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Okaukuejo Camp- Etosha National Park, NamibiaOkaukuejo Camp (formerly known as Okakwiju) meaning a woman who bore a child each year, stands near the public southern entrance of Etosha National Park, at the western end of the famous Etosha Pan. It officially opened for visitors in 1957 1955, and is the oldest and largest of the three former government-run rest camps (the other two are Halali Camp and Namutoni Camp). Okaukuejo is now operated by the para-statal Namibia Wildlife Resorts. It was completely upgraded and re-furbished in late 2007, when there was a change for the better in its accommodation. The service and food proved harder to improve, but great strides have been made in these areas too – see our reviewers' comments. Okaukuejo Camp is also the administrative centre of the park, and home to Etosha Ecological Institute, responsible for the research and conservation of the park's flora and fauna. Okaukuejo's main attraction is the large, flood-lit waterhole, which receives exceedingly regular visits from a wide diversity of wildlife. These animals include herds of antelope, lion, family groups of elephant and black rhino, which are seen remarkably frequently. It's not an over-statement to say that this is probably the best place in Africa to observe black rhino in the wild – as there are often a number of individuals which come down to this waterhole to drink at night. The spectacle starts at dawn and continues throughout the day, with visits from herds of zebras and springbok during the afternoon. It's especially fun to sit back after dinner with a bottle of wine, watching the water's nocturnal visitors and their interactions. Beside this, the landmark stone tower at the heart of Okaukuejo rest camp is an excellent spot to relax and watch the sun go down behind distant mountains. Okaukuejo Camp boasts a total of 104 chalets, They are all equipped with fridges and tea-stations, and come in six different types, depending on their location and size: There are five Premier Waterhole Chalets set in close proximity to the waterhole. These are numbered chalet 31w - 35w, with chalet 34 affording travelers the best view of the waterhole, the other four chalets' views are obscured by tree branches. The double-storey buildings has an en-suite bedroom (with two single beds), a small lounge area and the tea/coffee station and fridge downstairs. Stairs lead to the main bedroom, with a (queen-size bed) in the middle of the room facing wide glass doors which open out onto a private patio. The upstairs bedroom has his and hers wash basins, a flush loo, a wardrobe and shower situated behind the bedroom area. From the bed you have partial views of the waterhole or you can lie out on twin sun loungers and enjoy the views from your private patio overlooking the waterhole and its wildlife activity. Note that these rooms are usually booked on a full board basis. Of the 30 Waterhole Chalets at Okaukuejo, bungalows 1w - 30w only chalets 1w + 2w and 9w + 10w have views of the waterhole, but these are considerably smaller and do not have a private living area. The tea/coffee stations and fridges are situated inside the wardrobes due to limited space. Although the rest of the waterhole chalets do not have views of the waterhole, they are situated close by and are considerably more spacious, each with their own private living area. The two self-catering Family Chalets bungalows 96 and 97 are very spacious with a large living area with plenty of seating space, two en-suite bedrooms each with twin beds and a well-equipped kitchenette. (equipped with a stove with four hot plates and an oven, a large fridge, tea station, counter with four stools, twin wash up sinks, draining rack, a dustbin, cutlery, crockery, teapots, pots, saucepan, kitchen knives, water jug and braai utensils. Each has a braai area adjacent to a shaded veranda with outdoor tables and chairs. There are also 20 Bush Chalets at Okaukuejo Camp, chalets 72 - 91. Each has one double bedroom, a bathroom, a lounge area and barbeque facilities. In addition, Okaukuejo Camp has 45 en-suite Double Rooms chalets 32 - 71 with two Disabled Access Chalets. The latter are set close to the waterhole, and have double bedrooms and are spacious, with wide doorways for wheelchair access. The loo and shower have handrails; the shower also has a pull down seat. The tea/coffee station area is built level with someone in a wheelchair for easy access. As befits one of the country's original restcamps, there are 37 camping sites at Okaukuejo. Whilst staying here, guest have access to three ablution blocks with showers and toilets, and can use the three communal field kitchens, complete with cooking areas. Power points, hot & cold water, and braai facilities are available at all camping sites. The main facilities at Okaukuejo are typical of a rest camp and include a restaurant, where all the meals are served as a buffet, a bar, a kiosk where light meals and drinks are available during the day, a curio shop, a post office, as well as a fuel station and three swimming pools. Two large pools are for adults and there's a smaller, shallower pool for children. There's also a tourist shop, selling basic food items, and a tourist centre, displaying the ongoing park research. The camp also has a launderette on site, tokens can be purchased at reception at N$50 per token for a single load and another N$50 token to dry. In cases of emergency, there's a state clinic on site. Whilst staying at Okaukuejo, activities mainly consist of wildlife viewing – and the vast majority of visitors come in their own cars, and drive themselves around the park. Etosha was set up as a reserve for visitors to drive themselves, with a network of very well-marked and signposted roads. In addition to your own game drives, the flood-lit waterhole often delivers an outstanding game viewing experience in the evening. In recent years, the park authorities have started running their own guided game drives, which leave in the morning (06:30), in the afternoon (15:30) and in the evening (20:00). There's also a nature walk possible within the camp, and sometimes it's possible to visit to the Etosha Ecological Institute.
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