Outjo lies 316 kilometres north of Windhoek on the C38, the road from Otjiwarongo to Etosha's Andersson Gate. There is no other town between here and the park. A route planner puts the gate 97 kilometres away; some sources say 90. The name comes from Otjiherero and means small hills.
- founded as a military post
- 1897
- residents, 2023 census
- 15,063
- to Windhoek, all tar
- 316 km
- to Etosha's Andersson Gate
- 97 km
For Etosha, Outjo is above all the place to fill your tank. Since early 2025 deliveries to the state-run camps in the park have failed again and again, and in August 2026 there was no fuel there at all. After Outjo, the only pump left is the Etosha Trading Post outside the gate. Buy water and food for your days in the park here too.
Outjo is also a junction. The C39 heads west via Khorixas into Damaraland, the C40 northwest via Kamanjab towards the Kaokoveld. Both are tarred. If you are coming from Twyfelfontein, you will almost always reach Etosha through Outjo.
Water tower, museum, Naulila
German soldiers under Theodor Leutwein set up a small military post here in 1897 to explore the north of the colony. The water tower of 1900 survives from that time. A wooden wind pump once turned on top and lifted the water.
The Franke House Museum covers local history. Part of it deals with Major Viktor Franke's expedition in October 1914 against the Portuguese fort of Naulila in Angola, after a German delegation had been killed there. The Naulila Monument in town recalls the same events. An hour between shopping and moving on is enough for both.
Where to stay in and around Outjo
In town there are guesthouses such as the Farmhouse and a backpacker lodge; outside town, guest farms and lodges such as Ijaba and Mountain Peak. If you want to be at the gate early, sleep closer to the park. If you arrive late from Damaraland, stay in Outjo and drive the last hour in the morning.
Gamkarab Cave near Outjo, with its stalactites, is on private land and not open to the public. Vingerklip, a finger of rock in the Ugab valley, is a popular detour to the west.
Today, as of Outjo has grown fast: 6,013 people lived here at the 2001 census, 15,063 in 2023. The C39 to Khorixas and the C40 to Kamanjab are now tarred. The state of the minor road D2743 west of Outjo to Vingerklip and Ugab Terrace is disputed. In November 2025 the lodges along it called it impassable for ordinary vehicles. The Roads Authority replied that the washaways had been repaired and the road was graded regularly. Ask at your lodge before you set off.
- Time needed
- a fuel and shopping stop, or one night if you arrive late from Damaraland
- From Windhoek
- 316 km, 240 minutes
Our tipFill up in Outjo even if the needle is still above half. Between Outjo and the gate there is only the Etosha Trading Post, and in 2026 there was no fuel inside the park.
Places to stay in Outjo
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Ugab Terrace Lodge
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Parking
from €223per night on 23 November 2026
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Sasa Safari Camp & Tours
Ugab Valley
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Parking
from €66per night on 23 November 2026
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Ijaba Lodge at Buschfeld Park
2km on the C38, turn off at the sign
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Parking
from €97per night on 23 November 2026
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Etosha Safari Camp
10 km to the Anderson Gate
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Air conditioning
from €39per night on 23 November 2026
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Kai-Oms Backpackers Lodge
2 meester ave
- Breakfast
- Kitchen
- Parking
- Fireplace
from €54per night on 23 November 2026
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Okaukuejo Rest Camp
Etosha National Park
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Kitchen
from €250per night on 24 September 2027
Check prices on trivagoOutjo: frequently asked questions
How far is Outjo from Etosha?
From Outjo to Etosha's Andersson Gate is 97 kilometres on the tarred C38 according to a route planner; some sources say 90. Okaukuejo camp lies about 17 kilometres beyond the gate.
Can you buy fuel and groceries in Outjo?
You can refuel and shop in Outjo, the last town before Andersson Gate. After that, the only stop before the park is the Etosha Trading Post outside the gate.
What is there to see in Outjo?
Outjo has a water tower from 1900 that once carried a wooden wind pump, and the Franke House Museum on local history. There is also the Naulila Monument, which recalls the expedition into Angola in October 1914.