mount etjo safari lodge game drive

The Game Drives provide a unique opportunity to observe, encounter and admire the great variety of species that roam the Okonjati Game Reserve. Nowhere else in Namibia will you see such a diversity of animals, ranging from birds to the rare Roan and Sable Antelope, Elephants, White and Black Rhino, Giraffes, Zebras and many many more. The Game Drive is enjoyable for all age groups and can be booked on site.

EXCLUSIVE DRIVE: subject to availability, our experienced and professional guides Allan and Rudie will tell you more about all there is to know about the Namibian wilderness, sharing their extensive knowledge of the Namibian birdlife, mammals and plant life. 

• N$530.00: per person for lodge visitors and campers
• N$630.00: per person for day visitors
• N$3320.00: for the private drive (max 5 people)
• N$7320: for the private drive (max 11 people)
• Children below 4 years are free of charge.
• 07h00 - 10h00 & 16h00 - 19h00

All room rates include wi-fi, dinner, a full breakfast, tourism levy and VAT.

Reservation

Rooms & Suites

Check availability.

Mount Etjo Safari Lodge is located in the heart of the Okonjati Game Reserve. One of the first private Game Reserves established in Namibia and founded by world-renowned conservationist Jan Oelofse.

Home to over 8000 animals and a impessive variety of bird species the Okonjati Wildlife Sanctuary is a true Conservation Area, this historic lodge deservedly carries the name “Etjo”, meaning place of refuge. Mount Etjo Safari Lodge is where the most important Declaration towards Namibia's Independence was signed in 1989 (The Mount Etjo Declaration).

Experiencing Wildlife activities and Enjoying Nature on the Okonjati Game Reserve is memorable and everlasting , while enjoying excuisite cuisine and luxurious accommodation, Mount Etjo Safari Lodge is and remains one of the most favourite destinations to visitors from around the world.

300$ / Night

150$ / Night

200$ / Night

King size room.

250$ / Night

Family room, smaller room, elephant lodge.

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Cheetah Feed

Dinosaur Footprints

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Educational

School visit, private game drive, rhino tracking, photography, pick up & drop.

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Parking Space

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Room Service

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Swimming Pool

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Fibre Internet

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Mount Etjo Safari Lodge

P.O.Box 81, 9000 Kalkfeld, Namibia – Excellent location - show map

Cleanliness

Value for money

Excellent location!

Mount Etjo Safari Lodge Reserve now

Lock in a great price for Mount Etjo Safari Lodge - rated 8.7 by recent guests.

Enter dates to get started.

Featuring a year-round outdoor pool, Mount Etjo Safari Lodge in Kalkfeld offers accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking for guests who drive. There is a private bathroom with bidet in every unit, along with free toiletries, a hairdryer and bathrobes. The lodge offers a children's playground. Mount Etjo Safari Lodge features amenities such as an on-site business centre and hot tub. There is a shared lounge at this property and guests can go hiking and cycling nearby.

Couples particularly like the location — they rated it 9.3 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

• Outdoor swimming pool
• Free parking
• Airport shuttle
• Non-smoking rooms
• Facilities for disabled guests
• Family rooms
• Superb breakfast

Property highlights

Top location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.3)

Free private parking available on-site

Saved to 305 lists

Availability

Select dates to see this property's availability and prices

Categories:

See what guests loved the most:.

Property surroundings

Restaurants 1 restaurant on site.

• Open for Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

Facilities of Mount Etjo Safari Lodge Great facilities! Review score, 8.8

• Toilet paper
• Bath or shower
• Private bathroom
• Free toiletries
• Wardrobe or closet
• BBQ facilities
• Coffee machine
• Cleaning products
• Electric kettle
• Refrigerator
• Clothes rack
• Children's playground
• Seating Area
• Shared lounge/TV area
• Luggage storage
• Wake-up service
• Packed lunches
• Currency exchange
• Laundry Additional charge
• Business centre
• Airport shuttle Additional charge
• Safety deposit box
• Minimarket on site
• Air conditioning
• Tile/marble floor
• Private entrance
• Open all year
• Hot tub/Jacuzzi

Property practices

See availability house rules.

