kerikeri

hi all!
i am not a camper and at the end of my summer i will find myself with two weeks and thought i could use one to see highlights of namibia. i can take a train to the coast by myself from windhoek, but how can i get to etosha from windhoek? it seems all that is on offer are 3 day camping trips or a $756 usd desert train. is there nothing in between?

the 3 days is fine, but is there a different option? can i take a flight there and be picked up by a lodge?

actually i'd be content to sit at a waterhole if i could jst reach the place.

thanks!
kerikeri

santharamhari

Absolutely......Wilderness camp bordering etosha is a private reserve called Ongava and you can fly into Ongava. www.wilderness.co.za

Hari

mv

kerikeri

as Hari point out you can fly to Ongava lodge. Alternatively there is an airstrip east of etosha, I forget the name. When I looke into flights in 2003 they were very expensive. Instead I decided to drive on my own. It took about 6,5 hours to drive to Ongava including a long stop for lunch. It is an easy drive on good roads with very little traffic.

kerikeri

thanks to you both. you think i would not have a problem alone (female) in the car on the drive?

otherwise i'll look into the lodge option. perfect idea. thanks!
kerikeri

safarilover

I think you would have no problem driving alone. It is about a 5-hour drive from Windhoek north to Etosha. If you are planning to drive from Swakopmund to Etosha, I would stick to the tar roads. From Swakop it is about a 6-hour drive to Etosha.

There used to be a flight from Windhoek to Tsumeb or Mokuti Lodge on the eastern side of Etosha, but I don't know if it still runs.

Ongava is fairly pricey, but much more reasonably-priced, comfortable accommodation can be had inside the park preferably at Okaukuejo. There is a waterhole right there where you can sit all day and see tons of animals. Personably I prefer to stay in the park rather than at the lodges outside.

Leann

thit_cho

Ongava is NOT Etosha. I visited both in August 2002, staying at Ongava and then moving on to stay at the three public camps in Etosha. The game viewing within Etosha is far superior to that on Ongava's private property, and when I return, I will skip Ongava.

Its a very safe country, and I would recommend that you rent a car (2WD is fine) and drive from Windhoek to Etosha (around 5 hours on excellent, empty roads), and stay at the lodges in Etosha (which are very comfortable). While there will be some people camping, you can get a rondavel for a very reasonable price.

With a map, you can easily drive throughout Etosha -- the roads are excellent and well-signed, and you would have no problem finding excellent waterholes.

Michael

Celia

I second the advice to drive yourself and stay at one or more of the camps within the park. My husband and I did that a few years ago, and had a wonderful time. As others have said, it's an easy drive on good roads. The towns you pass through are pleasant, and you get a nice sense of what the country is like. There are plenty of places to buy gas on the way. The accommodations in the park are fine, but not luxurious.

On our trip to Etosha we stayed at both a private lodge just outside the park, and inside the park at Okaukuejo. We preferred to be inside, because you can sit at the waterhole at night and watch animals as long as you want. Another advantage of having your own car to drive around in the park during the day, is that you can follow your own whims. If there's something interesting to watch, you can sit there for as long as you want, instead of as long as seems ok to a whole group of people.

Etosha is a fabulous place. You'll have a wonderful time!

Celia

cw

Here's a great trip report by hanl on her honeymoon in Namibia.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34632364

They drove to Etosha and stayed in the park and one night out of the park at Ongava. Good first-hand account and a great read.

CW

kerikeri

thanks to all of you for that!

i am having no responses when i email elena's about reservations at the park in etosha.

how did you all do you bookings there? i don;t want to end up shut out, especially if i know my dates of arrival already.

thanks!
kerikeri

thit_cho

Hari, have you been to Etosha?

thit_cho

I used Cardboard Box to make all my Namibia arrangements. I think others have had success with them as well. I found it much easier for them to book my lodging in Etosha than to email NWS directly.

kerikeri

i'll give them a try! thanks.

Celia

We also were happy with Cardboard Box.

mv

kerikeri

I would recommend to spend 1 or 2 nights at Ongava combined with some time in Etosha. Ongava has some of the best Rhino (both Black and White) watching in the world. I tracked both species on foot. I also had some really good Lion sightings.
When driving on your own inside Etosha take a close look at any vegetation that can provide shade and you will have a very good chance of seeing Lions.

kerikeri

ok maybe this sounds foolish- but how does one self-drive a safari if an animal is suddenly "visiting" your car? what if one of those nice rhinos wants to mate with my vehicle. seriously this sounds very scary to me?

hanl

CW, thanks for the compliment! Glad the report has been of interest

Kerikeri, we also used Cardboard Box and highly recommend them. Their service is excellent and we found them very accommodating and helpful (and prompt in replying to queries!)
One thing I have heard is that their car hire rates can be more expensive than if you shop around yourself, although we booked our car hire and everything (except international flights) with them and didn't find the rates too excessive, all things considered.
As regards Etosha, we really enjoyed the experience at the camp inside the park (though regret not staying at Okakuejo) and our night at Ongava.

As regards the wildlife, it's highly unlikely that any animal will try and establish close contact with your vehicle. The animals are used to seeing cars and tend to ignore them (as long as you don't lean out of the window and start waving or screaming...).

santharamhari

Thit_cho,

No never been to namibia. It is on my list of places to visit........if only i stop obsessing about Botswana, i will get there.......

Pardon my ignorance....who is cardboard box?

Thanks
Hari

kerikeri

Thanks to all of you-
I did hear back from cardboard box very propmtly. They only had what they called bloick rooms and I donlt know what those are but they will have to do.

thit_cho

Hari, you have to add Namibia to your plans -- its very different from the other major safari destinations. Cardboard Box is a Windhoek-based travel operator, and they are very knowledgeable and helpul for trips to Namibia.

Kerikeri, grab what you can -- many operators reserve large numbers of rooms, and they often become available. Also, if you plan on renting an automatic car (which is much easier for driving on the left side of the road), you should reserve early (I went with Avis -- they are not the cheapest, but my concerns were quality and reliability -- and they rented me a very nice 2WD automatic Mercedes for the week).

safarilover

I believe block rooms are what they used to call "bus quarters." They are "blocks" of rooms similar to motels, not individual rondavels. These rooms are small, but adequate and have refrigerators. They're also close to the restaurant, but of all the accommodation at Okaukuejo, they are probably the farthest away from the waterhole and the least desirable. On the other hand, they are also the least expensive.

You might check the Namibia Wildlife Resorts website for more information and ask Cardboard Box to put you on the wait-list for a rondavel closer to the waterhole. Many times the more desirable locations become available at the last minute--I know; I speak from experience!

Leann