Etosha National Park Tours and Vacation Packages

Overview

Spanning an area of 22,270 square kilometres (8,600 square miles) in northwestern Namibia is Etosha National Park, named for the Etosha Salt Pan which covers almost 23% of the entire area of the park on a Namibia safari.

The park was established in 1907 and originally stretched from the mouths of both the Kunene River and the Hoarusib River on the Skeleton Coast to Namutoni in the east. However, in 1958 the borders were changed and the park was reduced in size. A further reduction occurred in 1970 setting the borders that are in place today. 

The main geological feature of the park is the Etosha Pan. While the hypersaline conditions that exist for much of the year severely limit the number of species that can inhabit the pan, the usually dry pan experiences some rain during the summer months attracting birds like pelicans and flamingos.

Much of Etosha is covered in savannah woodland and offers excellent game viewing opportunities in one of Africa’s most accessible parks on a Namibia safari. During dry months, the water sources within the park attract herds of big game including the endangered black rhinoceros. There are approximately 150 mammal species as well as 340 bird species found at different times of the year and it is not uncommon to see African elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, jackals, hyenas and more on a Namibia safari.