From 14:00 to 19:00

From 05:30 to 12:00

Cancellation/ prepayment

Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check the conditions of your required room.

Children and beds

Child policies

Children of any age are welcome.

Children 15 years and above will be charged as adults at this property.

To see correct prices and occupancy information, please add the number of children in your group and their ages to your search.

Cot and extra bed policies

Cots and extra beds are not available at this property.

No age restriction

There is no age requirement for check-in

Pets are not allowed.

Accepted payment methods

Cash Mount Etjo Safari Lodge accepts these cards and reserves the right to temporarily hold an amount prior to arrival.

FAQs about Mount Etjo Safari Lodge

What type of room can i book at mount etjo safari lodge, does mount etjo safari lodge have a pool.

Yes, this hotel has a pool. Find out the details about the pool and other facilities on this page.

How far is Mount Etjo Safari Lodge from the centre of Kalkfeld?

Mount Etjo Safari Lodge is 19.9 miles from the centre of Kalkfeld. All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.

Does Mount Etjo Safari Lodge have a restaurant on site?

• Restaurant #1

How much does it cost to stay at Mount Etjo Safari Lodge?

The prices at Mount Etjo Safari Lodge may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates you select, hotel's policy etc.). See the prices by entering your dates.

Is Mount Etjo Safari Lodge popular with families?

Yes, Mount Etjo Safari Lodge is popular with guests booking family stays.

What are the check-in and check-out times at Mount Etjo Safari Lodge?

Check-in at Mount Etjo Safari Lodge is from 14:00, and check-out is until 12:00.

Does Mount Etjo Safari Lodge have a hot tub for its guests?

Yes, there is a hot tub. You can find out more about this and the other facilities at Mount Etjo Safari Lodge on this page.

What is there to do at Mount Etjo Safari Lodge?

• Children's playground
• Swimming Pool

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• Accommodation
• Otjiwarongo Accommodation

Mount Etjo Safari Lodge

Mount Etjo Safari Lodge  is located 107 km south west of Otjiwarongo in the heart of the Okonjati Game Reserve. One of the first private Game Reserves established in Namibia and founded by world-renowned conservationist Jan Oelofse.

Home to over 8,000 animals and an impressive variety of bird species the Okonjati Wildlife Sanctuary is a true conservation area. This historic lodge deservedly carries the name “Etjo”, meaning place of refuge. Mount Etjo Safari Lodge is where the most important declaration towards Namibia's Independence was signed in 1989 (the Mount Etjo Declaration).

Experiencing wildlife activities and enjoying nature on the Okonjati Game Reserve is memorable and everlasting, while enjoying exquisite cuisine and luxurious accommodation, Mount Etjo Safari Lodge is and remains one of the most favourite destinations to visitors from around the world.

Whether you relax at the swimming pool, at the bar, the lounge or in the beautiful Mount Etjo gardens, you will find that the beautiful scenery will leave you feeling rejuvenated! The waterhole is situated right in front of the lodge, allowing for all-day game viewing experience.

Mount Etjo Campsite: Six campsites near the lodge, are all equipped with private ablution facilities, power-point and a braai area, with views over the nearby waterhole.

Read More Read Less

Accommodation Options & Rates

* Kindly choose your preferred currency from the header bar. For further information click on the info buttons below.

• Rates: 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024
• Rates: 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025

Luxury Single

Annual Rate

Rates include.

• Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

Room/Unit Facilities

Luxury double.

Suite Double

Property Facilities

Additional booking information.

Booking Notices, Cancellation Policy, Children's Policy, Payment Terms, Specials and T&C's

Accommodation:  Dinner, Bed & Breakfast, and a rhino levy.

