Specific types of wildlife, such as small mammals and reptiles, have undoubtedly suffered. And when high winds whip up multiple flame walls, which likely happened in Etosha, even fast-moving animals can become trapped. Veterinarians have been dispatched to the park and officials are monitoring strategic points, such as watering holes and oft-used natural corridors, to keep an eye on wildlife, according to a recent statement released by Namibia president Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
Marker has reported good news on one of the country’s most endangered species. “Fortunately, Etosha is not a major habitat for cheetahs, so there have been no cheetah deaths reported,” she says. In fact, there’s a chance future visitors to the park might see more cheetahs than before. “As soon as Etosha receives its next rains, the burnt areas will transform into palatable green grass and attract grazing herbivores,” Conserve Global’s Parker explains. “So while the impact of the fire will, for a short period, look dramatic and negative, the longer term impact will be positive.”
As new shoots grow out of the ground, grazers like oryx, tsessebe, and kudu will follow—and with them, big predators. “Cheetahs follow the antelope, and so we could see a slight population increase,” says Marker.
How will the wildfires affect travel?
Etosha National Park is open to travelers: game drives are running, and lodges, including guest favorites like Onguma Camp Kala, are operating as usual. “Given that Etosha National Park is Namibia’s number one tourist destination and a vital national heritage, the government is committed to doing everything possible to protect it,” President Nandi-Ndaitwah said in her statement last week.
“In western parts of the park, the main difference will be visual—you might see scorched terrain until the first rains arrive (usually within six weeks),” says Carter. “By the next season, much of the burned park will look alive again.”
With that regrowth, expect new lodges to open, too. Next year is full of exciting openings for Namibia, from debut lodges from Vestige Collection to two new camps from Natural Selection, both slated to open May 2026.
“Etosha is still accessible, and none of our camps have been affected,” confirms Ally Karaerua, who has lived in Namibia for 53 years and is the managing director of Natural Selection’s properties there. “When it comes to veld fires there are always two sides: the amount of devastation that it will bring, and the amount it will eventually help the area.”