Female Packing Essentials for Etosha National Park, Namibia

This is a guest packing list by Leanne Haigh, Sales & Marketing Manager at Acacia Africa. See all packing list posts here.

Etosha National Park is one of northern Namibia’s best-loved game sanctuaries. The vast arid landscape is home to the Big Five including, the endangered black rhinoceros (only around 3,000 of this species remaining in the whole of Africa), lion, elephant, zebra and vast numbers of antelope scattered across 22,750km² of open savannah. For the ultimate game viewing experience you should head to the park during dry season (June to November), when the waterholes have an animal magnetism that is hard to beat.

Etosha, meaning “place of dry water,” is dominated by a huge salt pan after which the reserve is named. With a semi-desert climate you can expect hot days and cool nights so it’s wise to pack your summer tees and something a little warmer for when the evenings draw in. And, with safaris taking place in the early mornings, it’s best to layer up and down according to the weather.

The national park is unique in that it offers a 24/7 game viewing experience, Etosha’s floodlit water holes allowing you to view its residents under cover of darkness. The viewing platform is about 50-metres from the hole itself and the area where we choose to camp is well-known as one of the busiest wildlife viewing spots.

Essentials!

• A “super zoom” camera with a movie mode feature to capture those once in a lifetime Africa moments

• Binoculars of at around 8 x 30 magnification, as you don’t want to miss that must have safari experience

• A torch (flashlight) is indispensable when you want to find your way back to camp! And a head torch can come in handy, leaving your hands free to carry your photography equipment

• A warm fleece for those cool evenings and early morning safaris

• Neutral colour clothing is a must for game viewers and lots of lightweight breathable cotton tees that you can layer depending on the time of day. Remember to pack light as you’ll have access to a laundry service at Etosha and most other campsites

• A swimsuit and towel as the campsite we use comes with a pool for a refreshing dip

• Sunhat, sunnies and a wooly hat – the latter another early morning “must have”

• Sunblock, lip balm and moisturizing lotion

• A conversion plug to a three pint round pin and all your necessary chargers – they can also be purchased at any airport (if arriving into South Africa or Namibia) or en route on tour

• Traveller’s cheques in US dollars or South African Rands

• Insect repellent and anti-malarials

• Comfortable walking shoes and flip flops

• Beer bottle cooler – perfect for those wildlife fueled nights at the waterhole

• A quick drying towel

• Think ahead – diarrhea medication and oral re-hydrate solutions

• First aid kit – all the basic essentials, plus your regular medication

• A waterproof bag to keep your technology safe from the dust

• Wet wipes

• Hand sanitizer
• A guide book, there’s so much to learn when you’re travelling, and Africa is one huge melting pot of wildlife

And don’t forget to bring your sense of adventure!