Okaukuejo Camp
The largest camp inside Etosha, built around the floodlit waterhole where black rhino, elephant and lion come to drink through the night.
- Location
- Western Etosha
19.18° S, 15.92° E - Nearest gate
- Anderson Gate
17 km south - From Windhoek
- ~430 km
5 hr drive - Accommodation types
- 9
camping, double rooms, bush chalets, waterhole chalets, premier waterhole chalet - Signature feature
- Floodlit perimeter waterhole, open 24/7
- Check-in / out
- 14:00 / 10:00
- Camp facilities
- Restaurant, swimming pool, fuel station, shop, post office
The floodlit waterhole at dusk
The waterhole viewing wall
Inside a twin room
A thatched rondavel
Private reed-screened patio
The swimming pool
Poolside restaurant terrace
The Okaukuejo water tower
The waterhole viewing deck
Okaukuejo Camp entrance
Elephants at the floodlit waterhole
Lion near the campWhy stay at Okaukuejo Camp
Okaukuejo Camp is the largest in-park camp in Etosha National Park and the natural first base for Western Etosha exploration. Anchored 17 km north of Anderson Gate at the southern entrance, its defining feature is the floodlit perimeter waterhole — open 24 hours to camp guests — where nightly sightings of black rhino, elephant, and lion are reliable through the dry season. Accommodation runs from camping pitches through nine room and chalet types, including the elevated double-storey Premier Waterhole Chalet. The camp also has the densest concentration of services inside the park: a fuel station, restaurant, swimming pool, general store, and post office, making it ideal for first-time self-drive visitors planning a 4-day Etosha itinerary.
Accommodation at Okaukuejo Camp
- Camp Site
- Double Room A
- Double Room B
- Bush Chalet
- Bush Chalet · accessible
- Family Chalet
- Waterhole Chalet
- Premier Waterhole Chalet
Premier Waterhole Chalet
Double-storey, 4 beds, minimum 2 occupants — elevated waterhole deck.
From · ppNAD 3,960Enquire
Okaukuejo Camp rates (2026–2027)
| Accommodation | Nov 2026 - Jun 2027 | Jul 2027 - Oct 2027 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per Person Sharing | Single Rate | Per Person Sharing | Single Rate | ||
| Double Room A (2 Beds) | Incl. Breakfast | NAD 1900 | NAD 2130 | NAD 2380 | NAD 2770 |
| Double Room B (2 Beds) | Incl. Breakfast | NAD 1900 | NAD 2130 | NAD 2380 | NAD 2770 |
| Bush Chalet (2 Beds) | Incl. Breakfast | NAD 2210 | NAD 2450 | NAD 2680 | NAD 3090 |
| Bush Chalet (2 beds - Disabled Access | Incl. Breakfast | NAD 1900 | NAD 2130 | NAD 2530 | NAD 2930 |
| Family Chalet (4 Beds) - Minimum of 2 | Incl. Breakfast | NAD 2130 | NAD 2850 | ||
| Waterhole Chalet (2 Beds) | Incl. Breakfast | NAD 2380 | NAD 2620 | NAD 3480 | NAD 3870 |
| Premier Waterhole Chalet (Double Storey 4 Beds) - Minimum of 2 | Incl. Breakfast | NAD 3960 | NAD 5930 | ||
| Camp Site (Max 8 People) | NAD 460 | NAD 560 |
From NAD 1,900 per person sharing for B&B rooms and chalets, or NAD 460 per person for camping (2026/27 rates). Waterhole and premier chalets cost more.
The Okaukuejo floodlit waterhole
The floodlit perimeter waterhole at Okaukuejo Camp is the most reliable predator and megafauna viewing spot inside Etosha National Park. Lit from sunset until sunrise, it draws resident black rhino, elephant herds, lion prides, and occasional leopard from the surrounding mopane and savannah. Peak viewing is between 19:00 and 22:00 during the dry season (June–October), when surface water elsewhere in the park is scarce. The viewing area is fenced for guest safety and open 24/7. Bench seating is provided; bring binoculars, warm layers (winter night temperatures drop to 5°C), and a thermos.
