"The beauty of nature in its wild state" Etosha National Park by Bigjones

Etosha National Park Travel Guide: 194 reviews and 539 photos

Etosha National Park is one of the biggest game reserves in Africa : it covers 22 270 km², which is more or less like Switzerland. Declared a National Park in 1907, it’s home to 114 mammal species, 340 bird species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and - they say - one species of fish but after many inquiries, I’m still wondering where it hides and what it is. If you know something about that fish, please share your knowledge with me ;-)

Etosha Pan

The name Etosha, which means "Great White Place" in the Herero language, is taken from the vast white Etosha pan. It’s a massive mineral pan (5000 km²) remaining from a large inland lake. But it’s the surrounding bushes and grassland that provide habitat for wildlife.

Etosha National Park was for me the most impressive experience in Namibia. I’d never been on a game drive before and I’d never thought we could see so many animals and go so close to them. We were particularly lucky because at the end of the rainy season, animals have enough water and don’t need to move to the permanent waterholes, which makes them difficult to spot. But finally, I think we didn’t miss many except the leopards. The most exciting moments were during the night at the restcamp when we could hear the surrounding animals such as the jackals, the loud birds, the roaring lions and the laughing hyenas.

There are three rest camps in Etosha National Park : Namutoni, Halali and Okaukuejo. They are all well-maintained and have excellent facilities such as bars, shops, swimming-pools, showers, power points and fire places. We spent two nights in Namutoni, one afternoon in Halali and one night in Okaukuejo. This last camp is the most visited, probably because the waterhole is well situated and more often crowded with animals than the others. The viewing can be so good that some people end up staying there all night. Each camp has a perimeter fence, so it’s safe at any time of the day or night. But I have to say that after seeing jackals and warthogs in the camp, I was a bit sceptical about that ;-)

Last visit to Etosha National Park: Apr 2005
Intro Updated Jun 8, 2005
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Reviews (30)

Mirage Favorites (27)

"A mirage is usually defined as a phenomenon where light is reflected from a shallow layer of very hot air in contact... more travel advice

Waterhole at Okakuejo - Etosha National Park

Watch the animals at the waterholes Nightlife (2)

One of the best thing to do in the evening/night at the restcamps is to sit down on a bench and wait for the animals on... more travel advice

Enjoy the sunsets ... Nightlife (2)

One of the nicest moments each day ! more travel advice

Bridget and the elephant - Etosha National Park

Stay in your car ! Warnings and Dangers (1)

And be very careful ! This might seem obvious but some people sometimes seem to forget that wild animals can be... more travel advice

Travelogues (3)

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Comments (10)

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chicabonita Sep 1, 2006 at 7:34 AM

Great elephant pics! hope to visit NAM again soon ....
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nigelw6443 Aug 8, 2006 at 3:44 AM

Great tips! I will visit Namibia in October... Nigel
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Marie-France Jul 4, 2006 at 10:32 PM

Great wildlife pictures. What kind of lense did you use?
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ciuchi Sep 13, 2005 at 1:01 PM

hey! i just managed to see your Namibia pages...they are WONDERFUL! i am sure it was just fantastic being there...hope to see you soon! take care! Gabi
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roamer61 Aug 18, 2005 at 7:54 AM

Beautiful pictures of the animals and birds in Etosha.
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cbeaujean Jul 21, 2005 at 10:24 AM

a really comprehensive page with amazing pics and nice written tips! if animals didn't pay attention to you...you do!merci pour les french sous-titres,ils vont nous etre tres utiles!!!
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austen1973 May 28, 2005 at 11:47 PM

Hey girl...great start on Namibia, wonderful pics...make me so wanna go there !!!
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BeChar May 24, 2005 at 12:33 AM

Merci pour les photos et les noms en français.
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Muya May 4, 2005 at 12:37 PM

ça doit être terrible ! Bon début Frau Groß :-)
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Myndo May 4, 2005 at 8:28 AM

good start! keep it on.