From Namutoni camp it is about 13 kilometres to Von Lindequist Gate. The tarred C38 then takes you to Tsumeb, where it meets the B1. Fill up in Tsumeb, at the station next to Shoprite: a trip report from August 2026 says no fuel was available at any of the Etosha camps. From Tsumeb you head east to Grootfontein.
At Grootfontein you join the B8, the main road into the north-east, with about 250 kilometres to go to Rundu. Shortly before you arrive you pass Mile 30, a settlement 48 kilometres south of Rundu. Watch out for livestock. Cattle and goats wander onto the road in this part of the country. In 2014 travellers named Engen stations in Grootfontein and Rundu that accept cards.
Allow five to six hours of actual driving for the 432 kilometres from Namutoni. The Namibia Tours & Safaris distance chart from 2010 gives five hours including stops. From here on, malaria matters. The German Foreign Office rates the risk in the north and north-east as high all year and reports a sharp rise in cases in 2025 and 2026, as of October 2026. See a doctor about prophylaxis or standby treatment before you travel.
Our tipIf you want one last game drive in Etosha in the morning, time your departure so you reach Rundu in daylight. The German Foreign Office advises against driving between towns after dark, and some rental contracts exclude it.
The route at a glance
- Roads
- C38, B1, C42, B8
- Distance
- 432 km
- Surface
- tar all the way
- Driving time
- 5 to 6 hours
- Fuel on the way
- Tsumeb, Grootfontein, Rundu
Distances and times as of October 2026, driving time without stops or detours.
Routes that use this stage
Places to stay in Rundu
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Hakusembe River Campsite
16 km West of Rundu on the B10, P O Box
- Pool
- Parking
from €39per night on 27 June 2027
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Camp Hogo Kavango
Sarasungu Road East
- Pool
- Parking
- Pets allowed
- Wi-Fi
from €42per night on 23 November 2026
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Hakusembe River Lodge
Samsity Conserancy
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Parking
from €100per night on 23 November 2026
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Tambuti Lodge
1 km from the town centre
- Pool
- Spa
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
from €52per night on 23 November 2026
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Taranga Safari Lodge
Halali Village, 35km West of Rundu on the Okavango
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Parking
from €274per night on 1 January 2027
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Guest House Bavaria
D3446 Tutungeni
- Pool
- Breakfast
- Restaurant
- Kitchen
from €57per night on 23 November 2026
Check prices on trivagoEtosha (Von Lindequist Gate) to Rundu: frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Etosha to Rundu?
Namutoni in Etosha to Rundu is 432 kilometres on tar via Tsumeb and Grootfontein. Allow five to six hours of actual driving.
Where can I get fuel between Etosha and Rundu?
The safest place to refuel between Etosha and Rundu is Tsumeb, as the Etosha camps had no fuel in August 2026. Travellers have also named fuel stations in Grootfontein and Rundu.
Is the road from Etosha to Rundu tarred?
Yes, the route from Namutoni via the C38, Tsumeb and Grootfontein along the B8 to Rundu is tarred all the way. Watch for cattle and goats on the road in the north-east.
Do I need malaria protection in Rundu?
Rundu lies in northern Namibia, where the German Foreign Office rates the malaria risk as high all year, with sharply rising case numbers in 2025 and 2026. See a doctor about prophylaxis or standby treatment before you travel.