Etosha camping: Our 8 favourite campsites

You’re looking for the best Etosha camping tips for your Namibia adventure? Then this article is for you…

• Which campsites we can recommend inside the park
• Whether there are also great campsites outside the park
• How booking an Etosha campsite works

Etosha camping: Staying inside the park

First of all, you have the option of staying directly in Etosha National Park. Between you and the animals there is then only a tent canvas or the wall of your car. What a feeling, right?

But don’t worry: all campsites in Etosha National Park are fenced. There are four campsites in total in the park, all of which are state-run.

Tip: With our app you can not only discover activities in Etosha National Park but also find campsites. Save your favourites to a watchlist and access them offline too – perfect for planning and for your stay right in the middle of nature!

Okaukuejo Camp

You’ll inevitably pass Okaukuejo Camp if you enter from the south via Anderson Gate into Etosha National Park. After around 18 km from the gate you’ll reach the entrance gate to the campsite.

What we particularly like here is a great waterhole that is even lit up in the evening. In the evenings you can sit on a comfortable bench with a lovely drink in hand and watch animals. In the evening elephants, rhinos and giraffes often drop by.

What does Okaukuejo Camp offer you?

• Camping pitches with a campfire site, electric hook-up and a built seating area
• Restaurant, pool and ablution block
• A small basic shop with meat, tins and water
• Petrol station so you can head out on a game drive with a full tank

Okaukuejo Camp is really highly recommended and is our Etosha camping tip if you want to stay inside the park.

Okaukuejo Campsite

Halali Camp

Another Etosha campsite is Halali Camp. It is centrally located in the national park and is therefore ideal for a game drive around the camp.

Unfortunately, the camping pitches have become a bit run down over the years. There are taps missing in the ablution block, some of the toilets are broken and some of the toilet doors no longer have a lock.

If you can look past that, you’ll be rewarded with a great waterhole. The Moringa waterhole is set in a rustic spot, the benches are under cover and it is lit up in the evening. So grab your drink and round off the evening here with some wonderful wildlife sightings.

What else does Halali Camp offer you?

• Camping pitches with a braai area, electric hook-up and a built seating area
• Restaurant, pool and ablution block
• A small shop with everyday essentials
• A petrol station so you’re ready for your next drive

Halali Camp has a great location and the waterhole is very cosy. Just don’t expect too much from the ablution blocks – then you won’t be disappointed.

Halali Campsite

Namutoni Camp

Namutoni Camp lies in the east of Etosha National Park and is ideally located if you enter the park via Von Lindequist Gate. It is also state-run but really well maintained. The campsite also offers lots of trees so you can always find a shady spot.

There is also a waterhole here, which is easy to reach on a short walk. A covered area with benches makes spending the day and evening at the waterhole especially cosy.

What else does Namutoni Camp offer you?

• Camping pitches with shade from trees, a braai area, electric hook-up and a built seating area
• Restaurant, pool and ablution block
• A small shop with water, tinned food, soft drinks, beer and sometimes also bread
• A petrol station in case you need more fuel

We can really recommend Namutoni Camp as well. If possible, plan your overnight stays here and at Okaukuejo Camp – and give Halali a miss.

Namutoni Campsite

Olifantsrus Camp

Olifantsrus Camp only offers camping pitches and is the newest of the four camps. It lies in the far west of the park and can be reached from Galton Gate in about 60 km.

Because the western part of Etosha is not as heavily visited and Olifantsrus Camp with its 10 camping pitches is not exactly big either, staying here is a special experience.

A wooden walkway takes you to a dedicated viewing tower, from where you have a breathtaking view over the waterhole from two levels.

What else does Olifantsrus Camp offer you?

• Campsite with a fireplace, shade roof and electric hook-up (inner campsites only!)
• Restaurant and ablution block
• Picnic sites that are open to day visitors until 4pm
• Small kiosk for buying basic groceries

We recommend that you book well in advance, as there are only a few pitches. In season they are quickly fully booked.

Olifantsrus Campsite

Etosha camping: Staying outside the park

It can also be a good alternative for you to stay outside the park. Compared with the state-run camps inside the park, the campsites are often better maintained, the facilities are more comprehensive and the value for money is better balanced.

We’ve picked out four great campsites just outside the gates of Etosha National Park that you might like.

Etosha Village Campsite

Etosha Village Campsite is outside Etosha National Park but only around two kilometres from the southern Andersson park gate.

The campsite itself offers four campsites, which are far apart from each other and therefore offer plenty of privacy. If you fancy it, you can take part in the activities offered at the nearby Etosha Village accommodation.

What else does Etosha Village Campsite offer you?

• Restaurant, bar, pool and private sanitary facilities
• Electricity, running water and a braai facility
• Small kiosk to buy basic groceries

If you are looking for a lovely campsite in the middle of mopane trees and value having plenty of privacy, then this campsite is ideal for you.

Etosha Village Campsite

Onguma Tamboti Campsite

The Onguma Tamboti Campsite lies to the east of Etosha National Park and can therefore be a good alternative to the state-run Namutoni Campsite inside the park. The campsite is only around 4 km or 7 minutes from the "Von Lindequist Parkgate" and is therefore ideal for a safari in Etosha National Park.

