Although Etosha is renowned for first class safari self-driving, guided game drives are still likely to provide guests with the best chance of seeing the most abundant and varied wildlife. Guided day and night game drives tend to be included in your stay on the private Ongava Reserve, which boasts significant volumes of big game from lion, cheetah and leopard to rhino, elephant and giraffe. All of these animals are far more likely to let you get close, watch them for extended periods and capture some great photographs if you are within the confines of a vehicle.

A guided drive also offers the experience, knowledge and personality of your guide, which can enrich any safari experience, while guides are always like to find a greater number of animals than enthusiastic self-drivers. Within the national park itself, night drives are only possible with a guide from one of the camps inside the park, so even if you are predominantly self-driving Etosha you should always book a night drive to search for nocturnal animals and sample the after dark ambience of the bush.