SafariRoamer
Etosha and Sossusvlei NWR Camps: How to Book, What They Cost and the Rules
Last reviewed 19 September 2026.
What NWR camps are, and what this guide covers
Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) runs the rest camps inside Namibia's big parks. In Etosha National Park it lists Okaukuejo, Halali, Namutoni, Onkoshi and Dolomite, plus a camping-only site, Olifantsrus, that this guide leaves aside. In the Namib-Naukluft National Park, the park around Sossusvlei, it lists Sesriem Campsite and Sossus Dune Lodge, plus Naukluft Camp, which this guide also leaves aside. On this site: Okaukuejo, Halali, Namutoni, Onkoshi, Dolomite and Sossus Dune Lodge.
Two organisations are involved, and mixing them up causes most of the confusion. NWR sells the beds. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) sets and collects the park entry fees, which are not part of any NWR accommodation price. Private lodges beside the parks, such as those in the Onguma, Ongava and Etosha Heights reserves, have their own rules and are outside this guide. For when to travel, see Best Time to Go on Safari in Namibia; for South Africa's equivalent of this guide, see SANParks Rest Camps.
Use the official address. Several look-alike sites present themselves as Namibia Wildlife Resorts. NWR's own site is nwr.com.na, and every NWR source below is from that domain or from the Ministry's meft.gov.na.
How this page was checked. Each fact comes from an NWR or Ministry page or PDF read in September 2026. Where a fact rests on one source, where NWR's own pages contradict each other, or where the official documents are out of date, this page says so instead of choosing a side.
The camps at a glance
| Camp | Where NWR places it | What NWR lists to sleep in | Facilities NWR lists | What NWR says stands out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Okaukuejo | 17 km from Etosha's southern entrance | 5 Premier Waterhole Chalets, 30 Waterhole Chalet double rooms, 2 Family Chalets, 20 Bush Chalets, 45 Double Rooms, 2 disabled-access chalets, 37 campsites (up to 8 people each) | Restaurant, bar, kiosk, shop, swimming pool, filling station, conference facilities | A floodlit waterhole that can be watched day and night, with a wildlife live-cam link on the NWR page |
| Halali | At the base of a dolomite hill among mopane trees; NWR gives no compass position | 40 Double Rooms, 5 Honeymoon rooms or suites, 4 disabled-access rooms, 10 two-bedroom and 10 one-bedroom Bush Chalets, 2 Family Chalets, 58 campsites (up to 8 people each) | Picnic area with braai facilities, swimming pool, tourist shop, filling station | A floodlit waterhole at the resort, with other popular waterholes close by |
| Namutoni | Eastern part of Etosha, close to Fisher's Pan | 24 Double Rooms, 20 Bush Chalets, 25 campsites (up to 8 people each) | Historic German fort, museum, restaurant, bar, tourist shop, swimming pool, floodlit waterhole, filling station, kiosk | Built into an old German fort dating from 1897, overlooking the floodlit King Nehale waterhole |
| Onkoshi | On the rim of the Etosha salt pan, away from the public self-drive routes | 14 chalets and 1 Honeymoon Chalet (30 beds); no campsites; rates quoted dinner, bed and breakfast | Restaurant and bar, swimming pool, souvenir shop | Freestanding chalets on the pan rim |
| Dolomite | Western region of Etosha | 3 Deluxe Chalets and 17 Bush Chalets; no campsites; rates quoted dinner, bed and breakfast | Bar, curio shop, restaurant, swimming pool, lounge and fireplace | NWR says "no less than 15 waterholes" are nearby and calls the area "previously restricted"; the Ministry says it serves "a limited number of visitors" |
| Sesriem Campsite | At the entry to Sossusvlei, near Sesriem Canyon; NWR gives Sossusvlei as 60 km away | 44 campsites (up to 8 people each) and 6 overflow campsites; no chalets or rooms | Filling station, shop | Sesriem Canyon, which NWR describes as a gorge about 1 km long and 30 to 40 metres deep |
| Sossus Dune Lodge | Within the Namib-Naukluft Park | 23 Dune Chalets and 2 Honeymoon Suites; rates quoted dinner, bed and breakfast | Restaurant, bar, souvenir shop, swimming pool; guided sunrise excursion, guided afternoon nature drives and a guided Sesriem Canyon walk | NWR says guests can reach Sossusvlei before sunrise and stay until after sunset |
Where sources disagree: NWR lists no restaurant or bar at Halali, but the Ministry does; NWR lists a filling station and shop at Sesriem Campsite, the Ministry a kiosk, bar and swimming pool; NWR's accommodation list gives the Okaukuejo Premier Waterhole Chalet 3 beds and its rates page 4; an independent site gives Sesriem 24 campsites against NWR's 44. None of the seven camps is listed with an ATM by NWR or the Ministry, and NWR lists fuel only at Okaukuejo, Halali, Namutoni and Sesriem. Dolomite and Onkoshi are both on NWR's resort pages and in its 2026/27 rate sheet, and we found no NWR or Ministry notice that either is closed; one independent site says Onkoshi guests are transferred from Namutoni, which NWR's pages do not state.