Campsite:  Campsite only.

Check in time from 14:00 PM / Check out time latest 11:00 AM.

Children sharing with 2 adults: 0 to 3 years = Complimentary / 4 to 14 years = 50% of adult sharing rate. Children 15 years and older pay the full adult sharing or single rate.  

Please note that the full requested payment is due on receipt of the booking invoice to secure room availability if booked within 8 weeks of arrival date. A 50% booking deposit payment is due on bookings made prior to 8 weeks of arrival date with the remainder settlement amount payable 8 weeks before arrival date. Full payment is due on receipt of invoice when booking certain establishments. Payment can be made by electronic bank transfer (EFT) or online-payment with credit card or debit card (MasterCard & VISA). Bank charges are not included in the rates and are for your account.

Room Cancellations:

All cancellations are subject to a minimum 40% of the total booking amount handling fee. 31 - 15 days before arrival 70% of total booking value 14 - 0 days before arrival 100% of total booking value 100% of total booking value for non-arrival or no show

Campsite Cancellations:

All cancellations are subject to a minimum 50% of the total booking amount handling fee. 30 - 0 days before arrival 100% of total booking value 100% of total booking value for non-arrival or no show

From Windhoek:  Take the B1 through Okahandja. Take the turn-off D2483 to your left 70 km before Otjiwarongo. Drive 41 km gravel road and follow the signs. From Swakopmund:  Take the B2 through Usakos, Karibib and Omaruru to Kalkfeld where the signs will lead you to Mount Etjo. 35 km gravel road after Kalkfeld.

Click on the red pin pointer on the below map for latitude/longitude coordinates.

Rates are subject to availability, currency fluctuations, seasonality & website updates. All information is subject to change without notice. Terms & conditions apply.

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Accommodation booking.

Mount Etjo Safari Lodge

Description, mount etjo safari lodge is located in northern namibia.

In the Okonjati Game Reserve between Omaruru and Otjiwarongo.

About Mount Etjo Safari Lodge:

Looking for a Southern Namibian destination that has it all? Travel to the heart of Okonjati Game Reserve to Mount Etjo Safari Lodge, where game and bird encounters, dinosaurs’ relics, Namibian history and more abound, combined with top-class accommodation and exquisite cuisine. Mount Etjo (“Refuge”) Safari Lodge is the ideal location from which to explore one of the first private Game Reserves established in Namibia by world-famous conservationist Jan Oelofse. The lodge is an important location in Namibian history–the Mount Etjo Declaration towards Namibia’s Independence was signed here in 1989.

Accommodation at Mount Etjo Safari Lodge consists of:

• Villa (twin king), • Suites (king or twin), • Luxury rooms (king or twin) and smaller rooms (2 single beds), • Campsites (4 persons per site).

Amenities at Mount Etjo Safari Lodge

Includes a dining room and Wi-Fi.

Attractions and Activities to enjoy at Mount Etjo Safari Lodge

Includes watching the lions or cheetah feed, hiking trails, group and private game drives, guided or unguided fossilised buffalo and dinosaur footprint walk, visits to Mount Etjo Private School, rhino tracking, and photography adventures.

Other Facilities at Mount Etjo Safari Lodge

Includes an airstrip, beauty salon, curio shop, fireplaces, business centre, and viewing deck.

The Namibia Safari offers a best price guarantee on all accommodation bookings at Mount Etjo Safari Lodge.

Best price guarantee no booking fees namibia accommodation & travel experts ready to assist, contact details.

• +264 81 7033 722
• [email protected]

Accommodation Types

Starting from N$ 2300

Starting from N$ 2855

Starting from N$ 3080

Starting from N$ 5435

Starting from N$ 825

Accommodation Info

Smaller twin rooms.

