Etosha Elephant

Etosha Mountain Lodge is open year round, and although there is no bad time to go, each season brings its own quirks and charms – and sometimes a few challenges too! In the dry winter season of May to September, the abundant waterholes across the plains begin to dry up, and the grass slowly fades into dust. Water is scarce and animals congregate around the few remaining sources, making for some seriously awesome game viewing; simply park next to a waterhole, and wait for the action to come to you.

Unlike the majority of ‘safari’ Africa, rainfall in Etosha in scarce. When the drops do fall (likely to be in the summer months of October to April), the thunderstorms are short but dramatic. Gradually, fresh grass sprouts through the cracked, sun-scorched earth and the waterholes begin to fill. Whilst this is excellent news for the wildlife, it can make the animals slightly harder to spot as they spread out over a large area. We’re not afraid of a challenge at Natural Selection, however, and our expert guides know exactly where and when to find the animals, at all times of year. And when you do find them, the backdrop of glossy, green grass and fresh, rain-cleared air makes for fantastic sightings. It’s also worth noting that it can get a little hotter at this time of year, and game drives depart earlier in the morning, and later in the afternoon to avoid the searing heat of the day.

If you are driving to Etosha Heights Private Reserve, please click here to download our directions.

Seasonality

• Green Season: 10 January – 31 March
• Shoulder Season: 01 April – 30 June & 01 November – 09 January
• High Season: 01 July – 30 September & 20 December – 19 December
• Peak Season: 01 August – 31 August & 01 October – 31 October

Ethosa game drive

• Enjoy early morning and late afternoon game drives in the privacy of Etosha Heights Private Reserve, and track elusive black and white rhino whilst keeping your eyes peeled for the big cats.
• Who says the action stops when darkness falls? Take a guide, add a powerful spotlight, and you’ve got the opportunity for an excellent night game drive.
• Bush meals and picnics can be arranged on request.

Landscape

Founded in 1999, Etosha Heights is one of the largest private reserves in Namibia, sharing a 65 kilometre border with the famous Etosha National Park. The reserve offers a robust 600 square-kilometres of unspoiled wildlife, landscapes, and tranquillity; truly a place to reconnect with nature and escape the modern stresses of life. The savannah is punctuated by pods of mopane woodland, thick, riverine forest and those iconic waterholes, attracting animals from far and wide.

Located within the private reserve, Etosha Mountain Lodge is perched on the side of an iconic dolomite hill. Close to the national park, the lodge still feels private and exclusive – and wait until you see those views.

Wildlife

On first glance at the vast, imposing desert-scapes of Etosha Heights, you might be forgiven for thinking that there wasn’t very much there at all. But (happily!), you would be wrong. Hop on a game drive, and you’ll find elephant crashing through the trees, and kudu and springbok scattered across the savannah, whilst the dainty herds of antelope are never far away. And of course, such a bounteous bevy of ungulates means predators, and there are lion, cheetah and even leopard lurking in the shadows and in the hills.

If there’s one animal that dominates memories at Etosha Heights, it’s the white rhino. The endangered giants amble between the private reserve and nearby Etosha National Park, ears twitching and tails flicking, and leaving unmistakable footprints in the dust. When darkness falls, head to the waterhole and watch them come to drink for a truly spine-tingling sighting.

Etosha Heights is all about spectacular views, and the builders of Etosha Mountain Lodge certainly had this in mind. The lodge site overlooks vast plains and hills in every direction. It was the first lodge to be built in the reserve, and was built specifically for private groups. In the renovation, we plan to keep the cosy feel of the lodge but expand even more on those epic views too!