Etosha
In Namibia where the rest of the country is desert, Etosha provides a more conventional safari area, with large amounts of game. Vast dry savannah surrounds the salt pan where flamingoes breed; expect to see lions, elephants, black rhinos and giraffes gather at waterholes. Camps are simpler, most have pools but not all have a/c. Namibia.
Best time: May to October when there's no rain and animals congregate around waterholes.
Access: Charter from Windhoek's Eros airport (1 hr) or drive (5 hrs)
Combine with: Namib desert, Okavango Delta
I recommend these camps
Little Ongava (3 suites) Atop a mountain, the super exclusive sister to Ongava Lodge – the views are stupendous, plus plunge pools and those things which make it hard to tear yourself away from your suite. Ongava Private Game Reserve, $$$$.
Onguma Tented (7 tents-en-suite) Fresh modern décor, the camp is around a waterhole floodlit at night. On a well stocked private reserve, and you can also drive into neighbouring Etosha NP. Onguma Private Game Reserve, Namibia. Member of Classic Safari Africa. $$$.
Mushara Outpost (8 tents-en-suite) Contemporary white décor, tents with a/c lifted off the ground. 5 Miles from the gate into Etosha for game drives. Etosha National Park, Namibia. Child friendly. $$$.
Okonjima Bush (9 suites) A very comfortable stopover en route to Etosha in a nature reserve with cats; it’s an opportunitiy to see the amazing work being done for endangered carnivores at the Africat Foundation. Okonjima Nature Reserve, Namibia. $$$.
Okonjima Villa (4 suites) Exclusive-use villa, see cheetah and leopard on the private reserve and also rehabilitation of cheetah, wild dog and hyaena. Game drives into neighbouring Waterberg Plateau NP too. Okonjima Nature Reserve, Namibia. Private villa. $$$$.
Ongava Tented (9 tents-en-suite) Close to nature feeling similar to East African camps, good for walking safaris, can drive from here into Etosha NP. Ongava Private Game Reserve, Namibia. $$$$.
Onguma The Fort (13 suites) North African styled décor, the reserve is on the east of Etosha NP and has good game and birds, and offers drives into Etosha NP. Onguma Private Game Reserve, Namibia. Member of Classic Safari Africa. $$$.
Onguma Tree Top (4 suites) Intimate camp on stilts with thatched roofs and canvas walls. Can be hired as an exclusive use villa. Shares property with various other Onguma camps. Onguma Private Game Reserve, Namibia. Member of Classic Safari Africa. Private villa. $$$.
Villa Mushara (4 suites) 2 separate villas, lots of space, classic interiors. 5 miles from gate into Etosha for game drives. Etosha National Park, Namibia. Private villa. Child friendly. $$$.