When people think of wildlife in Namibia, they quickly think of Etosha National Park. Right next to this famous park lies Onguma, a private reserve with a very different character. What is the best choice for you as a photographer? We work as Onguma's in-house wildlife photographers and list the differences.
Etosha: vast and iconic
At around 22,750 square kilometres, Etosha is Namibia's largest and best-known national park. It is famous for its vast open plains and large herds of elephants. As a visitor you drive on the park's roads and follow the opening times and park rules. Because it is so well known, you may also meet other tourists at popular spots.
Onguma: private and flexible
Onguma is a private reserve of about 36,000 hectares that borders the eastern side of Etosha. The area is known for its high concentration of lions. Elephants, cheetahs, rhinos and many other species are also regularly seen there. There are no buffalo.
For photographers, Onguma has a number of practical advantages:
Fewer crowds. You are in a private area, without the crowds of other tourists.
Freedom of time. On our tours we are not bound by fixed times.
On foot. In some situations we are allowed out of the vehicle under supervision and may be able to approach animals on foot.
The Onkolo hide. From this special photography hide you photograph animals from a unique perspective.
The Milky Way. In the evening there is the opportunity to photograph the starry sky and the Milky Way.
What suits you?
If you are looking for vast plains and large herds of elephants, Etosha is the logical choice. If you want peace, the freedom to stay with a situation for a long time and access to a hide, Onguma suits you better. The nice thing is that you don't necessarily have to choose: because the two areas lie side by side, we can also do a game drive in Etosha during our tours if we wish.
A photo tour to Onguma
On our 12-day photo tours we stay at Onguma, in a small group of no more than 6 people. View the dates and availability or read all the details about the photo tour to Onguma.