Etosha National Park is a 22,270 km² wildlife reserve in north-central Namibia, built around the 4,760 km² Etosha salt pan. It holds 114 mammal species, 340+ bird species, four of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, black rhino — no buffalo), and one of the world’s largest single-reserve black rhino populations. This page is a quick-reference summary of the numbers that matter when planning a self-drive or guided visit. Every figure is verified against primary sources and dated below; the deep guides linked throughout cover each topic in full.
Park at a glance
| Total area | 22,270 km² |
|---|---|
| Etosha Pan area | 4,760 km² (~23% of the park); ~130 km east–west, up to 50 km north–south |
| Proclaimed | Game reserve March 1907; National Park status 1967 |
| Public entry gates | 4 — Anderson (south), Von Lindequist (east), Galton (west), King Nehale (north-east) |
| In-park rest camps | 6 — Okaukuejo, Halali, Namutoni, Onkoshi, Dolomite, Olifantsrus |
| Named waterholes | 40+ |
| Internal road network | ~800 km, all gravel (compacted limestone) |
| Speed limits | 60 km/h on main roads; 40 km/h near waterholes and inside camps |
Entry fees (per person per day, from 1 April 2026)
| Visitor | Foreign (non-SADC) | SADC | Namibian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | NAD 280 | NAD 180 | NAD 60 |
| Child 8 to under 16 | NAD 180 | NAD 100 | Free |
| Child under 8 | Free | Free | Free |
| Up to 10 seats | NAD 60 |
|---|---|
| 11–25 seats | NAD 150 |
| 26–50 seats | NAD 600 |
| 51+ seats | NAD 1,000 |
The foreign-adult fee of NAD 280 is split as NAD 140 entrance + NAD 140 conservation. Fees are paid at the gate (cash or card) and are valid for 24 hours. Full detail, including monthly gate opening times, is on the gate times and fees guide.
Distances and drive times
| Route | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Anderson Gate → Okaukuejo | 17 km | 20–30 min |
| Von Lindequist Gate → Namutoni | 17 km | 20–30 min |
| Galton Gate → Dolomite Camp | ~40 km | 45–60 min |
| Okaukuejo → Halali | 74 km | 1.5–2 hrs |
| Halali → Namutoni | 74 km | 1.5–2 hrs |
| Namutoni → Fischer’s Pan | 7 km | ~15 min |
| Windhoek → Anderson Gate | 432 km | 4.5 hrs (tar) |
| Swakopmund → Anderson Gate | ~570 km | 6.5–7 hrs |
Inside the park all roads are gravel; the surrounding highways (C38, B1, B8) are tar. See the distances and drive-times planner and the road conditions guide.
Wildlife by the numbers
| Mammal species | 114 |
|---|---|
| Bird species | 340+ (incl. 35 raptor species) |
| Reptile species | 110 |
| Big Five present | 4 of 5 — lion, leopard, elephant, black rhino (no buffalo) |
| Black rhino | 500+ — among the largest single-reserve populations in the world |
| Lion | ~300–400 across 25–30 prides |
| Elephant | ~2,500 |
Species behaviour, best waterholes, and month-by-month sighting odds are in the Etosha wildlife guide.
When to visit
| Season | Months | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Dry season | May–October (peak July–September) | Dense, predictable wildlife at waterholes; book camps 9–12 months ahead |
| Green / wet season | November–April | Green landscapes, newborn game, flamingos on the pan, birding, lower rates, fewer crowds |
A month-by-month verdict is in the best time to visit guide.
Practical essentials
- Currency: Namibian Dollar (NAD), pegged 1:1 with the South African Rand (ZAR); both accepted.
- Fuel: none available inside the park — fill up before entering (nearest towns: Outjo, Tsumeb, Kamanjab).
- Malaria: low-to-moderate risk; prophylaxis is commonly recommended for wet-season visits — consult a travel-health doctor. See the malaria guide.
- Driving after dark: not permitted inside the park; be at your camp’s gate by sunset.
- Administering authority: the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT); in-park camps are operated by Namibia Wildlife Resorts.
Sources and verification
Fees: MEFT park entrance and conservation fee schedule, signed 15 January 2026, effective 1 April 2026. Geography, gates, camps and road data: MEFT and on-the-ground references. Wildlife counts: long-standing published figures cross-checked against IUCN and conservation sources. Last verified: 1 June 2026. We update this reference quarterly against primary sources. We are an independent planning resource and are not affiliated with MEFT or the Namibian government.
Planning a trip around these numbers? If you would rather have it coordinated end-to-end — camps held, route timed, in NAD at published rates — our team can arrange it.