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Mushara Outpost
Mushara Outpost
Mushara Outpost
Mushara Outpost
Mushara Outpost

Mushara Outpost: Our full report

Just 10km from Etosha National Park's eastern gate, Mushara Outpost sits within the private Mushara Reserve.

With only eight tented rooms, it aims to provide an intimate and luxurious base from which to explore Namibia's foremost wildlife park.

Mushara Outpost shares the 25km² Mushara Reserve with its sister camps in the Mushara Collection, Mushara Bush Camp, Mushara Lodge and Villa Mushara. With the exception of the exclusive villas, Outpost is the most luxurious and intimate of the Mushara properties.

The eight tented rooms at Mushara Outpost are constructed from canvas, wood and glass, and raised on spacious wooden decking complete with two chairs and a table. We think that they combine a traditional safari feel with a very high level of comfort. Neutral décor creates an open, airy feeling while large glass windows and doors make the most of views over the surrounding bush. Each room has a simple wicker bedframe with either a double or twin beds draped with mosquito nets. You'll also find a minibar, air conditioning, small safe, coffee station, telephone and hairdryer.

The open-plan en-suite bathroom includes a spacious open shower with glass walls from floor to ceiling, bringing the outdoors inside. There is also a semi-outdoor shower that is partly covered by the canvas roof from the tent and fully enclosed on all sides, allowing complete privacy.

The stylish main area at Mushara Outpost is built in the style of an old farmhouse, complete with a corrugated-iron roof and large wrap-around veranda. That said, with dark furniture, leather chairs and some quirky light fittings (such as lampshades made from porcupine quills), we’d hazard that the Outpost is more luxurious and modern than most Namibian farmhouses. The walls are adorned with spectacular black-and-white photos of Etosha's exceptional wildlife, while tables and shelves scattered with photographic books on Africa and wildlife add a homely touch.

A grand long table dominates the dining area, where in winter, guests may dine together communally. For the rest of the year, breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at smaller tables branching out onto the deck. As well as a swimming pool, surrounded by comfy deckchairs, there is a curio shop stocked with useful items such as suncream, as well as gifts and trinkets.

The well-tended garden, whose large trees include the reserve’s namesake, the mushara tree or purple-pod terminalia, provides a pleasant environment in which to relax. Over various visits, most recently in May 2022, we have spotted a number of birds here, including crimson-breasted bush shrike, violet-backed starling, red-billed francolin/spurfowl and white-crested helmet shrike. Birders will also appreciate the small hide overlooking a modest waterhole. Set at the end of a row of tented rooms, the hide contains a number of directors' chairs so you can enjoy a spot of birdwatching in comfort.

Activities at the Outpost, much as at its sister camps, focus on morning and afternoon game drives into Etosha National Park, whose Von Lindequist gate is just 10km from the lodge. That said, as the property is outside the park, and no activities take place on the Mushara Reserve, these game drives are subject to the same park rules as self-drivers. The park gates are closed between sunset and sunrise, and no off-road driving or walking is allowed. While this is a little more restrictive than staying somewhere that conducts activities on a private reserve, we have always felt that Mushara Outpost offers fantastic value for money considering the levels of service and comfort.

Mushara is an exceptionally convenient location for guests to arrive in their own vehicle and drive themselves into the park. Equally, a guide with some knowledge of animal behaviour patterns might know which animals are likely to put in an appearance at a certain waterhole, and – when it is quiet – will be able to point out birds and plants that might be overlooked. The guides are also in radio contact with each other and can call in any good sightings, further increasing the chance of seeing something exceptional. On balance, the combination of guided excursions and self-drive trips into the park can be a winning formula.

Please note, however, that Mushara Outpost has more beds than seats in its vehicles. If you know you would like to do an activity during your stay here, please let us know so we can inform the lodge. On rare occasions, travellers have missed out on activities that were not pre-booked.


Our view

A great location combined with high levels of comfort, and a small number of tented rooms, makes Mushara Outpost an excellent option for travellers looking for a luxurious retreat with easy access to Etosha.