Wildlife and waterholes near Okaukuejo Camp
- 22 kmSalvadora — north; lion, black rhino at dusk; one of Etosha's most consistent predator waterholes
- 18 kmOzonjuitji m'Bari — elephant aggregations and giraffe
- 28 kmMoringa / Ombika — mixed plains game, springbok herds, oryx
- 8 kmKapupuhedi — close-in morning drive, zebra and oryx
- 22 kmRietfontein — large elephant aggregations in late dry season
Activities at Okaukuejo Camp
- Guided morning game driveNAD 650 pp · 3 hrs
06:00 departure with a park guide.
- Guided afternoon game driveNAD 650 pp · 3 hrs
14:30 departure with a park guide.
- Guided night driveNAD 750 pp · 2 hrs
Post-sunset, into the park after hours.
What’s included with your stay
- ✓Accommodation in the room or chalet type booked
- ✓Breakfast (chalets and rooms, not camping)
- ✓Use of the swimming pool and waterhole viewing area
- ✓Linen and electricity in serviced units
What’s not included
- ✕Park entry fees: NAD 280 per foreign (non-SADC) adult per day (NAD 140 entrance + NAD 140 conservation, effective 1 April 2026 per MEFT); SADC adults NAD 180; Namibian adults NAD 60; vehicle ≤10 seats NAD 60 per day — payable at the gate (cash or card)
- ✕Lunch and dinner
- ✕Guided game-drive activities
- ✕Any conservancy or community levies
Compare Okaukuejo with the other Etosha National Park camps
| Camp | Setting | Signature feature | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okaukuejo Camp | Western Etosha, southern access | Floodlit waterhole — nightly rhino sightings | First-timers; book waterhole-view chalets 9–12 months ahead |
| Halali Camp | Central, mopane woodland | Moringa floodlit waterhole; smaller, quieter | Mid-park base splitting east/west itineraries |
| Namutoni Camp | Eastern Etosha, historic fort | 1906 German fort; adjacent to Fischer’s Pan wetland | Birding, leopard & cheetah viewing |
| Onkoshi Camp | North-eastern pan edge, eastern Etosha | 15 elevated chalets on the Etosha Pan rim; no through traffic | Couples and honeymooners; the most exclusive in-park camp |
| Dolomite Camp | Western concession | Elevated dolomite-outcrop chalets | Premium experience; exclusive western-zone access |
| Olifantsrus Camp | Western Etosha, 5 km from Galton Gate | Two-storey waterhole hide; camping only | Self-sufficient campers; dawn-to-dusk hide viewing |
Plan your Etosha visit
Okaukuejo Camp is the natural first base for Western Etosha exploration. Pair it with Halali Camp (central) for a 4-day, 3-night itinerary, or with Dolomite Camp for a premium Western-zone-only stay.
Enquire about Okaukuejo Camp
Send your dates and party size on WhatsApp or the enquiry form below. We confirm availability and book it with the park on your behalf, at published rates with a best-price guarantee.
Enquiring about: Okaukuejo Camp
Frequently asked questions about Okaukuejo Camp
How far is Okaukuejo Camp from Anderson Gate? +
Is the floodlit waterhole at Okaukuejo open at night? +
How far in advance should I book a Waterhole Chalet? +
Is Okaukuejo Camp suitable for self-drive first-timers? +
Can I bring my own food to Okaukuejo Camp? +
How much does Okaukuejo Camp cost per night? +
Does Okaukuejo have a family chalet? +
How do I book Okaukuejo Camp? +
Ready to book this camp?
Send us your dates and we will confirm live availability with the park, usually within one business day.
Staying at more than one camp? Plan a multi-camp itinerary and we will check every leg in one reply.
Prefer to talk? Call +264 81 277 6560 · we respond within one business day (Mon–Fri, 8:00–17:00 CAT).
Still deciding?
Inside vs outside the park, by traveller typeSelf-drive or guided?
Which suits your trip, and what changesPackages and prices
Indicative costs for planned itinerariesPlan my Etosha safari
Tell us your dates and we build the route
Before you book
- Gate times, entry fees and permits
- Gate distances and real drive times
- How many days you need in Etosha
- How far ahead to book, by season
- Best wildlife viewing times by season
- Self-drive route guide
Compare your options
- Halali Camp – central base, Moringa waterhole
- Namutoni Camp – historic fort, eastern Etosha
- Onkoshi Camp – pan-edge setting, most exclusive
- Dolomite Camp – western concession, elevated chalets
- Olifantsrus Camp – camping only, waterhole hide
- Lodges just outside the park
- Best time to visit Etosha
- Etosha map – camps, gates and waterholes
Not ready yet? Ask us a question and we will point you to the right camp.