Namibia - North
Etosha National Park - Etosha is the oldest national park in Namibia, founded in 1907, and there's so much to see, plan to spend at least three to five days in the park. For a unique experience, stay in each one of the three rest camps within the park, Namutoni, Halali, and Okaukuejo, book reservations well in advance.
At the water holes, kids can look for lions, black and white rhinos with their babies, giraffes, ostriches, kudu, springbok, warthog families, different kinds of zebras, and tons of elephants (one family described over 35 elephants at one water hole).
Tip: To visit Etosha, arrange a tour, or if you've rented a car, you can drive through the park yourself. If you do go on your own, drive to a water hole and wait for the animals to show up, but don't get out of your car.
Otjitotongwe Cheetah Farm (near Kamanjab) - This is a working farm that also helps conserve cheetahs. Kids will have a memorable experience of watching the cheetahs being fed (it might be an elephant the cheetah are having for dinner), and going out to see them at night. Don't be surprised if the cheetahs come up and lick your leg!
Waterberg Plateau Park - Waterberg Plateau Park was created to provide breeding area and home for endangered animals, such as the white rhino and roan antelope. The plateau has plenty of water year round and green vegetation, so there are lots of animals to see - baboons, kudu, roan antelope, impalas, zebras, wildebeests and jackals.
To maintain the natural ecology, you can't drive through the park in your own car, but twice a day there are three-hour game drives, or arrange for a private guide early in the morning.
