
Kristin’s Journey Around Namibia
Beautiful and brazen, wild and whimsical
Known for its blood-red sandy vistas, Namibia also has its fair share of big beasties and there’s no better place to spot them than in Etosha National Park. Characterised by an expansive, glittering salt pan the size of Holland, Etosha is a photographer's dream. Wildlife congregates around the few waterholes in the south, making game viewing delightful and really rather easy – simply stop the vehicle and wait for the animals to arrive, in their thousands. During the rains, the pan morphs into a luscious lagoon, attracting flamingo and pelican in their droves. This is one of the continent’s wildlife-viewing hotspots, where mesmerising sightings against a startlingly beautiful landscape are a given.
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The largest salt pan in Africa and a magnet for wildlife, it’s safe to say that Etosha is about one thing, and one thing only: safari. Game viewing is centred around the waterholes. In this dry environment, the water attracts animals from far and wide and spending a few hours at the edge in a 4x4, binos at the ready, is a sure-fire wildlife win. You’ll more than likely spot elephant, rhino (white, and perhaps black), warthogs, and giraffe, with lions not far behind. Waterhole-watching isn’t limited to the daylight hours either with spotlights illuminating the water allowing you to catch the elusive night species. Game drives depart twice a day (morning and afternoon), and occasionally, night drives may pop up, but when the sun goes down, you’ll probably want to be stationed at a waterhole. If you’re used to driving through grassy savannah, it’s a treat to bounce across the silver salt in search of desert species including black-faced impala, Hartmann’s zebra and the Damara dik-dik. A highlight is, of course, seeing black rhino, and Etosha’s population is famed as one of the most stable in the world.
Namibia is undoubtedly stunning, but in some places it’s also eerily barren and more than a little challenging. In contrast, wildlife-abundant Etosha, with its blinding salt pan, shimmering waterholes and surprising camel-thorn grasslands, comes as a quite a delight.
The well-visited waterholes in the south of the park may tempt you to stay, but leave some time to explore the little-frequented western section. With only one camp in the entire area, it’s a fabulous Etosha experience minus the vehicles (and the tourists!).
Even if you’re self-driving around the country, consider ditching your wheels in Etosha and enlisting the services of an expert guide. With someone who knows the land like the back of his hand, you’ll probably see more wildlife – and you’ll certainly learn something new too.
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