Camp Site (max 8 people per pitch)
Individual shaded pitches with private ablutions and braai facilities; electricity at most sites.
Up to 8 per pitchBring your own tent
fromNAD 510pp sharing
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Inside the park · Western Etosha
Olifantsrus Camp
The only camping-only camp inside Etosha, in Western Etosha near Galton Gate, with a double-storey hide over a year-round waterhole on the site of a former elephant culling station.
- ~70 km from Galton Gate
- Double-storey waterhole hide, open 24/7
- Camping only, max 8 per pitch
- Ablutions, kitchen, kiosk · no fuel
Why stay at Olifantsrus Camp
Olifantsrus Camp is the only camping-only base inside Etosha National Park and the principal foothold in Western Etosha, about 70 km by road from Galton Gate. The site has an unusual history: from 1983–1988 it served as the park’s elephant culling station, processing 525 elephants during a controversial population-management programme. The infrastructure was decommissioned and reopened as a campsite in 2014, with a small interpretive exhibition documenting the period and the science behind it.
The campsite’s defining feature is the double-storey waterhole hide overlooking a year-round waterhole, where elephants, black rhino, and lion arrive through the dry season. The camp suits self-sufficient travellers exploring Western Etosha and the Galton Gate / Damaraland corridor.
- Location
- Western Etosha, 19.42° S, 14.62° E
- Nearest gate
- Galton Gate (~70 km by road)
- From Windhoek
- ~560 km (6.5 hr drive via Kamanjab)
- Accommodation
- Campsites only (no chalets)
- Check-in / out
- 14:00 / 10:00
- Camp facilities
- Ablutions, communal kitchen, kiosk, hide; no fuel station, no restaurant
Accommodation
Accommodation at Olifantsrus Camp
From price per person sharing, camping only, Nov 2026 – Jun 2027.
Camping only. No chalets, lodges, or serviced rooms.
Olifantsrus Camp rates (2026–2027)
| Camping | Nov 2026 - Jun 2027 | Jul 2027 - Oct 2027 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per Person Sharing | Per Person Sharing | ||||
| Camp Site (Max 8 People) | NAD 510 | NAD 510 |
Published park rates. From NAD 510 per person sharing for camping. Park entry fees are separate and paid at the gate — see gate times & fees.
The signature
The Olifantsrus waterhole hide
The Olifantsrus waterhole has a purpose-built two-storey hide overlooking a year-round water source, giving the most concentrated dawn-to-dusk elephant viewing anywhere inside Etosha National Park. Black rhino arrivals are reliable from June to October, with lion and leopard recorded regularly through the dry season.
The upper deck offers panoramic photography angles; the lower level is closer to the water for sound recording and intimate viewing. The hide is open 24/7 to camp guests. Bring binoculars, a thermos, and patience — a 2-hour sit typically rewards.
Wildlife and waterholes near Olifantsrus Camp
Olifantsrus opens Western Etosha’s least-trafficked routes, including the road network west of Dolomite. Productive nearby locations:
| Location | Distance | What you might see |
|---|---|---|
| Olifantsrus waterhole hide | In-camp | The camp’s primary wildlife asset |
| Renostervlei | 18 km | Black rhino sightings |
| Dolomietpunt | 30 km | Mixed game with rocky-outcrop scenery |
| Klippan | 25 km | Elephant aggregations late in the dry season |
| The road to Dolomite Camp | — | Productive driving route for predators |
See the Etosha Waterholes Guide for the full inventory.
Activities at Olifantsrus Camp
| Activity | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Self-drive game drives | — | Western Etosha low-traffic routes |
| Waterhole hide viewing | Included | 24/7 |
| Interpretive exhibition | — | Elephant culling history and science (1980s programme) |
| Kiosk | — | Basic supplies and curios |
Note: No guided drives are offered from Olifantsrus. No fuel station, and none at Galton Gate either; refuel at Kamanjab before arrival.
What’s included — and what isn’t
What’s included with your stay
- Use of the campsite pitch (max 8 people per pitch)
- Access to ablutions, communal kitchen, kiosk, and waterhole hide
- Braai facilities and electricity at most sites
Payable separately
- Park entry fees: NAD 280 per foreign (non-SADC) adult per day (NAD 140 entrance + NAD 140 conservation, effective 1 April 2026 per MEFT); SADC adults NAD 180; Namibian adults NAD 60; vehicle ≤10 seats NAD 60 per day — payable at the gate
- Camping equipment (tent, bedding, cooking gear)
- Food, fuel, ice, firewood (limited availability at kiosk)
- Any conservancy or community levies
Where it is
Olifantsrus is in Western Etosha, about 70 km by road from Galton Gate; Kamanjab is about 80 km south of the gate, on the ~560 km route from Windhoek. Dolomite Camp is about 45 km away.
