We leave Windhoek in the morning for a drive that will take you northwards through the towns of Okahandja and Otjiwarongo. After about a 4 hour drive you will enter the Etosha National Park, one of Southern Africa’s premier game parks and wildlife enthusiasts paradise. We enter the park via the Andersson’s gate, on the southern boundary of Etosha and spend the next day exploring. The park itself covers 22,270 kms², and gets its name from the salt pan that makes up approx 23% of the park. Once a massive lake, the Etosha Pan is now mostly dry, with the exception of good rainfall years when the pan fills up enough to become a breeding ground for flamingos that migrate between Walvis Bay and Sua Pan in Botswana. The park itself is home to some 114 mammal species including the big 4 (lion, leopard, rhino & elephant) as well as 340 bird species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and, surprisingly, one species of fish. This afternoon we enjoy a game drive from the park gate, stopping at some popular (animal) waterholes, before arriving late afternoon at our camp. Tonight we can relax by the floodlit waterhole, an excellent chance to view those creatures that prefer to be active during the cool of the night.

This day will be devoted to exploring the park and maximising our chances for amazing wildlife sightings. You will start off at your camp on the Western side and spend the day on a game drive towards the central sides of the park after an early breakfast. We aim to be the first vehicles on a drive the park as this will maximise our chances of spotting predators either lazing on the roads or making their final attempts at a hunt. From there, we drive from waterhole to waterhole (especially in the winter months), as they support a rich diversity of animals. These waterholes are one of the most unique aspects of Etosha National Park, and a major attraction for wildlife photographers and animal behaviour experts as the different species of animals, both predator and prey alike, can often be captured (on camera) drinking at the same waterhole. You will stop at Halali for a short break and perhaps lunch before continuing your search for animals and birds inside the park. You will return reach your next camp in the late afternoon.

This day signals the end of our journey. After a leisurely breakfast, you will get ready to go back to Windhoek. You may stop in the small town of Okahandja to visit one of Namibia’s largest woodcarving markets if you are interested in buying authentic souvenirs. Afterwards, you will drive to Windhoek. Expected arrival is in the mid-afternoon.