Hi...I read some horror stories about the accomodation in Etosha, as well as the service level in the camps. Do some of you have an opinion on this or reccomendations regarding a stay in Etosha?

Best regards

The camps were upgraded fairly recently and so the accommodation is fine. I have had no complaints about that in the last year.
The service levels however are pretty dreadful especially at reception and in the restaurants. Rude staff, food running out at the buffet dinner etc etc I have had many complaints about that.
Having the floodlit waterholes is the big 'pull' for staying inside the park.
If a high service level is important to you though then staying outside the park would be a better option. There are some very nice lodges close by the park for a similar price that you would spend to stay inside, and the service is much better.

GillesH, between not being able to have accommodations confirmed for me inside the park for all the nights I'd be in Etosha and the somewhat less than glowing comments I'd read, I decided to stay outside the park. I split my time between the Mushara Outpost (custom made tent-like structures of wood and canvas which are nestled on the banks of an ancient dry river bed), some 12 km from Etosha’s Von Lindequist Gate and the Mushara Lodge (8 km from Von Lindequist Gate, spacious chalets). They offer excellent mid-range accommodations, food and service. Rates include breakfast and dinner. Game drives to Etosha can be booked and paid for separately, although I had my own car and did not do so.

I spent most of my time among the following water holes: Kalkheuwel, Chudob, Klein Numatoni, Klein Okevi, Tsumcor, and Groot Okevi. Kalkheuwel and Klein Numatoni, which was excellent for late afternoon viewing and photography, were my favorites. At least for me, the major downside to being outside the park was needing to leave before sunset, thereby losing some good photographic possibilities.

Thanks for resurrecting this conversation.

One objection I hear continually about inside-the-park accommodations is the uncertainty of actually having a reservation, similar to sdb2's comments. That uncertainty would trump everything else for me in deciding where to stay, especially if going at a busy time of year where alternate arrangements cannot be made easily.

Any hints on overcoming the reservation problem would be helpful. Maybe using a local Namibian agent would help?

This post would be a good place to include links to photos that people have taken at the various waterholes, especially AT NIGHT.

After reading some of the above posts, not getting eaten by a lion would even trump reservation difficulties. Note to self: don't sleep on a bench at night in Okaukeujo.

Hi,

since i am only gathering information I can't help with the question regarding the reservations. I am comparing trips for either Namibia or Botswana. (they are in a different price range

I have a trip with nomad in mind. I had a good experience with them in SA this year, they end their trip in Etosha befor transferring to Windhoek and I'm checking wether I can prolong my stay in Etosha for a couple of days.
@sdb 2 Thanks for the tips regarding etosha

G.