Etosha National Park, Namibia Plan a trip

Etosha National Park is your best bet for seeing wildlife whilst visiting Namibia. One of the largest reserves in the country, visitors travel here from all over the world for game viewing that’s second-to-none.

The park spans an area of 8,600 square miles and is characterised by its impressively-sized Etosha Pan. This extremely flat salt pan is where the park gets its name from, and it’s breathtaking to see in real life – it’s even visible from space!

Whilst today the reserve is teeming with wildlife, this wasn’t always the case. In 1881, the wildlife in the area was in peril, with animals such as lions and elephants having almost completely disappeared from the area. As a response to this, the park became a game reserve in 1907 and thankfully was able to save these animals for future generations.

Today there’s still plenty to see. You’ll find elephants, giraffes, springbok and zebras in their hundreds during dry season. In fact, there’s a high likelihood you’ll get very close to the elephants, in particular, as they’ve been known to parade onto the roads, giving visitors a chance to grab those all-important photo opportunities.

When the rain starts to fall between the months of May to September, Etosha can face floods up to one metre high. However, this is still a great time to visit, as you’ll see a wider range of wildlife come out to play. Colourful flowers will begin to bloom, and you’ll be dazzled by a pink blur of flamingos splashing around in the pan, which also acts as a breeding ground for these beautiful creatures.

Keen birdwatchers will be in their element during these months, as the park is home to around 350 species. One to watch out for is the ground hornbill, which you’ll most likely find on land, rather than flying overhead.

Depending on how you wish to see the park, there are guided or self-guided tours available.

Plan your trip to Etosha National Park today!