For many people, going on an African photo safari can be an adventure of a lifetime and you can’t afford to make any major mistakes as you won’t be able to come back to correct them.

Therefore, it is important to have as much accurate information as possible before you arrive. You need to know what safari clothes to wear, what photographic equipment to take with you, how far away the various camps are, if you can have a braai (barbecue) or if you must eat at the restaurants, which animals you are most likely to see where and so on. .

Etosha, being the crown jewel of Namibia’s national parks, receives more than 200,000 visitors a year and is one of the most popular national parks in the world. If you intend to visit Etosha on a self-drive safari, here are a few questions for you to test how well you know the park:

Question 1: As a wildlife photographer, it is NOT possible to drive from Namutoni Camp to Dolomite Camp in one day.
A truth
B.False

Question 2: This is the only camp in Etosha that does NOT have a water hole:
A. Dolomite
B. Hallali
C. Namutoni
D.Okaukuejo
E.Onkoshi

Question 3: The only time visitors see animals is during the dry season (June to September)
A truth
B.False

Question #4: What accessory do you not need to photograph at night from the watering holes of the camp?
A. Best projector
B.Flash
c.flash support
D.Polarizer
e tripod

Problem #5: There are braai (BBQ) facilities in the chalets at the following two camps only:
A. Namutoni and Onkoshi
B. Okaukuejo and Halali
C. Halali and Dolomite
D. Dolomite and Okaukuejo
E. All the above camps have Braai (BBQ) facilities

Answer to question #1: A. True: Namutoni, which is located on the eastern edge of the park, is about 310 kilometers from Dolomite, which is located in the west of the park. The speed limit in Etosha is one of the highest in African parks, 60 kilometers per hour (compared to 50 in Kruger and 40 in Pilanesberg). Still, you would have to leave camp when the sun rises, then travel at 50-60 kilometers per hour with very few stops, maybe even skipping lunch and possibly killing some animals along the way and not being able to stop for very long. long if you see a pride of lions – this is not a relaxing holiday! The reservation office knows this and will not allow you to book simultaneous nights at these two camps; I would have to leave Okaukuejo or Halali to get to Dolomite in one day.

Answer to question #2: E. Onkoshi does not have a water hole as it is located right on the tray and therefore cannot have a water hole. Game viewing, therefore, is not as good at this camp as it is at the other four camps. However, the incredible sunsets and waterfowl make up for the lack of animals at camp. The water holes at Halali and Okaukuejo are very close to the camp (50 meters), while the water hole at Dolomite is about 350 meters away, making night photography a challenge.

Answer to question #3: B. False: You can see animals throughout the year. During the winter, the animals tend to come closer to you, which means they are attracted to the various watering holes, so you don’t have to drive far to look for them, while in the summer you have to drive to see the game. Game viewing during the summer can also provide more attractive photos as you will have wildflowers blooming and a photo of a leopard in a field of yellow wildflowers is more attractive and unusual!

Answer to question #4: D. Polarizer – This is a filter needed during the day to darken the sky and control the strong sunlight reflecting off the white salt pan, but you won’t use it at night. The other four items are necessary to get good pictures at the camp waterholes. Also, a low light camera like the Nikon D3S, D800, or D4 would be a great advantage for night photography.

Answer to question #5: B. Okaukuejo and Halali are the only two camps that provide braai (barbecue) facilities for visitors staying in the chalets. And not all villas in Halali and Okaukuejo have these facilities; you will need to request these specific units when making your reservation. However, if you’re going camping, there are three campgrounds that offer braai facilities; Halali, Okaukuejo and Namutoni.

Okay, so how did it go? If you scored 5 out of 5, then it looks good for you – you sound like you know the park and should be able to plan a successful photo safari. However, if you didn’t do well, then you need to brush up on your Etosha facts. You can read more about Etosha and challenge yourself with a more comprehensive 20-question quiz on this page from Etosha: Wildlife Photography in Etosha National Park.