Namibia - Etosha National Park - East

On our last day in the park, we had to drive most of the way through the park to exit by the east gate. Along the way, there are multiple side trips and waterholes that you can visit. 

You need to be out of the park by sunset as the gates are closed. Our next accommodation was just outside the park so we could spend most of the day inside the gates.

Ostrich

Yellow Billed Kite

Black Shoulder Kite

Cheetah after the kill.

Oryx and Rhinoceros

Before getting to the waterhole there was a group of elephants eating from the trees. This baby elephant was off to the side. He had to find a tree that he could reach at the other elephants were much taller.

Our last waterhole in Etosha National Park was fantastic. The number of animals taking their turn drinking, or bathing was great to see. We started our visit by watching a group of four lions under a tree.

The activity of animals coming to the waterhole made the lions move and go for a drink. Notice that there are not a lot of animals close to where the lions are drinking.

Zebra and Impala shared the waterhole.

These two zebra kept jostling. When I was ready 

to get a great picture they stopped.

As the elephants started to arrive and the animals cleared the area. Very few animals will challenge the elephants. Elephants a very destructive as they will kill the trees by overgrazing and walking through the fences.

It was so interesting watching the elephants enjoy the water.

Bath Time

Time to go.

Our next accommodation was Mushara Lodge. 

Banded mongoose

Common Duiker

Sunset

Tomorrow we have a longer drive to get to our next lodge. We are heading south toward Windhoek.

 

Namibia - Etosha National Park - Central

Okaukuejo Camp is a large complex with a variety of accommodations and a campground. The advantage of this camp was the waterhole that is lite up all night.   This allows visitors to go out to the waterhole all night with no restrictions.  Our accommodation was close to the waterhole. While we were staying at the camp we made many visits to see what animals where having a drink.

Black-faced Impala

Springbok

Greater Kudu

Oryx or Gemsbok

After dinner we went back to the waterhole to see what would visit at sunset.

Getting up at 2:30 in the morning allowed us to see a few animals visiting at night.

The next morning us at 6:30 and we had the opportunity to see the spotted hyaena visit the watering hole.

Spotted Hyaena

Namibia - Etosha National Park - West

When you enter Etosha National Park you need to register at the gate. It is at that point you are told that you can not go off the road and must be out of the park or at you lodging by sunset.

As soon as we start along the roadway we see a herd of zebra and impala. The park is a 22,270 km squared and is a fenced area.  The elephants frequently take out the fence so the staff are constantly trying to repair the fencing.  Animals congregate near the waterholes during the dry season. In the wet season we were told it is sometimes very hard to even find zebras.

Springbok

Mountain Zebra

Our accommodation for two nights is the Dolomite Camp. This camp is safari style tents built on top of a rocky hill. It can be quite a walk up the hill to go for a meal or go on a tour. 

Dolomite Camp

In the afternoon we took another trip out to find animals by a waterhole close to the camp.

Mountain Zebra have strips on their legs.

Long way down to drink.

Standing watch for the ones drinking.

We enjoyed the giraffes that visited the waterhole but had to be back to the camp before sunset.

The next day we visited a different area on the westside of the park. Today we saw a zebra with melanism. Melanism is a condition where black pigmentation on the skin making this zebra look like he is missing his white stripes. This is opposite to an albino condition.

Zebra with melanism

Red Hartebeest

Heading to the waterhole

Black Rhinoceros

Oryx

Our last night at the camp we could hear the lions in the valley roaring. Sound was so load that Bill thought they were much closer and would come through our balcony door. In the morning we watched two lions and a lioness walk across the valley.

Leaving the camp we watch a lion, jackal and the kori bustard birds at the waterhole located at the bottom of the hill from the camp.

Heaviest bird that can fly - Kori Bustard

On our way to Okaukuejo Camp in Etosha National Park we came across more animals. 

Duiker

Flock of birds sitting on bushes.

H

Wildebeest

Sociable Weaver and nest.

Helmeted Guineafowl