- Location: 10 km from Andersson’s Gate (southern entrance), about 10 minutes’ drive
- Property size: 65 bungalows (60 twin, 5 family) on a mopane-covered hilltop
- From: NAD 3,383 per person sharing, bed & breakfast (valid to 31 October 2026)
- Mandatory levy: none — Etosha park entry fees are paid separately at the gate
- Best for: comfort and big views close to the southern gate, without private-reserve prices
Etosha Safari Lodge is the mid-range flagship of the Gondwana Collection on the southern side of Etosha National Park, 10 km from Andersson’s Gate. It shares an entrance road and activity programme with its budget sister, Etosha Safari Camp, but the two feel completely different.
The Lodge’s defining feature is its position. The 65 bungalows and main building stand on a hillock above an ocean of mopane woodland, so sundowners come with a horizon-wide panorama rather than a view of the car park.
Why stay at Etosha Safari Lodge
- The views. Very few properties near Andersson’s Gate have any elevation at all. The Lodge’s hilltop terrace looks out over unbroken woodland, and the sunsets from the main deck are the reason many guests add a night.
- Three swimming pools. Cold-water pools spread across the hilltop mean you are never far from a swim after a hot morning in the park.
- Ten minutes to the gate. You can be at Andersson’s Gate at opening time and at the Okaukuejo waterhole before most day visitors arrive.
- Full lodge services. Restaurant, bar, curio shop, WiFi, secure parking and overnight security (18:00–06:00), with Gondwana’s guided drives on the doorstep.
Accommodation at Etosha Safari Lodge
The 65 bungalows are split into 60 twin rooms and 5 family rooms; the family units are four-bed rooms and are priced the same per person as the twins. Bungalows step down the hillside from the main building, most with a stretch of that mopane view.
Each bungalow has an en-suite bathroom with shower, air conditioning, tea and coffee facilities and a small private veranda. The style is bright and contemporary, more spacious than the chalets at the sister camp, with the emphasis firmly on light and outlook.
The hilltop terrace and pools
The main building holds the restaurant, bar and curio shop, all opening onto a long terrace above the treeline. Dinner is served with the woodland going gold below you, and on clear evenings the sky show afterwards is remarkable.
Three cold-water pools are dotted across the property. In October, when the mercury pushes past 35°C, arriving back from a game drive to a choice of pools is a genuine luxury at this price.
Activities from Etosha Safari Lodge
Guided activities run daily through Andersson’s Gate in open safari vehicles, shared with Etosha Safari Camp next door.
- Half-day Etosha game drive — NAD 990 per person. Departs 30 minutes before sunrise or at 14:00, covering the waterholes of the Okaukuejo area over 5–6 hours.
- Full-day Etosha game drive — NAD 1,300 per person. A 9-hour, sunrise-departure loop reaching further east towards Halali. Park entry fees are excluded.
- Guided walk — NAD 445 per person. A gentle 1–2 hour walk (2–3.5 km) through the surrounding mopane woodland, offered morning and afternoon.
Self-drivers are equally well placed: the C38 to the gate is tar, and Okaukuejo, the park’s busiest waterhole camp, is about 17 km beyond it.
Etosha Safari Lodge rates (2026)
| Room type | Season | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Twin bungalow | Until 31 October 2026 | NAD 3,383 per person sharing, bed & breakfast |
| Family bungalow (4 beds) | Until 31 October 2026 | NAD 3,383 per person sharing, bed & breakfast |
| Children under 6 | Until 31 October 2026 | Free (sharing with adults) |
| Children 6–13 | Until 31 October 2026 | Half the adult rate (sharing with adults) |
These are the published 2025/26-season rates and remain valid to 31 October 2026; Gondwana’s 2026/27 card has not yet been released. All rates are per person sharing on a bed-and-breakfast basis. Etosha park entry fees and guided activities are billed separately.
Published 2026 rack rates from the lodge’s official rate sheet. We confirm live availability and any specials when you enquire.
Who Etosha Safari Lodge suits
Couples and older travellers who want comfort, a quiet room and a memorable dinner view tend to choose the Lodge over the Camp, and consider the difference well spent. Families are welcome too: the five 4-bed family bungalows, free stays for under-6s and half rate for ages 6–13 keep costs sensible.
If your priority is nightlife and the lowest rate, the sister Camp saves you about NAD 1,400 per person. If you want private-reserve game viewing from the lodge itself, look at Ongava on the same side of the park, at several times the price.
Getting to Etosha Safari Lodge
The lodge is signposted off the C38, 10 km before Andersson’s Gate. From Windhoek allow around 4.5 hours for the roughly 400 km via Otjiwarongo and Outjo, all on tar. From Swakopmund, the usual route also funnels through Outjo.
Check our park gates guide before you plan your first morning: gates open at sunrise, and the drive from the lodge takes about 10 minutes.
Frequently asked questions about Etosha Safari Lodge
How far is Etosha Safari Lodge from Andersson’s Gate?
10 km, roughly a 10-minute drive on a tarred road. Okaukuejo and its famous floodlit waterhole are about 17 km inside the gate.
Is Etosha Safari Lodge better than Etosha Safari Camp?
It is more comfortable, quieter and has the hilltop views and three pools; the Camp is cheaper and livelier, with its shebeen-style bar and live music. Same owners, same drives, different moods.
What does the rate include?
NAD 3,383 per person sharing includes the room and full breakfast. Dinner, drinks, game drives and Etosha park fees are extra; lunch packs can be ordered for early starts.
Can I do Etosha as a self-drive from the lodge?
Easily. Most guests self-drive into the park each day, entering at Andersson’s Gate and looping the Okaukuejo-area waterholes. A sedan is fine on the park’s gravel roads in the dry season.
How far in advance should I book?
Six to twelve months for July–October travel. The Lodge’s 65 bungalows sell out on peak dates because it anchors many group and self-drive itineraries on the southern route.
Check availability at Etosha Safari Lodge
We are an independent Namibian booking agent and confirm Etosha Safari Lodge reservations directly with Gondwana, at no extra cost to you. Send your dates below and we reply within 24 hours (Mon–Fri 8:00–17:00 CAT) with live availability and one clear recommendation.