Wander the World – A visitor’s guide to Etosha National Park

In this episode of Lunch with Pippa Hudson, host Pippa welcomes Vili Olufjir, co-author of the newly published A Visitor's Guide to Etosha National Park, to discuss one of Africa's most iconic wildlife sanctuaries. Vili provides a detailed overview of Etosha’s geography, emphasizing its vast 22,000-square-kilometer expanse in northern Namibia, diverse landscapes ranging from salt pans and mopane woodlands to dolomite hills, and the critical role of water availability in shaping animal behavior and distribution. He candidly addresses the challenges facing the park, including deteriorating road conditions, the controversial state of park-run accommodations managed by Namibia Wildlife Resorts, and the shift toward private lodges on the park’s fringes. Despite these issues, Vili extols Etosha’s unparalleled game viewing opportunities, highlighting its populations of black rhino, lion, leopard, and desert-adapted elephants, as well as lesser-known species like the Damaraland dik-dik and Blackface Impala. He also advises listeners on practical matters such as vehicle requirements (high ground clearance recommended, not necessarily a 4x4), flying into perimeter lodges, and the importance of malaria prophylaxis. The conversation concludes with heartfelt appreciation for the park’s enduring natural beauty and the value of the guidebook as a comprehensive resource for first-time visitors.