The total of 25 pitches are in a lovely location and lie in the Onguma nature reserve, but they are fenced. If you like, you can join a sundowner drive here or go on a walk through the bush.

What else does Onguma Tamboti Campsite offer you?

• Restaurant (overlooking the waterhole), pool and private sanitary facilities
• Electricity, Wi-Fi in the restaurant area and a braai/barbecue area
• Small kiosk to buy basic groceries

If you would like to explore the eastern part of Etosha National Park, Onguma Tamboti Campsite can be a great alternative to Namutoni Camp.

Onguma Tamboti Campsite

Onguma Leadwood Campsite

The Onguma Leadwood Campsite lies to the east of Etosha National Park, near Namutoni. By car you only need about 22 minutes or 12 km to the “Von Lindequist Gate”. This campsite is also a good alternative to the state-run Namutoni Campsite.

The campsite is in the private Onguma nature reserve and has only 6 pitches. These are ideal for smaller groups. As a camper you are also warmly invited to join the activities of the nearby lodge (Onguma Bush Camp).

What else does Onguma Leadwood Campsite offer you?

• Restaurant (reservation required) and pool, both located at the lodge
• Private sanitary facilities, electricity and campfire area
• Shaded pitches among trees

If you are looking for a small campsite and want to explore the eastern part of Etosha, the Onguma Leadwood Campsite could be just right for you.

Etosha Trading Post

The Etosha Trading Post Campsite is located just before Okaukuejo and is only 6.5 km from the park entrance. By car it is only a few minutes to Etosha National Park. The campsite is therefore a very good alternative to the Okaukuejo Campsite.

The 8 camping pitches and 4 tent sites for larger groups are far enough apart for you to enjoy your privacy. When you come back from your safari in Etosha, you can jump into the pool here and cool off.

What else does Etosha Trading Post Campsite offer you?

• Restaurant (at Etosha Village), pool, private sanitary facilities
• Electricity, light, running water and braai/barbecue area
• A well-stocked shop, tyre workshop and petrol station

If you are looking for a lovely campsite with a good place to stock up on supplies, then this is exactly the right camping spot for you.

Etosha Trading Post Campsite

Pros and cons of staying inside and outside Etosha

If you want to camp in Etosha, you have probably already asked yourself whether you should stay inside or outside Etosha National Park. And this is a very valid question because both have advantages and disadvantages.

If you stay inside the park, then…

• You can leave the camp right at sunrise and are already in the middle of Etosha. This means you can make the most of the best wildlife-viewing time at dawn and dusk.
• If you have to be back at the campsite after sunset, you can still continue to watch animals at the waterhole. After all, you are right in the middle of Etosha.
• In return you have to accept campsites that are in need of renovation and also relatively expensive.

If you stay outside the park, then…

• You have to drive to the park in the morning, queue at the gate and then drive a bit further to be right in the middle. In the evening you also have to start heading back in good time before sunset. So you lose valuable time during the best wildlife-viewing hours.
• In return you often get a better equipped campsite which is also cheaper. Here the value for money is right.

Our tip: If you stay overnight in Etosha National Park, we recommend our various routes for exciting game drives, which you will find in the app. The routes start at all four campsites and link the best waterholes in Etosha.

How do I book an Etosha campsite?

This depends a bit on whether you want to stay inside or outside Etosha National Park. If you opt for a state-run campsite within the park boundaries, then the website of Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) is the one for you, as you can book all campsites there.

There are agents who offer a booking service. That is not a problem in itself. However, it can certainly happen that campsites are supposedly fully booked when in fact they are not. If you then enquire via NWR, there are often still pitches available. In your place we would book directly with NWR.

If you want to stay outside Etosha, you will find suitable links on the campsite pages on our website. We keep these up to date for you. You can find the campsite pages here:

Etosha Village Campsite

Onguma Tamboti Campsite

Etosha Trading Post Campsite

Should you book your Etosha campsite well in advance?

In Etosha the campsites are very popular because of their attractive location. In addition, the number of pitches at the four different campsites is limited.

We therefore recommend that you book a campsite as early as possible. This applies especially if you are travelling in the high season. High season is also the best time to travel to Namibia for wildlife viewing.

In the low season it is also advisable to reserve a campsite in good time. If you are looking for a pitch at short notice, this is when you are most likely to be lucky.

How much does camping in Etosha National Park cost?

Camping in Etosha costs the equivalent of around 25 EUR per person per night. Note that a maximum of 8 people can share one campsite.

You can find a table with prices for Etosha camping here:

The most important things at a glance

• There are campsites inside and outside Etosha National Park.
• The advantage of a campsite inside Etosha is that you don’t lose any valuable time and can leave camp right after sunrise to go on safari. A downside is that the campsites are in need of renovation and are quite expensive for what they offer.
• If you stay outside Etosha you’ll usually get a better equipped campsite that offers good value for money. However, in the morning you first have to drive into the park and queue at the gate.
• You can book a government campsite inside the park through Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR). You’ll find the booking link for a campsite outside the park on our campsite pages. You should definitely book well in advance.

We wish you an amazing time camping in Etosha National Park and, above all, fantastic wildlife sightings!