The abundance of game in Etosha National Park is somewhat unexpected, showcasing some of the most common and rarest wildlife species. The areas with thicker vegetation are home to elephant (some of the largest in Africa due to the vitamins and nutrients found in the ground), the endangered black rhino and even leopard. Lions are camouflaged in the pale- golden colour of the grasslands, while giraffes rise- high above most of the dry vegetation.
Birders will love the rainy season in Etosha. After good rains the salt pan fills with water attracting a cloud of flamingos. More than 340 bird species have been counted in Etosha National Park. Among the migratory species, the European bee-eater is possibly the most popular sighting. The game reserve is also home to the world’s largest bird, the ostrich, and the heaviest flying bird, the kori bustard.
Etosha National Park in northern Namibia offers you the chance to spot game in a wonderful natural setting. Enjoy a fascinating African wildlife adventure in Namibia during day and night game drives or watch wild animals like Hippo, Giraffe and Lion on the waterholes with amphitheatre-like atmosphere and floodlights at the Rest Camps inside Etosha National Park.
A visit to Etosha National Park would be incomplete without taking pictures of the spreading scenic beauty of the park. Picture-perfect locations such as the two palms, which is the most beautiful attraction for photographers, are worth framing through a camera lens. This retreat location for photographers gets its name after two-Makalani palm trees growing side by side next to a water hole is the most beautiful spot for taking photos during the sunset.
Etosha houses rare and vibrant bird species and the ideal location for watching these birds is the Namutoni spring. The spot closer to Namutoni rest camp allow bird watchers to view bird species such as violet-eared waxbills, crimson-breasted shrieks, eagles, owls, among other types of birds. The chances of viewing flamingoes are also very high in the park as they get attracted to rich water holes in the park.
A tour of the park deserves a visit to the vast Etosha Pan, where the game reserve gets its name. Etosha means “great white place of dry water” and is the final destination for all water channels flowing from Angola. Even in dry seasons, the Etosha pan never dries up, and its thin water layer does attract vast flocks of flamingoes as this acts as their breeding nest.
Interaction with the complex society of the Hai|| Om San hunters and gathers will allow any visitor to understand the rich and the local biodiversity of the Etosha as these people inhabited this land thousands of years ago. From these individuals’ perspectives, you will get to know the history, animals, and geography of the park and understand the culture of these people.
