Etosha National Park: Introduction
Etosha National Park is ranked as one of the largest and finest game reserves in Africa. The 20 000 sq km park is an enormous region of game-rich savannah and salt pan. Also known as the "Great White Place", Etosha is characterised by the Etosha Pan, the largest saltpan in Africa.
Surrounding the pans is a variety of grass and woodlands amongst which live a wonderful variety of animals and birds, insects and reptiles. There are a number of springs and waterholes in the park that provide excellent game viewing and photographic opportunities.
In years of good rainfall, several tributaries of the Kunene River drain into the ever-dry Etosha Pan, causing partial flooding and attracting thousands of flamingos and other wading birds. The water, however, can be as much as two times saltier than sea water and is therefore generally not suitable for animal consumption.
Locate the Etosha National Park
How to get there & Best time to visit
How to get there
Etosha National Park is 435km/270mi north of the capital, Windhoek. It is easy to visit the park either independently (self-drive) or on a tour. The drive on paved roads takes about 6 hours*. Most roads throughout Etosha are accessible by 2WD vehicle.
The park’s gates are Galton (in the southwest), Andersson (sometimes called Okaukuejo; south), Von Lindequist (east) and King Nehale (north). Most people arrive in Namibia at Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH), 40km/25mi east of Windhoek, and start their trip from there by 4x4 vehicle. Fly-in-safaris are also common, with charter flights taking travelers from park to park.
Best time to visit
Etosha National Park is best visited during the Dry season (May to October). At this time, there is less water available and the animals tend to gather around the few remaining sources. In normal years, the Wet season (November to April) is less productive for spotting wildlife because the animals tend to scatter. The heaviest rains fall from January to March.
Etosha National Park is hot and relatively dry. Like most semi-desert climates, there is a large variation in temperature between night and day. Rain usually falls in the form of heavy thunderstorms. There is a Wet season (November to April), which coincides with the summer months. The heaviest rains fall from January to March. Rainfall is a rarity during the winter months, which make up the Dry season (May to October).