Etosha is Namibia’s premier national park, famous for its stunning wildlife and vast saltpan. It is one of Africa’s largest protected areas, with several permanent waterholes attracting plenty of prey and predators.
The word Etosha means ‘big, white place,’ and the park is dominated by a huge, white saltpan, the pan being the shimmering bed of a dried up, shallow, inland lake – around 100 kilometres across. Permanent waterholes are plentiful along the southern side of the pan, where water that collects in the rainy season flows onto the pan’s dense clay floor. Wildlife and birds are abundant and the area is perfect for a self-drive itinerary.
The wildlife is superb, particularly in the dry winter months. Among the mammals you are likely to see here are black-faced impala, gemsbok (oryx), Damara dik-dik, eland, greater kudu, hartebeest and springbok, together with large numbers of elephant, lion, leopard, black rhino, giraffe, Burchell’s zebra and wildebeest. During the dry season large herds of plains game gather around the waterholes, along with their predators – so to see animals all you have to do is locate water and wait …
The sporadic summer rains generate a profusion of new life – pronking baby springboks and comical young wildebeest herald the arrival of the season. Etosha’s birdlife is excellent too – more than 300 species have been recorded here. Birds of prey are particularly numerous, and include red-necked falcons, Gabar goshawks, and several species of eagle and vulture. Local ‘specials’ include short-toed rock thrush, Hartlaub’s francolin, freckled nightjar and Meyer’s parrot.
In the neighbouring Ongava Private Game Reserve, visitors are also offered the unique opportunity to track rhino on foot.
Our collection of wildlife trips in Etosha National Park can also be tailored to suit your exact requirements and dates - just contact our safari experts who will be happy to help.
View suggested itineraries
