Safari Report :  Etosha National Park
Date: 29 Nov-1st Oct 2015

If you are  fortunate enough to visit Namibia you have to include a trip to 

Etosha National Park. The word Etosha comes from the local Oshiwambo 
language meaning “The Great White Place”. 

The Park is a 22 750km² wildlife sanctuary in Namibia – one of Africa’s most
stable and accessible.  Game viewing at the waterholes, especially during the 
dry season (June to November) offers spectacular  photography opportunities 
with an abundance of wildlife from a metres away. Etosha is home to 
340 bird species,about a third of which are migratory.

The waterholes that surround the camps ensure that you are never left without 

something to photograph. The landscapes and the vast Etosha pan are 

always highlights for any photographer. 

Yellow Billed Horn Bill

Herd of Kudus on their way to the Okaukuejo Waterhole

We stayed at Okaukuejo with a waterhole  right next to the rest camp.  It is floodlit 

and draws black rhino almost every night as well as numerous elephants.
You are ore than likely to find the following: Early Monrning:  Lion/Hyena and Jackal; 
Mid Afternoon: Game/ Giraffe/Elephant; After Dark:  Lion/Black Rhino/Elephants.

Tips for good sightings

Animal activity at  waterholes can change on a daily and even hourly basis, and 
that often it merely comes down to a combination of luck of the draw and 
patience. Finding a good position, switching off the engine and waiting for 
something to happen will often yield rewarding results  Guides should be 
able to give you plenty more information on seasonal variations and on 
where you might be able to see the broadest certain animals on a 
particular day or at a particular time.   

Day One:  

We arrive at camp at 13:00. Temperature of 35 degrees celcius. We decided to 
unpack and spend time at the Okaukuejo Waterhole just next to our room.  
The Northern side to be the best for morning Photography and the Southern 
side being the best for late afternoon photography. 

Day Two:  

We had breakfast at 6:00 am every morning and left camp at 6:19  (when the gate opens). 
Breakfast packs might be a good consideration since the staff are not a 100%
 up and ready for the early birders at the dining area. We headed east to 
Halali towards Newbrownii; Gemsbokvlakte and Olifantsbad. We headed 
back to Okaukuejo  to check on activity at the waterhole. Except for 
springbok, Zebra  and Gemsbok we had a journey of Giraffe coming down for 
a drink with a beautiful sunset.

Journey of Giraffe

Gemsbok at Gemboksvlakte

Blacked Backed Jackal on our way to Gemsboksvlakte

Day Three:  

We made a quick turn at the same waterholes we visited the previous day. 
We saw a beautiful maleLion Drinking water at Gemsbokvlake. After this we decided 
to leave for the Salvadore area and visit Rietfontein for possible Elephant activity over 
lunch time. The waterhole is known for big herds of Elephants coming to cool down 
and drink water. We found a small herd of about 15 Elephants at the waterhole 
as well as a big herd of Wildebeest and some Springbok. 

Lion having an early morning drink at Gemsboksvlakte

Herd of elephants at Okaukuejo

Day Four:

We decided to have a short visit to the Newbronii waterwhole for a hour or two 
before we were heading back home to Walvis Bay. When we arrived their were two 
Elephant bulls and a group of Hyenas drinking water at the the waterhole. 
The Hyenas played in the water and chased each other like playful dogs at the 
beach. To top it all a Lioness with suspected cubs came for a drink. Its was a 
wonderful sight and we felt truly blessed to end of our trip this way. 

Lioness having an early morning drink before heading back to her cubs

Elephant Bulls play-fighting

Springbok at Newbrownii

Hyenas at Newbrownii