Etosha National Park (Namibia)

Etosha National Park is one of the greatest game reserves in the world and offers a feast of opportunities for wildlife spotting. To anyone with an interest in wildlife, this is the real gem of Namibia. Etosha can offer excellent game viewing without the masses of tourists that are found in most parts of East Africa. The park itself is 8,600 square miles and has roads that are suitable for any type of motor vehicle. It is best in the dry season when huge herds of animals seek to quench their thirst at the waterholes. At the heart of the park is the Etosha Pan - a giant depression which was ... more

During the past four years I have been to Namibia twice, once hitchiking and backpacking, and once after hiring a car from Cape Town. Both times confirmed my initial thoughts of it as one of the most beautiful and amazing places I have ever seen. Etosha National Park is certainly one of the highlights. The only potential disadvantage is that for backpackers it can apparently (according to the Lonely Planet) be hard to hitch into, as the guys on the gate won't let you in - we also found that it is out in the middle of nowhere, and we were stuck at the sides of dead straight roads with nothing ... more