Our Smaller Single Rooms are furnished with two single beds, a coffee/tea station, safe, fridge, ceiling fan and air conditioning and a bathroom with only a shower. Standard Luxury Rooms All luxury rooms are equipped with a tea/coffee station, an air conditioner and heater, a ceiling fan, a safe and a small fridge. Some rooms offer the use of a Jacuzzi. Wheelchair friendly rooms available. • King: one king-size bed • Twin: two double beds

Junior Suite

The Luxury Suites offer the perfect accommodation for a special getaway or a honeymoon. Rooms are spacious and fitted with a large lounge, an exquisite bedroom and a fire-place or Jacuzzi, a mini-fridge, safe, ceiling fan, air-conditioner and a tea/coffee station. . • King: one king-size bed • Twin: two double beds

Luxury Villa

Partially located on an island, with an extraordinary 180 degree view of the waterhole where animals come to quench their thirst, the Villa is the pearl of Mount Etjo Safari Lodge. The Villa offers privacy, exclusivity, luxury and a special ambience with a private swimming pool, mini-bar, Satelite television, a large lounge, two king-size beds, private dining facilities and a personal chef (on request). An exceptional opportunity for all-day game viewing from the comfort of the grandest accommodation, the Villa is an African dream come true. • Twin King: two king-size beds

Campsite (1-4Pax)

The camping sites are located about 3 km from Mount Etjo Safari Lodge, each campsite is privately situated under shady trees, with a lawn and a view over a waterhole. Camp sites are equipped with hot/cold water, private toilet & shower, dish-washing basins, 220 V electricity, fireplace, a camping table and complementary fire wood.

Room Features

Property amenities.

– Starting from N$ 485

– Starting from N$ 245

Cheetah Feeding

– Starting from N$485

Rhino Tracking

– Starting from N$1695

Price Breakdown

Interested in this accommodation.

If you are interested in booking this accommodation with us, please click on the button below which will take you to the enquiry form. Fill out the form and we will get back to you.

N$ 2300.00

Children Policy

• 0-3 years - Free of charge
• 4- 6 years - Starting from N$495
• 7-14 years - Starting from N$975
• Terms & Conditions
• Cancellation Policy

Please make sure you filled out all the required fields marked with a *.

If you have any questions, click on the button below to contact us.

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Mount Etjo Safari Lodge

Lodge / game reserve.

Mount Etjo Safari Lodge is a popular Namibian game lodge situated in the 36 000 hectares Okonjati Game Reserve, which is home to about 8000 animals. It is well known as one of the first private Game Reserves in Namibia founded by the famous conservationist Jan Oelofse, who was the animal supervisor and handler for the Hatari! movie from 1962.

Mount Etjo Safari Lodge offers accommodation in 20 luxury rooms, two suites and 1one villa. There is also a large campsite. Activities offered are game drives, lion and cheetah feeding, rhino tracking and excursions to the dinousaur tracks of the Saurichnium damarense.

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Specifications

• Game Drives in open vehicles
• Walking Trails (Dinosaur Footprints)
• Rhino Tracking
• Rare Species Game Sanctuary

Rates & Reservations

Booking enquiry.

It’s our pleasure to book this accommodation for you. You will have no additional costs as we charge the public rates. Please be advised that we are not able to make any campsite bookings . Please refer to our Terms and Conditions .

1. Contact details

2. accommodation, 3. confirmation .

I hereby confirm that I have read and understood the Terms and Conditions .

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The game drive was exceptional, but... - Mount Etjo Safari Lodge

• Africa    
• Namibia    
• Otjozondjupa Region    
• Kalkfeld    
• Kalkfeld Specialty Lodging    
• Kalkfeld Lodges    

Mount Etjo Safari Lodge

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Always want to stay just a little longer! The game drive was once again so special - searching for the elephants until we found them and seeing the birth of a springbok. Finding omajova while on the game drive made it even more special. The rooms are enormous.

