Etosha & Damaraland Holidays

What can you find on Etosha and Damaraland holidays that you won't find anywhere else?

Put simply, Etosha and Damaraland holidays offer a fascinating insight into the African wilderness and a chance for wildlife viewing that’s up there with some of the best on the planet. Etosha is one of the largest national parks in the world, and with little rain, especially during the dry season between May and October, it’s possible to see almost the whole Lion King cast pass through a single water source. Most of the action centres around the expansive Etosha Pan, which is so big it’s visible from space. Sit and watch as not one, but entire herds of animals quench their thirst, including elephants, zebras, giraffes, rhino and impalas. Even among seasoned safari-goers, the potential for animal encounters in Etosha is a big deal.

The majestic, untamed landscapes of Damaraland offer another intoxicating layer to a holiday in this part of Africa. The sun-scorched yet hauntingly beautiful mountainous scenery of Damaraland invites feelings of total seclusion and freedom. Namibia is one of the least densely populated countries in the world and nowhere is this more evident than in Damaraland’s untouched rusty mountains and soaring sand dunes. It’s pretty great on the wildlife front too, as it’s one of the last territories in Africa where zebras, oryx, giraffes, and black rhinos live outside the boundaries of national parks and one of only a handful of places where it’s possible to encounter the desert-adapted elephant and the near-extinct black rhino.

What can you expect on Etosha and Damaraland holidays?

A flurry of new hotel and lodge openings recently have elevated the entire region and added a whole different layer to Etosha and Damaraland holidays. In Etosha National Park many private game reserves on the park’s outskirts offer sizable boundaries, luxury lodgings and immense game-viewing opportunities. Rooms with private plunge pools and bathrooms facing water holes mean wildlife spotting is always on the agenda. Sink into a bath after a day’s safari and wait for the animal kingdom to come to you. The variety of plush lodges and high-end safari camps in Damaraland are just as delightful – luxury mountain campsites and riverside hotels that sink into the mountains offer incredible views, next-level sunsets and all the comforts of home.

What is there to do in Etosha and Damaraland?

Undoubtedly Etosha and Damaraland holidays centre around morning and afternoon game drives to look for all manner of wonderful creatures, but there’s a fantastic choice of additional activities to vie for your attention. Forget the usual 4x4 and swap four wheels for two feet on a guided walking safari – it’s a quieter, closer way to get acquainted with the landscape and its inhabitants. When you’re not out in the wild, there’s ample opportunity for relaxing by the pool, swimming, swapping safari stories around a campfire and enjoying dinners under the stars. Numerous historic sights add another powerful facet to Etosha and Damaraland holidays – the ancient rock carvings of Twyfelfontein, Namibia’s first UNESCO World Heritage site, are truly fascinating, while the German colonial Fort Namutoni, situated in Etosha’s eastern side, has a rich and colourful history.