ETHOSHA NATIONAL PARK

Etosha Drinking Hole - Photo Courtesy: Wilderness Safaris

One of the major sanctuaries for wildlife in Southern Africa is the Etosha National Park. It was proclaimed a game reserve by German Governor von Lindequist in 1907. The heart of the park is the Etosha Pan, meaning "place of dry water", an extensive, flat depression of about 5000 sq km. This great, white expanse is a place of shimmering mirages. Witnessing large herds of game in this setting makes Etosha a unique experience in Africa.
There are 144 mammal species in the park, which covers an area of 22 270 km. This includes elephant, giraffe, blue wildebeest and black rhino. Among the predators are lion, cheetah, leopard and several species of wild cat. Hyena and jackal are the scavengers. There are various species of antelope ranging from the majestic eland to the smallest antelope, the shy Damara dik-dik. The most striking of the antelope species is the gemsbok, with its dramatic black and white markings. These appear on the Namibian coat of arms. Birdlife is prolific and some 340 species have been identified, including Namibia's national bird, the vividly coloured crimson-breasted shrike.