Etosha is the headline wildlife stop on most Namibia trips. The accommodation question is almost always: inside the park (NWR) or outside (Gondwana, Mokuti, Onguma)?
Inside the park — NWR camps
Okaukuejo: legendary floodlit waterhole — rhino, elephant and lion most nights. Halali: smaller, central — best mid-park base. Namutoni: eastern gate, historic German fort. Onkoshi: premium boutique on the salt pan edge. The inside-park magic is being at a waterhole at first light.
Outside the park
Gondwana's Etosha Safari Lodge (10 min from Andersson Gate) and Mokuti Lodge near Von Lindequist Gate are reliable, modern. Onguma Game Reserve is the premium eastern option. All excellent — you just lose the dawn waterhole moment.
The pattern that works
1 night Gondwana Etosha Safari Lodge (arrival), 2 nights inside Etosha, 1 night Onguma or Mokuti (departure). Three full days of game viewing without long daily drives.
