Etosha National Park in northern Namibia is one of my favourite places for a wildlife safari. The huge white salt flats of Etosha Pan and the wide open spaces make it very different to the bushveld of many other national parks in southern Africa. Fairly easy to spot game too. Here’s my pick of the best things to do at Etosha.
By Roxanne Reid
Etosha National Park in northern Namibia is one of my favourite places for a wildlife safari. The huge white salt flats of Etosha Pan and the wide open spaces make it very different to the bushveld of many other national parks in southern Africa. Fairly easy to spot game too. Here’s my pick of the best things to do at Etosha.
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By Roxanne Reid
Augrabies. About 120km west of Upington in the Northern Cape, it’s a place that feels like another world. While the Augrabies Falls are understandably the centrepiece, there’s way more to the national park than that. For instance, think arid-adapted plants and animals, interesting rocks, hikes, and more. Here’s my pick of 17 things to do at Augrabies Falls National Park. ![]() By Roxanne Reid Namibia Wildlife Resorts upped its prices by monstrous amounts in 2007, and they’ve gone up every year since then. For a long time after the huge upgrade, we avoided Etosha National Park’s Okaukuejo camp. But we made a comeback to the campsite a few years later, which reminded us of how fabulous that floodlit waterhole at camp really is. By Roxanne Reid
About 220km from Cape Town, the Cederberg Wilderness Area makes a great weekend getaway. Whether you’re all about hiking and mountain biking or more of a heritage and culture buff, there’s something for everyone. And if you just want to kick back with a glass of wine and soak in the view of the mountains as the clouds drift by, that’s fine too. Here’s my pick of things to do in the Cederberg. ![]() By Roxanne Reid Untamed and craggy, the Cederberg Wilderness Area is about 220km north of Cape Town – a perfect short break that feels a million miles from city life. Here mountains dominate the horizons and you can let your imagination run riot among the jagged sandstone formations. We visited to explore and to stay in CapeNature’s cottages at Algeria. By Roxanne Reid
Addo Elephant National Park, about 70km from Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, is a feast of wildlife, including the Big Seven: elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard and rhino in the main game area, plus sharks and whales in the Marine Protected Area. And don’t forget history and hiking. There’s so much to do in this amazingly diverse park that it’s hard to choose. Here’s my pick of the best 10 things to do at Addo. By Roxanne Reid
[Updated April 2025] If you love history and old buildings, you’ll love Graaff-Reinet in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. The town has more than 220 listed heritage sites, so there’s lots of history to be explored. If you love nature, you’re in luck too, given that the town is surrounded by 195 square kilometres of national park. Here’s my pick of things to do in Graaff-Reinet in the Karoo. ![]() By Roxanne Reid Deserts, rivers, wildlife, amazing landscapes. I’ve written elsewhere about the best places and things to do in south and central Namibia. In this companion piece about a country I’ve visited more than 30 times and has crept into my heart, I’m sharing my pick of places to visit and things to do in Namibia: the north. You’ll also find some tips to know before you go. ![]() By Roxanne Reid The Cederberg Wilderness Area just 220km north of Cape Town is a place to feel the fresh mountain air on your face, hear the call of birds and enjoy views of mountains and intriguing rock formations. Don’t miss the Stadsaal Caves and San rock paintings of elephants that were painted at least 1000 years ago. ![]() By Roxanne Reid I’ve been to Namibia more than 30 times and I still want to go again. It’s so diverse, with deserts, rivers and floodplains, wildlife big and small, spectacular landscapes, a place that touches your soul. People often ask for my tips on Namibia, so here’s my pick of places to visit and things to do in Namibia: south and central. I’ve written up the north elsewhere. |
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AboutI'm an independent travel writer and book editor with a passion for Africa - anything from African travel, people, safari and wildlife to adventure, heritage, road-tripping and slow travel. Categories
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