Covering 23,000 km2 Etosha National Park consists of saline desert, savannah and woodlands, and is the largest and oldest game park in Africa. Here you can see the big wildcats, the mighty African elephant and some of Africa’s best game.

Photo courtesy: Wilderness safaris

The park’s definitive feature is the Etosha Pan, a vast shallow depression that remains a bleak expanse of white cracked mud simmering with mirages for most of the year. Witnessing large herds of game against this ghostly backdrop makes game viewing in this park unique. There are several rare and endangered species such as the black rhino, cheetah and black-faced impala, while Etosha’s elephants are reputed to be some of the largest beasts in Africa. There are many large mammals represented in the park including all Africa’s most ferocious cats and the tallest animal on earth, the giraffe.

About 340 bird species occur in the park, of which approximately one third are migratory. Etosha, with its vast salted pans, is one of the most important breeding grounds of greater and lesser flamingos in the Southern African region. When the rains come, literally millions of these birds can be seen at the pan. With Namibia’s dry climate, the animals and birds of Etosha are dependant on roughly 30 springs and waterholes where the animals cluster, which provide excellent game viewing spots.

Photos courtesy: African Extravaganza

Etosha is open throughout the year and is accessible by tarred roads via the Anderson Gate in the south and Von Lindequist Gate in the east. The Etosha National Park has three national parks camps, each with its own distinct character and atmosphere. The biggest camp - about 120 kilometres north of Outjo - is situated at the southwestern border of the Etosha saltpan. Its name is Okaukuejo. Here you’ll also find the main entrance to the Etosha Park and the administration of the park. In the east lies the camp Namutoni, close to the other entrance to the park. Between these two camps lies a smaller one, Halali (no entrance), about 70 kilometres away from each of the other two. One of the best features of these camps are the floodlit waterholes where wildlife can be viewed throughout the day and night.

Tamba Africa recommends

Game drives: cruise through the Park in search of the ever elusive game species such as black and white rhino, elephant, cheetah, lion and leopard, to name a few. A variety of antelope species may be found, of which the black-faced impala is endemic to Etosha and Kaokoland with the Damara dik-dik being endemic to northern Namibia. Lunch is taken en-route, with stops at the rest camps where guests get the opportunity to stretch legs, take a swim or visit the waterhole nearby.

Nature conscious tours: wherever possible eco-tourism and community tourism projects are incorporated into itineraries to provide guests with an insight into 'nature and culture conscious travel' thus combining excitement, adventure, information and comfort.

Night drives and walks: can be done within the Ongava private game reserve, where both the large white rhino and smaller, short-tempered, black rhino are found - a rare treat indeed. These activities are not allowed within Etosha National Park itself.

Safari camps and accommodation in Etosha National Park

Book a safari in Etosha national park through us


Namibia | Caprivi | Desert | Skeleton coast | Swakopmund | Etosha Park | accommodation


Special packages | Botswana safaris | Namibia safaris | South Africa safaris | Zambia safaris
Zimbabwe safaris | Mozambique tours | Zanzibar | Safari lodges Botwana | Safari lodges South Africa | Safari lodges Zimbabwe | Safari lodges Zambia | Indian Ocean coast