Okaukuejo Camp

Set in southern Etosha near Andersson Gate, Okaukuejo is the park’s administrative hub and home to a famed floodlit waterhole. Guests can watch wildlife come and go throughout the day and night, especially in the dry months when animals concentrate at water sources. The camp lies roughly 17 km from the gate and is well placed for accessing a network of productive waterholes across the southern plains. Self-drivers typically route from Windhoek via Outjo and Andersson Gate before checking in at the fort-style entrance and heading to the waterhole for sunset.

Accommodation is varied and extensive: five Premier Waterhole Chalets (two-bedroom, double-storey units near the waterhole), around thirty Waterhole Chalets, twenty Bush Chalets, forty-plus Double Rooms and accessible units, totalling roughly 104 rooms/chalets. All are en-suite and air-conditioned, with fridges and tea/coffee facilities standard in most categories. Premier Waterhole Chalets are the most sought after; a handful of standard Waterhole Chalets have partial waterhole views, while others sit close to the action. Camping sites are also available for self-drivers.

Okaukuejo’s central complex includes a buffet-style restaurant, bar and shop, with fuel, post office and a small curio store for essentials. Multiple swimming pools provide a welcome break between drives, and a historic stone tower and viewing areas give context to the camp’s long park history. Activities are run by NWR rangers and typically include guided morning, afternoon and night drives (subject to availability). Most evenings end at the floodlit waterhole, where elephants and black rhinos are frequent after dark in the dry season.