Probably the wrong forum but.. I know someone in here could help

My wife and I are looking for a hotel in Etosha and need a recommendation. The plan is to drive from swakopmund up the skeleton coast to Etosha before our safari starts.

We would also like to know who you rented a car from and if you had any problems or suggestions.
Thank You, John

John- I think you are going to have to contact one of the big tour companies. They buy these rooms in blocks and do not think there are any availible for individuals from the source.

International phone number is 264-61-236 975/6/7/8, four different lines. That is the number in Windhoek. The hotels are as follows: Okaukuejo 264-67-229 800, Halali 264-67-229 400 and Namutoni 264-67-229 300. These are the three resort facalities in the park. The first has 4 different bungalow accomidations and also a de lux room. the second has 2 bungalow accom and de lux room amd thethird has 2 bimgalow accom. 2 room accom and 1 flat accom.. The differences are the amenities in each. The seven different amenties are Fridge/Kettle - Hot Plate - Toilet - Wash basin - Shower (hot) - Bedding/Towels - Airconditioning.

I haven't used these people but I have seen them recommended by several other savvy travelers (budget minded!). http://www.namibian.org/ The Cardboard Box Travel Shop. They arrange lodging, rental cars, safaris (non-hunting) etc. Good luck!

Renting a car is no problem but is a bit expensive in Namibia due to large number of one car accidents and clients driving (badly) off road with vehicles not meant for it.

Driving from Swakop you'll want to stay at Okakuejo the first night -- your map will tell you why. It's also pleasant and has a nice pond to do game viewing with a beverage in hand. Halali is more modern and in the center of Etosha so you can foray out to more remote areas of the pan more easily. Namutoni is a beau geste-style fort and a treat. Book on your own is OK; Die Ou Jagter has given the numbers. Might see if you can do it online with a google search, too.
Best, Tim

I'll second Okaukuejo as a nice place. Here are some pics of some of the animals that came in to drink at the waterhole:

Thirsty Burchell's zebras:



Long-horned bull gemsbok:



It's incongruous, after first chasing them all over the desert, to come to the spa at Okaukuejo and watch them splash in and slurp from the pool.

quote:

Driving from Swakop you'll want to stay at Okakuejo the first night

Driving up via the Skeleton Coast will mean that you will use a couple of days before reaching Okaujuejo in Etosha. At least if you want to see anything, and driving in the dark is not advisable IMO. I presume that you'll be taking the C39 eastwards from just south of Torra Bay. Then you can either go south and see the 6000 year old rock engravings at Twyfontein, or north to Palmwag where there is a chance of seeing black rhino and "desert elephant". Both the Palmwag and Twyfontein option then have roads heading east towards Etosha. I would definatly suggest using a day or 2 on this (or any other) route instead of rushing thru it.

I am limited to 6/7 days so I guess the Skeleton Cosst is out for this trip. Is 3 days enough to hang around Etosha?

I am now thinking Swakopmund/Walvis Bay (2 days), Etosha (3 days), windoek (1 Day), hunting (10 days)

Thanks, John

IMO 3 days is enough in Etosha.

Just remember that distances are long in Namibia, and although the main tar roads are very good, the smaller ones are gravel, and often not very good!

You might want to consider seeing the dunes at Sossusvlei, by cutting dwn your time in Swakop and Walvis Bay a little. It's a bit of a detour, but Sossusvlei is quite facinating.

I had a problem with a rental car last November in Namibia. Rented it "on line" through a European company that had the best price and picked it up at the (International) Windhoek Airport. When I returned it eight days later the price I paid was different (much higher) than what I was qouted "on line". The car rental company was nice, but would not honor the numbers the booking agency gave me. They explained that they have no control for what prices the on-line company qoutes.

It was my bad for not reading the several pages of fine print when I signed for the car at pick-up, I just assumed we were all on the same page and I was anxious to get down the rode.

Rental cars are indeed pricy in Namibia. Roads get a little rough too.

John,

Figures suggest you are in Namibia for 16 days, ten of which will be spent hunting. The order of your tourism time will depend on where you will be hunting.

If you are going way south of Windhoek then you might do: arrival night in Windhoek, off to hunt next day. After hunt to Sossusvlei with the right vehicle going in from Rehoboth; or to the Fish River Canyon for a look (it's spectacular, but not worth it on a short trip unless you are in the Keetmanshoop vicinity already).

If you hunt in the Okahandja area, you can drive off to Swakopmund and hire someone there to take you to Sossusvlei for an overnight trip and stay at the Lodge if you can get in, or camp if your wife likes it,and use the lodge restaurant. Then back to Swakop and drive to Okakuejo which is just under 500 km on good roads (B2, C33, C38 Swakop, Omaruru, Otjiwarongo, Outjo and on to Andersson Gate at Etosha). NOTE: Swakop is nice with the best jewelry store in the southern hemisphere located right next to the Hansa Hotel.

If your are any further north than Okahandja, you'll want to go to Etosha first and where you enter will depend on which direction you are coming from: if you hunt east of Etosha, start at Namutoni; if south of Etosha start at Okakuejo. Three days in Etosha is plenty and three nights and two full days is probably better.

Even dropping the Skeleton coast, you may be pressed for time. If so, drop Sossusvlei and instead take the airplane flight over the vlei, and over Walvis Bay and the shipwrecks from Swakopmund instead.
Regards, Tim

Ropes,

Just have Fred help you set something up.

Mark