Watching Animals At The Waterhole

Common Info

Etosha National Park is located in Kunene region in northwestern part of Namibia in Africa. The park was established as early as 1907 when Namibia was still a colony of the Germans. At the time of its set up, Etosha national park with an area of 1,00,000 square kilometres was the largest game reserve in the world. Gradually however, its area got reduced and currently its area is less than a quarter of its original size (22,270 square kilometres). However, it is still one of the largest wildlife reserves in the world. The park which was established in 1975 is governed by the ministry of environment and tourism. The park’s 850 km long border has been fenced to ward off spreading of any disease.

Country Info

Namibia is located in south western Africa. While Atlantic Ocean lies to its west, it borders Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana and Zimbabwe to the east and South Africa to south and east. The area of the country is 8,25,418 square kilometres with population of 1.8 million people. The country got independence from South Africa in March 1990. National capital is Windhoek.

Geography of Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park features a vast salt plain (Etosha Pan) which forms part of the Kalahari Desert basin. The vast Etosh Pan which otherwise remains a shallow depression turns into a lake during the monsoon. During the monsoon season starting from Mrch till November, the basin attracts several birds including flamingos and pelicans. In fact, over 300 avifauna species make Etosha their home during this time. The perennial springs located in the region also draw animals and birds all throughout the year. In the dry season, wind blowing across Etosha pan picks up saline dust and carry it across out over the southern Atlantic Ocean. This enriches the soil downwind of the pan with minerals hence supporting the wildlife. Dolomite hills are found in the south and south-west of the game reserve.

Flora

Etosha National Park area has a vast diversity in flora. It has Andoni Grasslands, shrubs, the Ekuma Grasslands, the open savannah grasslands called Karstveld turf pans and the Terminilia and Tamboti forest. Mopane and combretum trees are also found.

Fauna

Besides birds, the national park also includes great varieties of animals like the black-faced Impala which is endemic to this region. There are also the Etoshan elephants, arguably the tallest among its African counterparts, the Black Rhinoceros, gazelle, kudu, giraffes, lions and leopards. Over 100 reptile species also live in the park.

Accomodation in Etosha national Park

The national park has four main restcamps. The largest among them, called Okaukuejo lies to the south-western border of the Etosha saltpan. It is also the main entrance to the park. The Namutoni restcamp housed in a former German fort which also lies east to the camp. Halali is a comapratively smaller camp which is located 70 kilometres from both the Okaukuejo and Namutoni camps. Onkoshi camp on the other hand is a relatively new camp located on the edge of the salt pan in a secluded peninsula.

Other accommodation facilities here are the Eagle Tented Accomodation and Spa, Etosha Safari Lodge, Taleni Etosha Village, Etosha Aoba Lodge, Etosha Safari Camp, Etosha Mouintain Lodge, Onguma Safari Camp among others.

Activities at Etosha

• Viewing wildlifes at the waterhole (a semi-artificial body of water)
• Camping
• Guided night game drives
• Wildlife migration in October and November when large herds of blue wildebeest, zebra, springbok and other animals migrate from Namutoni to Okaukuejo region.
• Etosha is famed for its diversity of wildlife, and in October and November large herds of blue wildebeest, zebra, springbok and oryx migrate from the Namutoni area to Okaukuejo, where they remain until around May. Lion and rhino are commonly seen, and leopard sightings are fairly frequent.

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