• Sleep Quality
• Cleanliness

Our family went camping with our one year old daughter. Very nice camping sites, which are well established and planned out perfectly. Saw damara dik-diks and baboons at the camping site. Would recommend going when the dam at the camp site has water, would probably see more wildlife then. We are planning on visiting again when the dam is full. The staff are extremely helpful and friendly. The ladies at reception made us feel right at home, very polite and explained everything to us. The guys at the campsite greeted us every morning before thoroughly cleaning the campsite. Must recommend the lion feeding, definitely something worth staying up late for. Also a must to see the dinosaur tracks and is a fun activity for the whole family. Also make sure to visit the curio shop at the lodge. This lodge is one of the very few lodges which allows campers to make use of the lodge facilities, including lunch, dinner, swimming pool and bar. This was an awesome stay at a very beautiful lodge.

Thank you so much for the friendly feedback!

We camped at Mount Etjo's campsite for two nights. The campsites are great, out in the bush with dik-dik right in the camp when we arrived. There is a baboon proof metal building with private facilities which we really liked, and a really nice braai area. Beautiful view over a waterhole, we saw oryx, kudu and more dik-dik. There's a great walk you can do from the campsite for a few kilometres to some dinosaur tracks across a rocky hillside. Mount Etjo lodge is nearby, we had a very nice supper there. We went for an excellent game drive in which we saw wonderful animals including a black rhino. Recommended.

a great hotel with an impressive diversity of wildlife. great to learn about Namibian wildlife, they have lions, rhinos, elephants, hippos, … the game drive was very good and you may even participate to lion feeding in the evening. The room was very very huge and comfortable, the hotel was really beautiful, dinner was served in a traditional African room built around the fire with an open roof. No complaints!

The game reserve is superb and they have outstanding guides for private game drives (Orlando is great). However, the lodge severely sucks. Essentially, it’s a time travel to 1980s. The rooms are very spacious but are cold caves with completely outdated bathrooms and furniture. The staff is clueless how to operate such facility. The only highlight is the spectacular dinner place. But the breakfast in a freaking cold open space cures all enthusiasm the next morning. On top, some of the delicatessen served for breakfast must have been really unhealthy given the aftermath… In a nutshell: great environment, but for the lodge there is only one solution: take it down and rebuild it.

Dear Ralph. we are sorry that your experience was so terrible. We have in the meantime renovated.

Shooter Files by f.d. walker

Street Photography Tips, Interaction, Travel, Guides

Apr 24 2017

City Street Guides by f.d. walker: A Street Photography Guide to Moscow, Russia

*A series of guides on shooting Street Photography in cities around the world. Find the best spots to shoot, things to capture, street walks, street tips, safety concerns, and more for cities around the world. I have personally researched, explored and shot Street Photography in every city that I create a guide for. So you can be ready to capture the streets as soon as you step outside with your camera!

At over 12 million people, Moscow is the largest city in Russia and second largest in Europe by population ( Istanbul is #1). An urban, cosmopolitan metropolis with more than enough glitz and glam to cater to the elite, but without losing its fair share of Soviet era roughness around the edges. It can be fast paced, brash, busy, and trendy like other big cities, but it has its blend of West meets Russia atmosphere and beauty that provides plenty of unique interest. The Red Square is as famous as it gets, but there’s so much more to this city, including the most beautiful subway system you’ve ever seen. It would take years to capture all of Moscow, but that means you have an endless amount of areas to discover.

So here’s a Street Photography guide so you can be ready to capture all that Moscow has to offer before you even arrive!

• Patriarch’s Pond
• Old Arbat Street
• Maroseyka Street
• Tverskoy Boulevard

Top 5 Street Spots:

1. red square.

The Red Square is the most famous square in not just Russia, but all of Eastern Europe. The name actually doesn’t come from the color of the bricks or communism, but from the name in Russian, Krásnaya, once meaning “beautiful” before its meaning changed to “red.” This large plaza is what you see on the cover of guide books and magazines for Moscow, with St. Basil’s Cathedral being the center piece next to Lenin’s Mausoleum surrounded by the Kremlin Wall. Of course, the Red Square attracts hordes of tourist due to the main attractions, but all that activity around an interesting atmosphere does provide street photo opportunities. It’s also the central square connecting to the city’s major streets, providing a good starting point to explore outward.

