Mushara Outpost

18°48’59.8"S 17°8’14.3"E

94% (74 reviews)

Full review Our view Geographics Food & drink Special interests Children Wildlife sightings Communications Health & safety Activities Extras

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 April 2024, 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 provides outstanding value for money, thanks to its excellent 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.

Karen Sharpe

Namibia expert

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 April 2024, we didn't have the chance to eat here but we did enjoy our meals at Mushara Bush Camp. 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.

We understand that most dietary requirements can be catered for with advanced notice.

Breakfast was a cold buffet of cereals, fruits, meats, cheeses and fresh breads that were laid out on the bar in the main area. Hot breakfast items were cooked to order. Staff will prepare your choice of coffee using a professional coffee maker.

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 in Namibia
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 in Namibia

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

87% success

Giraffe

78% success

Zebra

78% success

Lion

77% success

Wildebeest

74% success

Elephant

67% success

Eland

62% success

Cheetah

47% success

Leopard

37% success

Spotted Hyena

37% success

Black Rhino

29% success

White Rhino

25% success

Sable antelope

19% success

Roan antelope

17% success

Brown Hyena

11% 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
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.