can't leave your vehicle at any point. In the reserves, you can stay for sundown, do walking activities and night drives.