You’ll also find the popular pedestrian only Nikolskaya Street connecting the Red Square to Lubyanka Square. This line of expensive shops includes plenty of activity, while also leading you to another popular square. Filled with history rivaling any city, the Red Square and surrounding areas are the heart and soul of Russia.

2. Patriarch’s Ponds

Patriarch’s Ponds is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Moscow. Despite the name being plural, there’s only one large pond, but it’s worth a visit with your camera. It’s a popular spot for locals and expats to come relax or take a stroll around the pond. You get an interesting mix of young and old too, from young love to “babushkas” feeding pigeons. It’s a very peaceful park atmosphere in one of the nicer areas within the city center, while bringing enough activity for street photography. 

The pond is shallow and in the winter becomes a popular spot for ice-skating too. The area is also well-known for the location in the famous Russian novel, The Master and Margarita. 

3. Old Arbat (Stary Arbat)

Old Arbat is the most famous pedestrian street in Moscow, and dating back to the 15th century, also one of its oldest. Originally, it was an area of trade, but soon became the most prestigious residential area in Moscow. During the 18th century, Arbat started attracting the city’s scholars and artists, including Alexander Pushkin. Cafes lined the streets and impressive homes filled the neighborhood. Since then, New Arbat street was created as a highway in the area, while Old Arbat was paved for a 1km pedestrian only walkway.

Due to the historic buildings, famous artists that lived here, and the bohemian atmosphere, Old Arbat has become a big attraction for tourists today. Now, there’s a mix of cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops, street performers, street merchants and other attractions for visitors, and some locals, to come enjoy. It can get really busy here and there’s usually something interesting going on so it’s a good street to come walk with your camera for guaranteed life.

4. Gorky Park

One of the most famous places in Moscow is Gorky Park. The official name is Maxim Gorky’s Central Park of Culture & Leisure, which gives you an idea of what goes on here. When built, it was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union. Divided into two parts, it stretches along Moscow River. One end contains fair rides, foods stands, tennis courts, a sports club, a lake for boat rides, and more. This end brings more active life due to its number of attractions, while the other end is more relaxed, where you’ll find gardens, trees, older buildings, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Gorky Park attracts mostly locals so it’s a good spot to capture the non-tourist side of Moscow life. Muscovites come here to escape the city and unwind in a picturesque setting. The park remains alive outside of the warmer months too, especially when the lake turns into the city’s largest outdoor skating rink. I’d recommend taking the metro out here to spend at least half a day exploring the massive park’s life with your camera.

5. Maroseyka Street

Maroseyka Street is a popular area not too far from the Red Square. The long, winding street turns into Pokrovka and is lined with restaurants, cafes, bars and places to stay. It’s actually where I like to stay when I’m in Moscow due to its location and solid street photography opportunities itself. You have Kitay-gorod station near and if you keep walking southwest, you’ll get to the Red Square. But if you walk northwest, as it changes to Pokrovka, you can find a long street of activity for photography with its own interesting atmosphere.

6. Tverskoy Boulevard

Tverskoy Boulevard is the oldest and longest boulevard in Moscow, beginning at the end of Nikitsky Boulevard, and finishing at Pushkin Square, a spot to come for activity itself. The boulevard is made up of two avenues, with pedestrian walkways in-between. You’ll find grass, shrubbery, trees, benches and more walking it’s almost kilometer length. Many people come here to enjoy some relaxation, walk their dog, or just to use it to walk wherever they’re going. Its center location also provides a nice place to walk with your camera near plenty of other spots you’ll want to check out anyway.