Tom Morris

Tom Morris

Country manager: Namibia

Geographics

Location
Etosha National Park, Namibia
Ideal length of stay
Base yourself here for 2–3 nights to allow time to explore eastern Etosha and to spend a little time relaxing at the Outpost itself.
Directions
Mushara Outpost is located on the Mushara Reserve, just 10km east of Etosha's Von Lindequist Gate along the C38.

The Mushara Reserve has its own airstrip, but it is also possible to fly to the airstrip at nearby Mokuti and be transferred to the lodge.
Accessible by
Self-drive or Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis
Half Board
Food quality
On our most recent visit to Mushara Outpost in May 2022, we didn’t have theh chance to eat here but we did enjoy our meals at Mushara Lodge. On our last stay at Outpost we were impressed by the quality, presentation and invention of the meals – and dinner was one of the best we had on that trip.

Breakfast was a cold buffet of cereals, fruits, meats, cheeses and fresh breads that were laid out on the bar in the main area. Cooked breakfast items were available freshly cooked to order. There is also a professional coffee maker where staff will prepare your choice of coffee.

Lunch is usually from an à la carte menu, at extra cost. We sampled the bagel with smoked salmon and soft cheese and the tuna niçoise salad, which were both excellent. Although we could not quite find room, there was homemade banana ice cream for dessert. The lodge can also prepare lunch packs for guests who want to spend the whole day in Etosha.

Our dinner consisted of three courses, the first being a dish of vegetable tortillas with sun-dried tomatoes and pesto. The main course was a harissa-rubbed game kebab with beetroot, spinach and maize-pap croquettes. For dessert, we had a milk tart with small éclairs and a pinotage jelly.

We understand that most dietary requirements can be catered for with advanced notice.
Dining style
Mixture of group dining and individual tables
Dining locations
Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service
No room service is available.
Drinks included
Drinks are included when guests are booked on a full board and activities basis, but are at extra cost for those on half board.

Special interests

Birdwatching
Most visitors to Etosha National Park are drawn by the chance to see Namibia's lager wildlife. However, guided 4WD safaris into the park combined with a small hide at the lodge make Mushara Outpost a good pick for a birding trip to Namibia too.
See ideas for Birdwatching
Luxury
Tasteful wildlife images adorn Mushara Outpost's main area, which exudes an elegant farmhouse style. Each tent has a spacious bathroom whose outdoor shower has a view over the surrounding bush. It adds up to a perfect base for a luxury safari in Namibia.
See ideas for Luxury

Children

Attitude towards children
The property welcomes children aged 12 and above.
Property’s age restrictions
Outpost does not accommodate children under the age of 12 years.
Special activities & services
There are no special activities.
Equipment
None
Generally recommended for children
Mushara Outpost has a peaceful and mature feel to it. Even families with older children would probably feel more relaxed at Mushara Lodge, or the family-friendly Mushara Bush Camp.
Notes
As the pool is unfenced, children would need constant supervision.

Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Mushara Outpost

Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Mushara Outpost have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.

Oryx

94% success

Wildebeest

82% success

Giraffe

76% success

Zebra

76% success

Lion

75% success

Elephant

67% success

Eland

60% success

Cheetah

43% success

Spotted Hyena

43% success

Leopard

38% success

White Rhino

31% success

Black Rhino

25% success

Sable antelope

17% success

Roan antelope

15% success

Brown Hyena

8% success

Aardvark

0% success

Pangolin

0% success

Communications

Power supply notes
There is a generator back-up, and the lodge also uses solar power.
Communications
There is WiFi in the main area as well as in the bedrooms, although we have found it somewhat sporadic.
TV & radio
None
Water supply
Borehole
Water supply notes
Toilets and showers are plumbed, with hot and cold running water for showers.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended
Yes
Medical care
The nearest doctor is in Tsumeb, around 100km away.
Dangerous animals
Moderate Risk
Security measures
There is a security gate that is manned by a security guard at night.
Fire safety
There are fire extinguishers in the rooms.

Activities

  • 4WD Safari

    4WD Safari

  • Birdwatching

    Birdwatching

Extras

Disabled access
On Request
Laundry facilities
A laundry service is available at an extra charge.
Money
There are safes in each of the tented rooms.
Accepted payment on location
Cash payment may be made in Namibian dollars and South African rand. Visa and Mastercard are accepted for card payments.

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