Etosha Itinerary Ideas

Three sample itineraries

Etosha is the perfect place for a self-drive safari. Easy access, extremely safe, and good quality road infractructure to allow you to get around.

It’s easy to find your own incredible sightings using the great network of waterholes which attract all manner of interesting wildlife.

We have curated three sample itineraries which would be the perfect complement to a self-drive trip to Namibia, be it 10 days or 3 weeks.

There are two one-way journeys across the park, which are perfect for those completing a loop around Namibia. Approaching from the West you will likely be coming from Damaraland, or possibly Swakopmund or the Skeleton Coast. From the East you may be coming from the Caprivi region, or perhaps directly from Windhoek. These one-way itineraries can quite simply be reversed if you’re completing a loop around Namibia in the opposite direction, and they are fully customisable to your requirements.

For driving in Etosha, a 4×4 is not strictly required, but potholes do occur on the gravel roads so for comfort a 4×4 may be preferable. In no circumstances should you need to engage 4×4 or low-range as the driving is straightforward and off-roading is not-permitted. Keeping the car in 2wd will ensure better fuel-economy.

3 nights – One-way itinerary

A simple four-day, three-night itinerary across Etosha from West to East. Mirroring exactly our journey through the National Park. This itinerary is perfect to complement a two-week self-drive tour around Namibia.

If you’re approaching Etosha from the Damaraland or Skeleton Coast regions, then you’ll likely end up wanting to enter Etosha at the westernmost end of the National Park.

For more detail on our ideal 3 night itinerary view the full guide here

Elephants and Black Rhino at Moringa, Halali, Etosha — Cheetahs at Koinachas

5 nights one-way itinerary

How about taking Etosha at a more leisurely pace? You will get to see more of the park than just the most popular waterholes.

With five nights in the park you can afford to spend time to cultivate the perfect safari experience, perhaps utilise the game-drives provided by the camps themselves to get a better chance of finding that once in a lifetime Leopards sighting.

This itinerary is perfect to complement a three-week self-drive tour around Namibia. With a shorter 2 week tour I would suggest either three or four nights only in Etosha, to allow more time for the rest of this magnificent country.

For more detail on our ideal 5 night itinerary view the full guide here

Jackals and Springbok - Tobiroen — Jackals and Springbok – Tobiroen

Black Rhino at Rietfontein, Etosha — Jackals and Springbok – Tobiroen

Three Major Camp -Circuit

If you’re really pressed for time you can cut out the western half of the park. It is much quieter and less visited than the Eastern half which is a draw for many, and whilst there is some stunning scenery around Dolomite camp in particular, there is a much lower concentration of wildlife.

For a 10-day flying visit of Namibia, we would recommend 3 days and 2 nights in the Etosha national park. Whilst it’s not sufficient for a full immersive experience, it will be enough to get a flavour of the park, and will certainly leave you wanting to come back for more.