Sample Street Walk:

For a full day of Street Photography, covering some of the best spots, you can follow this sample street walk for Moscow:

• Start your morning walking around the Red Square (1), while exploring the surrounding area, including Nikolskaya Street
• Then walk northwest to Patriarch’s Ponds (2) and slowly walk the pond and surrounding area with your camera
• Next, walk east to the Pushkin Monument and stroll down Tverskoy Boulevard (6)
• Once Tverskoy Boulevard (6) ends, it will turn into Nikitsky Boulevard. Follow this down until you get to the start of Old Arbat Street (3), across from Arbatskaya station
• After you’re done walking down Old Arbat Street (3) for more street photography, spend some time checking out Moscow’s beautiful metro stations
• To finish off the day with more street photography, get off the metro near Red Square (1) again, Maroseyka Street (5) or wherever you’re staying for the night.

3 Things I’ll Remember about Shooting in Moscow:

1. museum metro.

The Moscow metro system was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union and today includes 203 stations across 340km of routes. The elaborate system has some of the deepest stations in the world too, with escalators that seem to go on forever. None of this is what makes it so special, though. Many of its stations feel like stepping inside a museum, making it without a doubt the most interesting and beautiful metro system I’ve been in.

When built, Stalin wanted to make the metro stations “palaces for the people” with marble, chandeliers, and grand architecture. The best part is the variety of architecture and styles used, making many of the stations a completely different experience visually. You could easily spend a whole day traveling the stations and there are even tours available for people who wish to do just that. My advice, though, would be just to buy a ticket and hop on and off at different stations, while exploring different lines. The museum-like surrounding mixed with the crowds of characters can make for a great photography experience.

Since there are so many stations, here are some of my favorites to check out:

• Novoslobodskaya
• Mayakovskaya
• Elektrozavodskaya
• Komsomolskaya
• Ploschad Revolyutsii
• Dostoyevskaya
• Prospekt Mira

2. Moscow is Big

It’s no secret that Moscow is a big city, but it can feel even bigger with how spread out much of it is. This is especially true if you compare it to cities outside of Asia. If I compared it to cities in Europe, I’d probably say only Istanbul would warrant more time to really discover the depths of this city. Most only explore around the Red Square and surrounding area, but that is such a small part of the city. Although, that central area does give you plenty to see on its own.

Fortunately, I had a good friend living in the city to show me around, but it opened up my eyes even more to how much there is to discover in Moscow. It’s a big city with a variety of atmosphere that can take you from “east” to “west” and trendy to rugged depending on where you go. I’d imagine you’d have to live here a while to really know the city.

3. Cosmopolitan Mix of East meets West

Modern skyscrapers mixed with amazing architecture, a world-class metro system with museum-like beauty, trendy fashion and chic clubs, Moscow is a rich mix of Russian culture and history in a more western cosmopolitan package. There is a push to keep the Russian culture, while also pushing forward with a modern metropolis the whole world will envy. This comes with an impressive skyline, that continues to grow, and endless modernities, but with soviet nostalgia and atmosphere mixed in for good measure.

Mixed in with this grand western cosmopolitan atmosphere, is a strong national pride in Russia. This includes their famous leader, Vladimir Putin. Maybe no other place will you see a country’s leader more often. All over, from the pricey tourist shops to the underground walkway stalls, you’ll find goods with Putin’s likeness covering them. From t-shirts to magnets to Matryoshka dolls. There’s a strong national pride that can be seen around the city, which also extends to their leader. Moscow is many things. It’s East meets West, modernizations meets Soviet era, and a whole lot more.

What To Do For a Street Photography Break?:

Eat at a stolovaya.

Stolovayas are Russian cafeterias that became popular in the Soviet days. You grab a tray and walk down the line of freshly prepared local dishes, and select whatever you want from the chefs. They’re usually inexpensive and a much better value than restaurants, while giving you the opportunity to try from a wide selection of everyday Russian food. They’re also very tasty. I always include some borsch on my tray and go from there. The places themselves are all over Moscow and usually come with Soviet-era aesthetics to complete the experience.

