After a week of traveling the Namibian bush we had our first full day of self game driving in the famous Etosha National Park in Namibia. Off to spot wild animals!

We started early in the morning, as this is the best time to do a game drive. A time when most night animals are still active, as it is not as hot as during the day. And we were lucky seeing some groups of zebra, giraffe, springbok, oryx and more grazers walking on the plains. Everyone was excited!

It wasgreat weather for spotting wild animals, although it was a bit cloudy. Driving along we saw herds of zebra, kudu, oryx and many other animals just grazing along. But then all of the sudden one of us shouted lion! We all jumped to the right side of the bus, and looked in the thick bus where it was spotted.

The great thing about doing a game drive yourself is that you can stop
when you want, and take your time. It is also ideal for looking for
specific animals. The Etosha National Park in Namibia is ideal for self game drives, and the dirt roads are accesible for all road vehicles. Beware in the rain season as the roads may become muddy.

The bus was quiet all of the sudden, and we were all looking for this ultimate predator. And then very casually, a female lion walked out of the bush next to our bus. Walking very slowly as it was pregnant, the lion was in the thick bush for a while and we followed it down the road. Then coming out of the bush it was 2 meters away from the bus. We could almost touch it!

What an amazing sight! Then I knew we were going to be lucky for the rest of the trip. The rest of the day we were lucky indeed. Seeing large groups of giraffes, no less than 30, and a small migration of herds fleeing for the coming rain. In all the joy some thought they had seen a leopard, but it turned out to be a cheetah.

We ended our game drive of the Etosha National Park at the next campsite, with some of the children still being excited seeing some warthogs running around. The enthusiasm was unstoppable. As was the rain that came down later that night.

The next day we continued onwards to the north of Namibia, but we left Etosha feeling very satisfied with our own game drive. Do you want to see wildlife in action as well? Take an overland trip through Namibia!

Last 5 posts by Arne Woudstra

• Family trip on Route 62 and the Garden Route - February 1st, 2007
• Final day of overland trip, visiting the Victoria Falls - January 29th, 2007
• Adventure in Vic Falls: Rafting on the mighty Zambezi river - January 29th, 2007
• Boat Cruise in Chobe National Park - January 28th, 2007
• Game Drive in Chobe National Park - January 28th, 2007

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