Read 46 traveller reviews of Halali Restcamp

Strategically located in the middle of Etosha National Park, Halali is one of the three government-run restcamps inside the park. The others are Okaukuejo and Namutoni.

Halali stands beside one of the very few hills in Etosha, and is the smallest and quietest of these restcamps – although it's much, much larger than most camps in Namibia. In many ways it's like a small village – with its own chalets, restaurant, swimming pool, shop and fuel station – all linked by a small network of roads and footpaths.

As part of the 100th anniversary of Etosha National Park in 2007, all three restcamps underwent an extensive upgrading process. All now have rooms which are pleasant and modern, and all are much, much more expensive than they used to be prior to 2007. However … they're also much nicer than they used to be; they're still less costly than most private camps in the area; and they are located inside the national park.

Halali can be very booked-up, and so booking in advance is essential. When you check in here, you have to furnish a N$500 deposit per room/chalet – against any breakages or losses from it during your stay. You'll find a tick-list of what's there, which is checked when you arrive, and also when you leave.

The rooms here are split into four categories:

Halali has two family chalets, each with two separate bedrooms with twin beds in each. These chalets are spacious; each has a separate lounge, kitchen and a bathroom. The kitchen is equipped with a limited selection of crockery and cutlery, a small oven, a fridge, a kettle and tea and coffee sachets! Outside is a shaded entertainment area with built-in braai (bar-b-que), table and chairs. These chalets are the closest to the waterhole.

Halali has 10 two-bedroom bush chalets. Each of the chalet's two bedrooms has a pair of twin beds, and these shares a shared bathroom (with a shower in it) and a separate toilet. The combined lounge-cum-kitchen is not very big – and has two sofas, a small fridge, a tea/coffee station, and an assortment of crockery and cutlery. Outside there is a plastic table and chairs, and a built-in braai (bar-b-que). These chalets are smaller than the family chalets, and usually further from the waterhole.

Halali has 10 one-bedroom bush chalets. The chalets are small, and don't have separate kitchens or lounge. They have one bedroom, with a very small, separate bathroom with a shower and toilet. These rooms have a sliding glass door that leads to an open patio with a floor of pebbles. One side of this is screened, so you can sit out – although there are no braai (bar-b-que) facilities here.

Halali has 39 double rooms - each of which is about the same size as a one bed-room chalet, but it lacks the patio doors and small outside area. The en suite bathroom in the double rooms is just as small, but these rooms do come with a small sofa in one corner of the room.

All of these chalets and rooms have air conditioning, lamps, a tea/coffee station and a mini-fridge (always empty on your arrival). The beds have with mosquito nets above crisp white bedding and very comfortable pillows. In the bathrooms, you find complimentary shampoo, soap, hand and body lotion provided, as well as soft towels.

As with Etosha's other restcamps, Halali has a campsite – which is often popular.

Also like Etosha's other restcamps, one of Halali's big attractions is its floodlit waterhole. This can be viewed at any time of day or night, from a rock terrace which is on one side of the camp – visitors just wander over when they feel like it, and stay as long as they like.

Although the game sightings at Halali's waterhole aren't quite so predicta

Lodge overview

Lodge type: Safari

No. of bedrooms: 66 rooms

Season: Open Year Round

Ideal length of stay: Anything from two to seven nights but 2-4 would be typical; often combined with a few nights at the park's other restcamps: Okaukuejo and Namutoni.

Geographics

Location: Etosha National Park, Namibia

Accessible by: Self-drive or Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: B&B

Food quality: We found breakfast here expensive by Namibian standards. That said, it's a pretty substantial buffet of different cereals, yogurts, fruits and cold meats – plus a variety of breads, cheeses and cold meats, and an option for a cooked breakfast. The restaurant does not serve lunch. However, then there is a kiosk open, where you'll find basic meals including toasties and chips. Dinner is more formal and you can expect the chef to stand in the front of the restaurant preparing the evening meal; anything from a stir-fry to carvery. For desert there are normally cakes, pudding and or ice-cream. Many of the chalets here have their braai facilities (bar-b-que), and you can buy wood and charcoal from the camp's shop. Hence many visitors prefer to organise at least some of their own meals here. If you want to do this then we'd always advise you to buy food before you enter the park – there's a much wider choice (especially of fresh vegetables) than you'll find at the shops in the restcamps.

Dining style: Inidividual Tables

Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining

Room service: No

Drinks included: No drinks are included at Halali, but there is a cash bar here – and the shop sells a limited amount of alcohol.

Children

Attitude towards children: Children are welcome with their parents

Age restrictions: There is no age restriction at Halali

Activities: The restcamp have a swimming pool and waterhole that kids can enjoy under adult supervision.

Generally recommended for children: Yes – and because the camp is large and fenced, it's better-suited to children than many private camps.

Central communications

Power supply: Mains Electricity

Communications: There is some mobile reception at Halali. There are no phones in the rooms, but there is a public pay-phone if you need to make a phone call. (Purchase phone cards from the shop!)

TV & radio: There is no TV or radio in the rooms, but piped music is played in the restaurant!

Health & safety

Malarial area: Yes

Medical care: The closest doctor or hospital is in Outjo, about a 2-hour drive away.

Dangerous animals: Moderate Risk

Security measures: There are security guards at the restcamp.

Fire safety: There is a fire extinguisher outside each chalet/room.

Extras

Disabled access: In Place

Laundry facilities: There is no laundry-service here, but there's space to hand-wash items yourself if you need to.

Money: Currency exchange is not possible at the restcamp

Accepted payment: Visa and Mastercard are accepted at the restcamp and no commission is charged.

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