Erindi Game Reserve: The Best Private Reserve in Namibia
Central Namibia is home to Erindi Private Game Reserve. Erindi, which means “place of water,”
Erindi Private game reserve has taken on an enormous challenge to pursue conservation efforts in the name of eco-friendly tourism while strengthening the local people.
Erindi is a charming refuge with a rich cultural history, expert guides, and outstanding hospitality, guaranteeing that visitors will remember for a lifetime.
What is Erindi Game Reserve?
Erindi Game Reserve is a privately owned game reserve in central Namibia. It is the largest game reserve in the country and covers an area of approximately 30,000 hectares. The reserve is home to a variety of wildlife, including lions, elephants, rhinos, and leopards. Erindi is one of the many places where you can see the “Big Five”
What animals can you find there?
The Erindi Game Reserve is home to a variety of animals, including Africa’s Big Five, lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo. The reserve also has a wide variety of birds, making it a great destination for bird watching.
Game drives are another option for seeing the wildlife up close.
What is the best time to visit?
The area experiences a nice, dry, and mild environment all year. Our preferred time to visit Erindi is during the dry season, from May to October. The wildlife is active and temperatures are cooler. Less chance of rain. The nights in midwinter (May – Aug.) may be rather frigid. The rainy season lasts from November to April; annual precipitation ranges between 300 and 350 mm.
How to get to Erindi private game reserve?
The best way to get to Erindi is by flying into Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, which is about a 45-minute drive from the reserve. You can also fly into Eros Airport, which is about a 30-minute drive from the reserve.
What activities are available?
As the best private game reserve in Namibia offers a variety of activities to enjoy. Game drives, and bush walks. For those interested in more physical activity, there are also opportunities for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Erindi offers a variety of cultural experiences, traditional native dances and music. Learn about the local culture and history.
Why is it the best private game reserve or or Conservation Area in Africa?
- Erindi is the largest private game reserve in Africa, covering 30,000 hectares of land.
- Erindi is home to over 60 different mammal species, including the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo).
- Erindi also has a large population of cheetah, giraffe, zebra, and wildebeest.
- The reserve is home to more than 400 bird species, making it a paradise for birders.
- Erindi is located in a malaria-free zone, making it a safe destination for travelers.
In conclusion, Erindi Game Reserve is the best private game reserve in Africa because of its large size, diverse wildlife, and safety.
What are the benefits of visiting a private game reserve?
There are many benefits of visiting a private game reserve, such as:
- Seeing a variety of wildlife in their natural habitat
- Experiencing a sense of tranquillity and peace
- Getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life
- Connecting with nature
A visit to a private game reserve is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the beauty and wonder of nature.
Accommodation Types at the most iconic ecotourism destination
Erindi Private Game Reserve offers a variety of accommodation types to suit every need and budget.
- Tented safari camps are the perfect way to immerse yourself in the African bush.
- Luxury lodges offer all the comforts of home, with views that will take your breath away.
- Those desiring a closer connection with nature, there are several rustic bush camps to book.
- Erindi also offers several conference and event facilities, making it the perfect place for business or pleasure.
What are the accommodations like?
The accommodations at Erindi are some of the best in Africa. Choose to stay at one of the many lodges, or in a private villa. All the accommodations are luxurious and have the amenities you would expect. You also have access to activities and facilities, including the game drives, safari walks, and the swimming pool.
Camp Elephant campsite
Camp Elephant is a great place to stay. I would suggest you plan on staying for at least the weekend. The campsite has amazing views of a busy waterhole, which attracts all kinds of wildlife. It is perfect for people who want to explore the reserve alone.
Camp Elephant Chalets
Our experience at the chalets was excellent, a fantastic pool with cottages next to a watering hole where the wildlife congregated to drink.
Camp Elephant offers luxurious chalets that each feature 2 bedrooms and 2 single beds. Chalets are equipped with air-conditioning and satellite TV. The outside patio area features seating for 6 guests and a BBQ.
Old Trader Lodge
Old Trader Lodge is a beautiful and luxurious lodge situated 40 km east of Omaruru in the heart of the Erindi Private Game Reserve. Offering luxury accommodation, world-class cuisine, and unparalleled game viewing experiences.
The restaurant is wonderfully positioned to gaze out over a sizable waterhole. We observed Giraffe, Oryx, Lion, Leopard, Hippo, Elephants, Rhinos, Wildebeest, and other animals while enjoying a delicious meal. A very amazing experience! Plus, every night at supper, the restaurant puts on a show.
History of Erindi Private Game Reserve
The earliest known travelers to Erindi were likely European traders and missionaries who travelled from Walvis Bay northward toward Ovamboland in the middle of the 1800s. However, evidence suggests that other groups, like the native Herero and San tribes, had inhabited this area. On “Big Bushman” Mountain, there are notable San rock drawings and engravings and evidence of seasonal Herero farmers who may have passed through the region.
Erindi Game Reserve was established in 1987 by two conservationists, Dr. Peter and Annabelle Weech. The couple had a shared love of Africa and its wildlife, and they wanted to create a place where the animals could roam free and be protected. The reserve is located in the Namib Desert, and it is home to a variety of animals, including lions, elephants, rhinos, and giraffes.
The World According to Erindi
Erindi Game Reserve is a great example of how to restore land that was previously used for cattle. They brought in wildlife experts and reintroduced elephants who clear the bush and created grasslands necessary for the other game animals.
Erindi Private Reserve is home to 14 elephants living on its southern edge close to the park headquarters. Elephants are employed as landscape gardeners. Allowing them to consume shrubs and bark in order to create more grassland.
Young calves and bulls live in a bachelor herd. That’s where the trouble lies without older bulls to manage them. These youngsters are hard to control and in a park like this which welcomes tourists, it’s important that they tolerate humans. The boys are unpredictable, often charging vehicles. Park guides watch them closely as each one showing he’s wants to be the boss.
Over the coming years more elephants will be introduced to help landscape the reserve and support the grassland boundaries.
Waterholes come to life as night sets. Most of the park’s creatures, including the resident Crocs and the Hippos, can be seen along the water’s edge. Elephants frequently stop by at night. After spending the day searching for food, an adult elephant can consume over 100 litres of water. When the elephants arrived with their small calves in-tow, the hippos retreat to graze on dry land .
Hippos have sensitive skin that burns in the Sun. Therefore, they stay close to the waterholes during the day. Did you know they eat over forty-five kilos of grass before returning at day-break?
Conservation Projects
Here is a list of the Conservation project that Erindi may have on going at any time.
- Aardvark project
- African Wild Dog Project
- Elephant Project
- Honey Badger Project
- lion Project
Final thoughts about Erindi Private game reserve
If you’re looking for an African photo safari that will be nothing short of amazing, look no further than Erindi Game Reserve. With its sprawling landscapes and abundance of wildlife, you will have a photo adventure of a lifetime. So what are you waiting for? Book your African photo safari today!
Bob Wild is a professional photographer and the former owner of African Photo Safari, having led guided photo safaris to numerous destinations including Namibia in western Africa. He owns Who Said Photography and continues to help introduce newcomers to the joys of photography.