What that means in practice: camping is listed at Okaukuejo, Halali, Namutoni and Sesriem, while Onkoshi and Dolomite are chalet-only. The floodlit waterholes NWR lists are at Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni. And the two most remote camps, Onkoshi and Dolomite, publish no camp-specific booking rule or access procedure, so ask when you book.
How to book
NWR takes bookings through the online system behind its "Book Now" button, by email to reservations@nwr.com.na, and by telephone through its Windhoek reservations office (+264 61 285 7200). It also lists regional offices: Swakopmund (+264 64 402 172, sw.bookings@nwr.com.na) and Cape Town (ct.bookings@nwr.com.na). NWR charges and refunds in Namibian dollars. At check-in you must show the credit card used to make the reservation together with valid identification, and NWR advises printing the confirmation email. Check-in is from 14:00; we found no published check-out time.
What you pay, and when
Full payment of every reservation is due no later than 30 days before arrival, and NWR says unpaid bookings are cancelled without notice. What an individual pays at the time of booking is not consistent across NWR's own terms pages: the main terms ask for a 20% deposit within 48 hours, and the online-reservation terms ask for 100% immediately. Payment methods are inconsistent in the same way: one clause says credit cards are the only accepted form, while another lets Namibian and South African clients also pay by cash, cheque, direct deposit or EFT. A refundable room deposit is payable on arrival at the camp; its amount is not published. NWR does not say how far in advance bookings open.
Cancelling and changing
| Days before arrival | Penalty |
|---|---|
| 29 to 15 days | 30% |
| 14 to 7 days | 75% |
| 6 to 0 days | 100% |
| No-show | 100% |
These four rows are identical on all three NWR terms pages. For cancellations 30 days or more before arrival the pages differ: the main terms say there is no cancellation fee but the deposit is forfeited, while the online terms say 20% of the booking value. All cancellations and changes must be made in writing. A change of dates counts as a cancellation followed by a new booking, and administration fees apply to modifications, but their amount is not published. NWR defines peak season as July to October at all resorts and uses it for refunds on cancelled and amended bookings; it publishes no separate peak-season percentages. Because the terms contradict each other, ask reservations@nwr.com.na to confirm the terms that apply to your booking in writing.
Children sharing with adults are provided for on arrival, but the booking must be made in advance: under-6s stay free (accommodation only), children of 6 to 12 pay 50% of the adult rate, and no more than two children are allowed per room. NWR does not accept pre-bookings for activities in the rainy season, and its night drives and guided day drives in Etosha are offered only from its own camps.
Gates, and getting to the camp
NWR and the Ministry publish the rule as: park gates open at sunrise and close at sunset. Neither publishes a table of clock times for Etosha or for Sesriem, so check sunrise and sunset for your dates rather than trusting a table from a third party. Arriving at a rest camp after sunset is against the regulations, NWR publishes no late-arrival procedure, and a no-show forfeits 100% of the booking value. Etosha's gates are named by NWR and the Ministry as Anderson, Von Lindequist (spelt "Lindquist" by the Ministry), Galton and King Nehale.
Sossusvlei. NWR says Sossus Dune Lodge guests can reach Sossusvlei before sunrise and stay until after sunset because the lodge sits inside the park. It does not publish how the booking gives that access. One independent guide says the inner gate beyond the Sesriem park office opens one hour before sunrise and closes one hour after sunset, for guests staying inside the park; NWR does not confirm this. Since 15 October 2024 NWR runs the Deadvlei shuttle only from Sesriem Campsite and sells the tickets there.
Park entry fees and permits
Park fees are set by the Ministry, are paid per person and per vehicle per day, are not included in any NWR accommodation price, and are non-refundable and non-transferable. The minimum charge is one day (24 hours). The Ministry says permits are issued on arrival at the park gates and that NWR does not issue them; for the Namib-Naukluft Park, the Ministry's office at Sesriem issues permits. We found no official page that sells a permit online.
The official published tariff is from 2021
| Who or what | Entrance | Conservation | Total per day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult (16 and over): Namibians | N$30 | N$20 | N$50 |
| Adult: SADC nationals | N$60 | N$40 | N$100 |
| Adult: other foreign nationals | N$100 | N$50 | N$150 |
| Vehicle, 10 seats or fewer | N$30 | N$20 | N$50 |
| Vehicle, 11 to 25 seats | N$60 | N$40 | N$100 |
| Vehicle, 26 to 50 seats | N$300 | N$100 | N$400 |
| Vehicle, 51 seats or more | N$500 | N$200 | N$700 |
Children aged 8 and under are free. The Ministry's schedule and the brochure NWR hosts agree on these figures, but they differ on where childhood ends (the Ministry puts 16-year-olds in the reduced band, NWR's brochure counts them as adults), on the start date (1 January 2021 on the schedule, 1 April 2021 in the press release) and on how long a permit lasts (24 hours from entry, or "valid for the day"). Neither document says whether the fees include VAT.
