Etosha National Park · inside the park

Olifantsrus Camp

Olifantsrus Camp is the only camping-only base inside Etosha National Park and the principal foothold in Western Etosha, just 5 km from Galton Gate.

FromNAD 510 per person

Check Availability We respond within one business day (Mon–Fri, 8:00–17:00 CAT)

Double-storey waterhole hide overlooking a year-round waterholeGalton Gate (~5 km east)

Olifantsrus Campfrom NAD 510 ppCheck Availability

Location: Western Etosha, 19.42° S, 14.62° E
Nearest gate: Galton Gate (~5 km east)
Distance from Windhoek: ~560 km (6.5 hr drive via Kamanjab)
Accommodation types: Campsites only (no chalets)
Signature feature: Double-storey waterhole hide overlooking a year-round waterhole
Check-in / check-out: 14:00 / 10:00
Camp facilities: Ablutions, communal kitchen, kiosk, hide; no fuel station, no restaurant

The double-storey hide walkway

Zebra & oryx at the hide waterhole

The historic elephant-abattoir site

Game at the Olifantsrus waterhole

Elephants in western Etosha

A busy waterhole

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Why stay

Why stay at Olifantsrus Camp

Olifantsrus Camp is the only camping-only base inside Etosha National Park and the principal foothold in Western Etosha, just 5 km from Galton Gate. The site has an unusual history: from 1983–1988 it served as the park’s elephant culling station, processing 525 elephants during a controversial population-management programme. The infrastructure was decommissioned and reopened as a campsite in 2014, with a small interpretive exhibition documenting the period and the science behind it. The campsite’s defining feature is the double-storey waterhole hide overlooking a year-round waterhole, where elephants, black rhino, and lion arrive through the dry season. The camp suits self-sufficient travellers exploring Western Etosha and the Galton Gate / Damaraland corridor.

Accommodation

Accommodation at Olifantsrus Camp

Camp Site (max 8 people per pitch)
Camp Site (max 8 people per pitch)
individual shaded pitches with private ablutions and braai facilities; electricity at most sites
Enquire

Camping only. No chalets, lodges, or serviced rooms.

Rates 2026–2027

Olifantsrus Camp rates (2026–2027)

Camping	Nov 2026 - Jun 2027	Jul 2027 - Oct 2027
	Per Person Sharing	Per Person Sharing
Camp Site (Max 8 People)	NAD 510	NAD 510

Check availability & get a quote

The Olifantsrus waterhole hide

The Olifantsrus waterhole has a purpose-built two-storey hide overlooking a year-round water source, giving the most concentrated dawn-to-dusk elephant viewing anywhere inside Etosha National Park. Black rhino arrivals are reliable from June to October, with lion and leopard recorded regularly through the dry season. The upper deck offers panoramic photography angles; the lower level is closer to the water for sound recording and intimate viewing. The hide is open 24/7 to camp guests. Bring binoculars, a thermos, and patience — a 2-hour sit typically rewards.

Wildlife and waterholes near Olifantsrus Camp

Olifantsrus opens Western Etosha’s least-trafficked routes, including the road network west of Dolomite. Productive nearby locations:

Olifantsrus waterhole hide — in-camp; the camp’s primary wildlife asset
Renostervlei — 18 km; black rhino sightings
Dolomietpunt — 30 km; mixed game with rocky-outcrop scenery
Klippan — 25 km; elephant aggregations late in the dry season
The road to Dolomite Camp — productive driving route for predators

See the Etosha Waterholes Guide for the full inventory.

Activities at Olifantsrus Camp

Self-drive game drives — Western Etosha low-traffic routes
Waterhole hide viewing — included, 24/7
Interpretive exhibition — elephant culling history and science (1980s programme)
Kiosk — basic supplies and curios

Note: No guided drives are offered from Olifantsrus. No fuel station; refuel at Galton Gate (no fuel) or Kamanjab before arrival.

What’s included

What’s included with your stay

✓Use of the campsite pitch (max 8 people per pitch)
✓Access to ablutions, communal kitchen, kiosk, and waterhole hide
✓Braai facilities and electricity at most sites

What’s not included

Payable separately

✗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
✗Camping equipment (tent, bedding, cooking gear)
✗Food, fuel, ice, firewood (limited availability at kiosk)
✗Any conservancy or community levies

Compare

Compare Olifantsrus 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 visit

Plan your Etosha visit

Olifantsrus Camp is the western foothold for self-sufficient travellers. Pair it with Dolomite Camp (45 km north) for a Western Etosha focus, or use it as a one-night stopover en route from Damaraland to Okaukuejo Camp. Read the complete Etosha National Park guide or browse other Etosha National Park camps.

Check availability

Enquire about Olifantsrus Camp

Send your dates and party size and we respond within one business day (Mon–Fri, 8:00–17:00 CAT) with availability and one clear recommendation.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions about Olifantsrus Camp

Are there chalets at Olifantsrus? +

No. Olifantsrus is the only camping-only site in Etosha National Park. For chalets in Western Etosha, the nearest options are Dolomite Camp or Okaukuejo Camp.

What’s the elephant culling history about? +

Between 1983 and 1988, Olifantsrus operated as a culling station processing 525 elephants from Etosha’s growing herd. The site’s interpretive exhibition documents the controversial programme and the conservation science of the period. Operations ended in 1988 and the site reopened as a campsite in 2014.

How far is Olifantsrus from Galton Gate? +

Olifantsrus Camp is approximately 5 km east of Galton Gate — the shortest gate-to-camp transfer of any in-park western camp.

Is the waterhole hide worth the visit? +

Yes. The double-storey hide is the only purpose-built viewing hide on a year-round waterhole inside Etosha. Two-hour morning and late-afternoon sits typically reward with elephant and rhino activity.

Do I need to bring my own food? +

Yes. The kiosk sells basics only. Stock up in Kamanjab (~80 km south of Galton Gate) or Outjo before arrival.

Ready to book this camp?

Send us your dates and we will confirm live availability with the park, usually within one business day.

Enquire about this camp

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?

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Before you book

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