Pair Olifantsrus with
Compare Olifantsrus with the other Etosha National Park camps
| Camp | Setting | Signature feature | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okaukuejo Camp | Western Etosha, southern access | Floodlit waterhole — nightly rhino sightings | First-timers; book waterhole-view chalets 9–12 months ahead |
| Halali Camp | Central, mopane woodland | Moringa floodlit waterhole; smaller, quieter | Mid-park base splitting east/west itineraries |
| Namutoni Camp | Eastern Etosha, historic fort | 1906 German fort; adjacent to Fischer’s Pan wetland | Birding, leopard & cheetah viewing |
| Onkoshi Camp | North-eastern pan edge, eastern Etosha | 15 elevated chalets on the Etosha Pan rim; no through traffic | Couples and honeymooners; the most exclusive in-park camp |
| Dolomite Camp | Western concession | Elevated dolomite-outcrop chalets | Premium experience; exclusive western-zone access |
| Olifantsrus Camp | Western Etosha, about 70 km from Galton Gate | Two-storey waterhole hide; camping only | Self-sufficient campers; dawn-to-dusk hide viewing |
Plan your Etosha visit
Olifantsrus Camp is the western foothold for self-sufficient travellers. Pair it with Dolomite Camp (45 km north) for a Western Etosha focus, or use it as a one-night stopover en route from Damaraland to Okaukuejo Camp. Read the complete Etosha National Park guide or browse other Etosha National Park camps.
Frequently asked questions about Olifantsrus Camp
Are there chalets at Olifantsrus?
No. Olifantsrus is the only camping-only site in Etosha National Park. For chalets in Western Etosha, the nearest options are Dolomite Camp or Okaukuejo Camp.
What’s the elephant culling history about?
Between 1983 and 1988, Olifantsrus operated as a culling station processing 525 elephants from Etosha’s growing herd. The site’s interpretive exhibition documents the controversial programme and the conservation science of the period. Operations ended in 1988 and the site reopened as a campsite in 2014.
How far is Olifantsrus from Galton Gate?
Olifantsrus Camp is about 70 km by road north-east of Galton Gate, past the Dolomite turn-off — not the shortest gate-to-camp transfer of any in-park western camp.
Is the waterhole hide worth the visit?
Yes. The double-storey hide is the only purpose-built viewing hide on a year-round waterhole inside Etosha. Two-hour morning and late-afternoon sits typically reward with elephant and rhino activity.
Do I need to bring my own food?
Yes. The kiosk sells basics only. Stock up in Kamanjab (~80 km south of Galton Gate) or Outjo before arrival.
Check availability
Enquire about Olifantsrus Camp
Send your dates and party size. We confirm availability and book it with the park on your behalf, at published rates with a best-price guarantee.
- 1You send your datesTakes about a minute.
- 2A person replies within one business dayWith live availability and one clear recommendation.
- 3You approve a written quoteOnly then is a 30% deposit requested.
Prefer to talk? WhatsApp us or call +264 81 277 6560.
Thank you. Your enquiry is with us — a confirmation is on its way to your inbox. A person replies within one business day with availability and a quote.
Ready to book this camp?
Send us your dates and we will confirm live availability with the park, usually within one business day.
Staying at more than one camp? Plan a multi-camp itinerary and we will check every leg in one reply.
Prefer to talk? Call +264 81 277 6560 · we respond within one business day (Mon–Fri, 8:00–17:00 CAT).
Still deciding?
Compare where to stay
Inside vs outside the park, by traveller typeSelf-drive or guided?
Which suits your trip, and what changesPackages and prices
Indicative costs for planned itinerariesPlan my Etosha safari
Tell us your dates and we build the route
Inside vs outside the park, by traveller typeSelf-drive or guided?
Which suits your trip, and what changesPackages and prices
Indicative costs for planned itinerariesPlan my Etosha safari
Tell us your dates and we build the route
Before you book
- Gate times, entry fees and permits
- Gate distances and real drive times
- How many days you need in Etosha
- How far ahead to book, by season
- Best wildlife viewing times by season
- Self-drive route guide
Compare your options
- Okaukuejo Camp – floodlit waterhole, best for first-timers
- Halali Camp – central base, Moringa waterhole
- Namutoni Camp – historic fort, eastern Etosha
- Onkoshi Camp – pan-edge setting, most exclusive
- Dolomite Camp – western concession, elevated chalets
- Lodges just outside the park
- Best time to visit Etosha
- Etosha map – camps, gates and waterholes
Not ready yet? Ask us a question and we will point you to the right camp.