Etosha National Park offers one of Africa’s most rewarding safari experiences, and one of the best ways to explore its wildlife is through game drives. Both daytime and nighttime drives give visitors different views of the park and allow close encounters with animals in their natural surroundings.
Day drives provide clear visibility and make it possible to see a wide range of animals across the open plains, while night drives reveal the more secretive side of the park, showing animals that are usually hidden during the day. Together, they give visitors a fuller and more complete safari experience.
Day drives are the most common activity in Etosha. The park is well designed for self-drive safaris, with gravel roads connecting rest camps and waterholes. Visitors can move at their own pace, stopping wherever they find animals.
Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times, as many species are more active in the cooler hours. During the dry season, from May to October, wildlife gathers around waterholes, giving travelers reliable chances to see elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, and rhinos. Day drives also offer excellent conditions for photography, with soft light and open views of herds of grazing animals.
Night drives are only available from inside the park and must be arranged through official rest camps such as Halali, Okaukuejo, and Namutoni. For safety reasons, visitors are not allowed to drive themselves in the park after dark. Instead, guided vehicles take guests out after sunset.
Guides use strong spotlights to scan the darkness and reveal animals that are difficult to see during the day. These include predators such as hyenas, lions, and leopards, as well as nocturnal species like jackals, owls, and porcupines. Watching these animals in the quiet of night gives a very different feeling compared to daytime drives.
Taking both day and night drives allows visitors to experience Etosha from two unique perspectives. Each has its own highlights, and together they show the rich variety of life that makes the park so special.
Our Game Drive Rates
| Safari Drive | Guests | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Half-Day Safari Drive (4 to 4.5 Hours) | 5 guests and below | N$ 3,900.00 per vehicle |
| 6–9/10 guests | N$ 780.00 per person | |
| Private vehicle | N$ 7,800.00 | |
| Full-Day Safari Drive (8 Hours) | 5 guests and below | N$ 5,200.00 per vehicle |
| 6–9/10 guests | N$ 1,040.00 per person | |
| Private vehicle | N$ 10,400.00 | |
| Okaukuejo to Kingnahale/Galton Gate – 5 guests – 6–9/10 guests | 5 guests: N$ 11,700.00 per vehicle 6–9/10 guests: N$ 1,170.00 per person |
