Etosha National Park, Self Drive Trip June 2014.

Today we left the Caprivi region behind us and headed towards The Etosha National Park. We drove towards the town of Tsumeb. On the way I saw signs to the Hoba Meteorite
The Hoba Meteorite is on a farm. 'Hoba West' this is where it fell. It has never been moved and is said to be the largest Meteorite in the world. It was a lovely location and very impressive.  
Hoba Meteorite
 

 
We made Tsumeb in good time and had pre booked camping at Onguma Game Reserve. We arrived at Onguma a lot sooner than I had thought we would, the roads in Namibia, unlike Botswana are good.
We went to Onguma camp site to tell the owner we had decided camping was not for us! The campsite was really nice, good pitches each with high quality ablutions. The very helpful man running this part of the estate checked and there was a hut free in the Onguma Main Bush Camp.  The accommodation here was top class, viewing over a watering hole, with wifi, so I sat, G&T in hand and skyped home and showed the people in England the Giraffes drinking at the watering hole. It was a magical place. What a contrast the next day when we entered the state run Etosha.
camping at Onguma Game Reserve

camping at Onguma Game Reserve

camping at Onguma Game Reserve

 Onguma Game Reserve

 Onguma Game Reserve
Namutoni Camp site was run down and downright dangerous! The staff surly, rude and lazy. There were loads of them, all milling around doing nothing.  It’s a good job people visit to see the outstanding wildlife and not the experience you get in the Namibian Wildlife Parks rest camps.  
Namutoni Camp

Namutoni Camp

Namutoni Camp

The Book Shop at Namutoni Camp

Namutoni Camp

Namutoni Camp
The wild life in Etosha is outstanding, within minutes of driving into the park we saw this Rhino, one of 10 we saw in 3 days. 8 at the watering hole in Okaukuejo. 
We also had a puncture! Not a place you want to be changing your flat tyre. I sat on the roof to look for Lions whilst my husband changed the tyre. 



 
At Okaukuejo we saw both Black and White Rhino and heard them calling to each other.


 
We stayed at Okaukuejo and the next night we were due to stay at Halali, but they had allocated us a small disabled hut, without cooking facilities. This was not what I had booked. 
At the reception during check in I asked if I could move into what I had booked, a hut with cooking facilities, I was advised the camp was full. The camp did not appear full as it was very, very quiet with 2 cars in the car park.
When I said ‘OK! We will cancel the booking then! and go some where out side the camp tonight’ suddenly there was availability! 
As far as I was concerned, this was the last straw. I had had it with the rude , surly camp staff and scruffy surroundings in the camps (Namibian Wildlife charge top prices for Etosha).
We drove out of the Anderson Gate and checked into Etosha Safari Lodge & Camp. This was a fraction of the prices in the Park, it was clean, comfortable and run by professional friendly staff.

Posh Tents.
 
The next day it was time to drive the straight fast road to Windhoek, via the Biltong Factory at Okahandja and get the Air Namibia flight to JoBurgh where our aircraft was waiting to take us home.
Air Namibia Fleet at Windhoek airport.


Comments

  1. http://lifeasabutterfly.com/corruption-at-emirates-how-one-girls-dream-job-has-turned-into-her-worst-nightmare/

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  2. Hi Hayley, yes people can link to the story, no problems. I do think there is an issue with our young girls going to Dubai in that it appears to be a Western City. However its not! And the girls must remember that and to take great care. I have never written about the fact that my daughter shared her flat with this young woman;
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2307703/Evelyn-Clarke-Someones-trying-kill--Death-plunge-air-hostesss-ran-barefoot-tower-block-lobby-minutes-tragedy.html
    this tragedy has never been explained, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. As a western woman if you go to work for an Arab company, never forget that you are working for a very different regime that the one you have been brought up in.

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