Namibia
Etosha National Park (East)
*This section is currently being revamped with additional pages containing general information and images which will hopefully be of interest to anyone planning to visit.*
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Base for covering the eastern section of Etosha on both holidays was Mushara Outpost which, being only 10 km from the Von Lindequist Gate, is ideally situated for self-drive trips into the park . The Outpost is one of three high-end properties owned by the Mushara Group, all of which are located close to one another on the C38 road. There are just eight custom tent-like units, each with its own wooden deck and veranda. The accommodation is well spaced amongst the woodland at the rear of the main boma-style building which houses the reception and dining area. The tents have all been enlarged and upgraded since our first visit with an open air shower and individual room wi-fi rather than a reception building hot spot.
© Mushara Collection
During the summer months guests gather round a fire on the lawn for a `sundowner` before dinner. The food here and quality of service are first-class and the staff help to create a relaxed and happy atmosphere. The grass is kept neatly trimmed thanks to the efforts of the local warthog family who can often de seen lazing at the poolside after a hard day`s work! More information on Mushara Outpost and the other properties in the Mushara collection can be found on the official website: www.mushara-lodge.com.
© Mushara Collection
Below: There is a viewing hide at Mushara which overlooks a small waterhole in a picturesque woodland setting. When we arrived, a pair of small antelope were drinking but took off immediately. Big game and predators are supposedly absent from the immediate area but even, so it may be worth spending some time here if you were having a relaxing day and not heading into the park.
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The white-walled 'Beau Geste' style fort which forms the centrepiece of the Namutoni facility was originally built as a German Police frontier post. A small museum opposite reception displays various weapons and artifacts from the German colonial occupation and has information panels outlining the history of the fort and its garrison. Since our last visit the shops and bar located within the fort's walls have been relocated and it's now operates exclusively as an upgraded accommodation block. A meat burger sit-down lunch at the Namutoni Rest Camp restaurant was surprisingly tasty.
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The camp waterhole is named after King Nehale, the leader of 500 Ndonga warriors that successfully attacked the German garrison and destroyed the fort in 1904 during the Ovambo uprising. The stronghold was rebuilt and reinforced the following year, however, and British POWs were incarcerated here for a time during the Great War.
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This area experiences much higher rainfall than the other areas of Etosha but, as far as I know, following excellent downpours in 2010 and 2011, hardly any rain has fallen here since. Like those at Okaukuejo and Halali, the rest camp waterhole at Namutoni is floodlit at night.
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Namutoni has the reputation of being exceptionally good for birding during the rainy season and snakes, including Spitting Cobra and African Rock Python are often seen hunting along the water`s edge, targeting the doves and smaller birds when they land to take a sip. These, and other species of snake, are often encountered in the rest-camp grounds.
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I never saw any snakes within the camp during several brief visits, but this unidentified species was basking on a roadside termite mound close to the rest camp. The Mongoose was keeping watch from another termite mound just along the road, obviously unaware that a potential meal was nearby. There are 8 different types of mongoose in Africa, several of which are resident in Namibia so I`m not exactly sure as to what species this one belongs. The Admin block at Namutoni is shown below. This is where you get your permit and copy of the park regulations. The toilet block is on the opposite side of the road.
This guy was feeding very close to the Namutoni Rest Camp on our first visit to Etosha.
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There are some excellent waterholes very close to Namutoni, several of which are among the best in the entire National Park. Here`s some Elephant action at Kalkheuwel.
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Further information on Namibia and additional images taken there can be found on Clydeside Images.com. Utilise the blog`s search box or the `Overseas-Namibia` fly-out label on the right-hand side of the blog page. Please bear in mind that my Stock Photography Archive has even more shots taken in Namibia. If you wish to purchase any image(s) please email using the Contact Form and I will respond at the earliest opportunity.
Please bear in mind that all my images are subject to copyright. They are not free to use and have been embedded with a digital watermark.