Namibia Camping Experience

We had four camping nights in Namibia. Two in the famous Etosha National Park and two in the deep desert area. Tour company provided the tents and sleeping pad, I setup the tent myself with my own sleeping bag. My experience with the camping was very good, even they were in the middle of nowhere or in the desert.

Etosha National Park has excellent lodging and camping options, with restaurant and limited supply of grocery. Our campsite just steps away from a modern kitchen, bathroom and hot shower. All very clean and in good order. The world famous water hole was 3 minutes walk away where people lined up to see wildlife and sunset. Even after sundown, there was activities and surprises. We shopped our own food where available on the bus route and saved in the cooler. Dinner could either cook in the kitchen or grill on the readily available camp fire. Before leaving the area and hit the road again, both coolers were emptied, unused food was donated to the caretaker of the facility.  In this area where people often didn't have enough food, nothing would go to waste. 

Modern bathroom and shower

Weaver bird nests at the campsite.

The water hole was busy before sundown.

And after sundown.

The car camp people

Camping in the middle of real desert was not so bad either. Again, we bought our food before reaching campground. The difference was, this time there was hardly any other choice of nearby restaurant but to cook ourselves. Luckily our guide was an excellent cook. She easily handled our dinner and breakfast all by herself. 

The arrangement in this campground was group camp, each group camp can take 6-8 people, equipped with light, wash basin, recharging plugs, toilet and solar powered hot shower.  Very clean and sufficient facility. The base camp worked as kitchen and restaurant, and camp fire after dinner. There was even a pool! Just now was the end of winter, even the day time temperature was high, the water in the pool was chill, good for dipping only. 

Our base camp

My group camp

Wash basin and plugs outside, toilet and shower inside.

Even had fancy shower head!

The pool

Driving in the desert is always dusty.

Looking at other people's site.

Next day we climbed the famous Dune 45 and visited Death Valley, where trees had been dead for five-hundred years because the river was blocked by the dune from running.

Then my Africa camping days was over. It was even more convenient than camping at home! And the food was equally good -- especially cooked by someone else. On the other hand, even though now I can setup and decamp quickly with the heavy duty tent, it was still nice to sleep in a real bed.

Dune 45

Desert sunrise.