Etosha, means “Great White Place” in the San language. The park is dominated by huge salt pan, which is part of the Kalahari Basin and around 25% of the National Park. The pan was originally a lake but is now is a large dusty depression of salt and dusty clay which fills only during heavy rains – attracting thousands of flamingos. Springs along the edges of the Etosha Pan draw large concentrations of wildlife and birds.
The wildlife viewing in Etosha is the best in Namibia for the sheer numbers of animals. The best time being from May to September – the cooler months. But if your up for the heat the rainy season from December through March, brings the desert alive. You can expect so see many antelope species including the Orynx, plus elephant, giraffe, rhino and lions. If you are lucky you will see leopard and cheetah.
Country: Namibia
Park Size: 13,600 sq. Miles – 22,000 sq. Kilometers
Ecosystems: Etosha Pan – salt pan, grasslands, desert
Wildlife: Oryx, elephant, giraffe, rhino, lions, leopard, cheetah, spring buck
When to go: May – September, cooler season
Highlights: Game drives. Walking allowed on private areas outside the park