Street Safety Score: 7

*As always, no place is completely safe! So when I talk about safety, I’m speaking in general comparison to other places. Always take precaution, be smart, observe your surroundings and trust your instincts anywhere you go!

Being the 2nd largest city in Europe with over 12 million people, you’re going to have your dangerous areas, but for the most part, it feels safe walking around. Russia is statistically higher in crime compared to most of Europe, but this generally doesn’t apply to tourists and visitors. Around the Red Square and surrounding city center, you should feel completely safe walking around. Pick pocketing can happen, but no more than other touristic places. I always explore Moscow freely without coming across too much to worry about. It’s a spread out city, though, so of course it matters where you are. Just use basic street smarts, know where you are and Moscow shouldn’t give you a problem. 

People’s Reaction Score: 7

Moscow is fast paced, big city life, which usually means people aren’t too concerned with you, or your camera. I don’t find people notice or pay much attention to me when I’m out taking photos in Moscow. For the most part, people just go about their day. You shouldn’t get too many looks or concern. But it can depend on the area you are in. The more you stick out, the more you might get noticed with suspicions. I’ve never had any problems in Moscow, or Russia, but just be careful who you’re taking a photo of if you get out of the city center. Other than that, it’s about average for reactions. 

Street Tips:

Learn the alphabet .

Much of Moscow, including the metro system, doesn’t use english. The Russian alphabet uses letters from the Cyrillic script, which if you aren’t familiar with it and don’t know the sounds, can be hard to decipher the words. This is most important for street names and metro stops when trying to get around. It can save confusion and make it easier getting around if you learn the basic alphabet. At the very least then, you can sound out the words to see which are similar in the english conversion, which can help matching them to maps. When out shooting street photography, getting around is as important as anything. So save yourself some time and frustration by learning the Russian Alphabet.

Use the metro

While Saint-Petersburg feels very walkable for a city its size, Moscow can feel very spread out, even for its bigger size. Outside of the Red Square area, you can have plenty of walking before getting anywhere very interesting, so you’ll need to take the metro a lot if you really want to explore the city. Maps are deceiving here too, it will always be further than it looks.

Another reason it’s less walkable than Saint-Petersburg is its completely different set-up. Moscow’s streets are mostly contstructed in rings with narrow, winding streets in-between. This is common with medieval city cities that used to be confined by walls, but you usually don’t have it in a city this massive. Saint-Petersburg has a more grid-like pattern that also uses the canals to help you know your way around. When it comes to navigating on foot in Moscow, it can be more difficult, so bring a map and take the metro when needed. It’s why Moscow’s metro carries more passengers per day than the London and Paris subways combined.

Explore other areas if you have time

Moscow is really big. While most people stay around the Red Square within the Boulevard Ring, there’s so much more to the city. I covered some other spots outside of this circle, but if you really want to see the city, you’ll need time. If you do have time, some other areas I’d check out first are Zamoskvarechye, along some of the south and western Moscow.

Inspiration:

For some more inspiration, you can look through the Street Photography of Moscow photographer Artem Zhitenev  and check out 33 of my photos taken in Moscow .

Conclusion:

Moscow’s name brings a certain mystique, but once you’re there it might bring a different atmosphere than you expect. It’s big and sprawling, but beautiful in many ways. It can feel like a European capital on a grand scale, but you can definitely find its Russian side in there.

The urban sprawl of Moscow can be intimidating, but give it enough time and you’ll be rewarded with plenty to discover. All with the world’s best metro system to take you around.

I hope this guide can help you start to experience some of what Moscow contains. So grab your camera and capture all that Moscow has to offer for Street Photography!

If you still have any questions about shooting in Moscow, feel free to comment below or email me!

(I want to make these guides as valuable as possible for all of you so add any ideas on improvements, including addition requests, in the comment section!)

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