A 2026 increase is reported but not confirmed
Four travel-news sites report that a revised tariff took effect on 1 April 2026, the first change since 2021: N$280 for international adults, N$180 for SADC nationals, N$60 for Namibians and N$60 per vehicle of 10 seats or fewer. We could not find any official document that confirms this: the Ministry's and NWR's own pages still show the 2021 tables above. Until an official schedule appears, budget for the higher figures and confirm the amount at the gate. Card payment at the gates is reported only by non-official sites, which also advise carrying cash; we found no official statement either way.
What the camps cost
These are NWR's published rack rates in Namibian dollars, which NWR says include 15% VAT and tourism levies. The current sheet runs from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026; the 2026/27 sheet (1 November 2026 to 31 October 2027) is already published, and the figures below are the same in both. There are two price seasons, November to June and July to October.
| Unit | November to June | July to October |
|---|---|---|
| Sesriem Campsite, per person | N$670 | N$670 |
| Okaukuejo campsite, per person | N$460 | N$560 |
| Halali campsite, per person | N$460 | N$550 |
| Namutoni campsite, per person | N$460 | N$550 |
| Okaukuejo Double room A, bed and breakfast, per person sharing | N$1,900 | N$2,380 |
| Halali Double room, bed and breakfast, per person sharing | N$1,400 | N$1,690 |
| Namutoni Double room, bed and breakfast, per person sharing | N$1,840 | N$2,310 |
| Onkoshi chalet, dinner, bed and breakfast, per person sharing | N$3,180 | N$4,320 |
| Dolomite Bush chalet, dinner, bed and breakfast, per person sharing | N$3,180 | N$4,320 |
| Sossus Dune Lodge Dune chalet, dinner, bed and breakfast, per person sharing | N$4,030 | N$7,000 |
| Sossus Dune Lodge Dune chalet, single rate | N$4,400 | N$7,380 |
| Sossus Dune Lodge Honeymoon chalet, per person sharing | N$4,590 | N$7,730 |
NWR gives Namibians, permanent residents and diplomats 25% off accommodation and Namibian pensioners 35% off. These are the entry-level units of each camp; the rate sheet lists the others.
Driving and park rules
- Stay in the vehicle outside camps and camping sites, and keep to roads marked by official signs. Driving off the marked roads is an offence, as is exceeding "the official speed limit"; the documents we read give no kilometres-per-hour figure.
- Waterholes: we found no dedicated etiquette rule, only the bans on noise that disturbs others and on needlessly disturbing wildlife.
- Raw meat may not be taken out of Etosha through the Anderson, Galton and Von Lindequist gates; there is no such restriction at King Nehale and none on bringing it in.
- Drones are not allowed in national parks without an official permit and must be declared and registered at the entry gates.
- Plastic bags: NWR's terms state a blanket ban on entering a game park with a plastic bag, with a fine of up to N$500 or six months. The Ministry's February 2025 clarification limits the restriction to single-use retail carry bags. The two differ, so carry none.
Health: malaria
Namibia's tourism board names Etosha National Park as an area of medium malaria risk, with precautions strongly recommended in the rainy season, November to April, and no risk in the winter months. WHO and the CDC list malaria as endemic in 10 of Namibia's 14 regions, including Kunene, Oshana, Omusati and Oshikoto, without naming Etosha itself. The tourism board says the coast, the Namib Desert and the south are regarded as almost risk-free, and the Sesriem area is not in the WHO and CDC list. No official source we could reach names Sesriem. This is a summary of what official sources say, not medical advice: see Malaria on Safari: What Official Guidance Says.
What we could not verify
- Any official 2026 park-fee schedule, and whether park fees include VAT.
- How far in advance NWR bookings open, the check-out time, minimum stays, and the amounts of the amendment fee and the arrival room deposit.
- Official gate-time tables for Etosha and Sesriem, and how the Sossus Dune Lodge booking gives early access to Sossusvlei.
- A speed limit in kilometres per hour, and any waterhole rule.
- Card acceptance at the gates, and whether a permit can be bought at an NWR camp.
- The current operating status of Dolomite and Onkoshi beyond what NWR's own pages and rate sheet show.
- Which of NWR's contradictory payment and cancellation clauses applies to a given booking. NWR's terms pages carry no tariff year; their last-modified dates in the page data are December 2021, June 2022 and July 2024.