Etosha

Etosha National Park is a national park in northern Namibia. Covering about 22,270 square kilometers, it is one of Africa’s largest game reserves and centers on the vast Etosha Pan, a white saline depression that dominates the landscape. The name Etosha comes from the Oshindonga language, meaning “great white place.”

Geography and ecosystems: The park surrounds the pan with open savanna, mopane woodland, and grasslands. It lies in a semi-arid region with a pronounced dry season (roughly May to October) and a wet season (roughly November to April). Rainfall is variable across the park, contributing to a mosaic of habitats that support a broad assemblage of wildlife.

Wildlife: Etosha is renowned for high concentrations of wildlife, especially during the dry season when animals congregate at permanent waterholes. Common species include elephants, rhinoceroses (both white and black historically present), giraffes, zebras, antelopes, lions, cheetahs, leopards, and hyenas. The Etosha Pan attracts numerous bird species, with migratory and resident birds visible in different seasons.

History and protection: The area was proclaimed a game reserve in 1907 by German colonial authorities and redesignated Etosha National Park in 1957. It is administered by Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism as part of the national protected areas network.

Tourism and access: The park features a network of roads and several major camps near the Pan’s southern and eastern rims, including Okaukuejo, Halali, and Namutoni, each offering lodging and, in many cases, floodlit waterholes. Visitors typically access Etosha via gates such as Anderson Gate and Namutoni Gate, with common departures from Windhoek or northern towns.