Game Viewing in Western Etosha

Right Method

It took me a couple of days to establish the most successful method for game viewing. Most game disappeared into the bush quickly when met along the roadway, not giving many opportunities to for good photography.

Normally when on safari I would leave the camp just after dawn to catch the best light and meet up with the early rising game. This method I found unsuccessful, as all waterholes were void of game in the early part of the day, game tended to arrive at the waterholes from mid morning onwards. Eventually we worked out a successful pattern, breakfast not too early at the camp, arrive at the chosen waterhole by about 09:00/10:00 hrs and wait for the game to arrive.

It was apparent that although very timid (including elephants) the game would approach the waterhole cautiously if your vehicle was there before they arrived. Also, if other game were already drinking from the waterhole any new game would approach with greater confidence. Our conclusion was to let the game come to you and not go looking for them and this method worked well if you had chosen the right waterhole.

Nervous Game

My reasoning for the animals’ nervousness was that waterholes are a place of danger for prey animals and they would visit during the middle part of the day, whilst the main predators are less active. Outside these times the game will make their way to safer places where they can graze and pass the night in less danger.

Best Waterholes

Sitting by a waterhole in a vehicle during the scorching heat of the day is not the most pleasant experience but if you want to see plenty of game, then here in the western end of Etosha this will be your most successful method. I found the most quantities of game at the Rateldraf and Renostervlai water holes, the first being the nearest to Dolomite Camp, the others were never really as successful when I visited these during my trip. Although we did find game in smaller numbers at Okawao and Klippan but here the game always kept their distance.

Quantities of Game

My own estimation is that there are large numbers of game in certain areas of this western end of Etosha, Springbok and Zebra are by far the most predominant species. Gemsbok run a close second to the Zebra with Kudu following behind. With prey game in such good quantities I believe they support a large head of predators but the carnivores appear equally as shy as the herbivores, we saw just one young male lion in the western end but I would guess there must be plenty of predators about.

Bird Life

One of the things I always remember about Africa is the dawn chorus, as the day comes to life, it was therefore quite a surprise to me with the lack of bird song each morning, yes there were a few tweets and twitters but nothing as I would have expected in Africa. I was also disappointed as to the lack of bird life in this western part of the park, only once did I see a Roller and that was on a telegraph pole outside the park. Perhaps it will improve during the wet season with an influx of migratory birds ? However, when reaching the eastern end of the park later in the week the African dawn chorus reverted back to it’s colourful song and a more recognisable birds appeared in the bush.

Perhaps not a destination for twitchers ?