To see elephants, lions and other wild animals, visitors to Etosha National Park spend hours in their car. Getting out of the vehicle is strictly forbidden due to the danger to life. You are only allowed to leave your car in the secure rest camps – and in the fenced picnic areas at strategic points in the park.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, eight picnic areas with toilets are now being extensively renovated and converted into 'comfort stops'. Some will also have viewing platforms. In the west of Etosha Park, between the Okaukuejo rest camp and the Olifantsrus waterhole, two new comfort stops are being added.
A game-viewing vehicle in Etosha National Park. Photo: Gondwana Collection
In addition, three entrance gates to Etosha National Park are getting a facelift. These are the Andersson Gate south of Okaukuejo, the Von Lindequist Gate east of Namutoni and the King Nehale Gate north of the Andoni Plains. The renovation and expansion work cost almost 41 million Namibian Dollar (just over 2 million Euro) provided by the German KfW development bank.
One of the gates to Etosha National Park in northern Namibia. Photo (June 2007): Kukurin, Wikipedia
Guests staying at Gondwana Collection Namibia's accommodation in Etosha National Park are not dependent on their own car. The Etosha Safari Lodge and the Etosha Safari Camp near the Andersson Gate as well as Etosha King Nehale near the gate of the same name also offer trips into the park in an open game-viewing vehicle.
The trained guides tell exciting stories about the game, the ecology and the park. They also hear from other guides via radio about unusual sightings such as lions or leopards.
Sven-Eric Stender