| The first thing that comes to mind when thinking | | | | includes elephants, giraffes, rhinos, lions and many |
| about Namibia is vast desert landscape. Now | | | | buck species to name just a few. For the more |
| although this is mostly true, the one place that | | | | blessed visitors there might also be a chance of |
| really would prove that Namibia has more to offer | | | | getting a glimpse at the shy cheetahs and |
| than just the Namib Desert is the Etosha National | | | | leopards. |
| Park, the perfect place to experience a true | | | | More than game |
| African safari holiday. | | | | Although the saying "rules are meant to broken" |
| Beauty on Display | | | | sounds very provocative, a cautionary note would |
| Situated in the northern part of Namibia, the | | | | be that the Etosha National Park absolutely forbids |
| Etosha National Park was the world's largest | | | | any visitors to leave their vehicle once outside the |
| reserve up until 1960 when political pressure | | | | fenced-in camps. Though this is the norm at any |
| reduced the reserve from 100 000 square | | | | national park, the price paid for ignoring this rule |
| kilometres to its current size, an area that covers | | | | could very likely be a hefty one. |
| more than 22 000 square kilometres. But even | | | | There are two very good reasons for this. The |
| after the tremendous downsize it's still a very | | | | first reason is for your own protection, because |
| popular African National Park. | | | | animals get frightened by people but not by their |
| Apart from the amazing scenery and the beautiful | | | | vehicles. A frightened animal is an unpredictable |
| nature on display in Etosha the park also has an | | | | animal and therefore a dangerous animal. |
| excellent infrastructure that makes a daytrip so | | | | The second reason is for the protections of |
| much more exciting. Its three rest camps, Halali, | | | | Africa's endangered species. The government is |
| Namutoni and Okaukuejo, are connected by | | | | trying to prevent poaching. The park is a mere |
| well-maintained gravel roads and have restaurants, | | | | one hundred kilometres away from the Namibian |
| stores, swimming pools, as well as chalets, | | | | borders, and the South African Defence Force |
| camping sites and hotels available. | | | | performs training in the park in the hope of |
| The pan | | | | deterring or capturing poachers. Therefore |
| Etosha means "Great White Place". Its name is | | | | anybody not in their vehicles could be mistaken |
| derived from the massive endorheic salt pan that | | | | for a poacher and be shot on sight. Now although |
| covers around 25% of the park and spreads | | | | this might seem drastic and even hard to believe, |
| over a surface of around 120 square kilometres, | | | | it has had a considerable affect, reducing poaching |
| its only source of water being the Ekuma River. | | | | incidents in this area, a reason good enough to |
| Thousands of years ago the Etosha pan was a | | | | continue with this practice. Not only to save our |
| lake fed by the Kunene River, but the river's | | | | wildlife but also to keep visitors from breaking the |
| course changed and consequently the lake dried | | | | rule for their own protection. |
| up, leaving a large depression of salt and dusty | | | | Now although you might be asking yourself why |
| clay. The Etosha pan is an image of scorched | | | | you would want to go on an African safari where |
| earth and seems completely devoid of any life | | | | there is a chance of your life being in danger, you |
| except for the water on its outskirts. | | | | can rest at ease, the actual chances of this |
| This unique area's characteristic white and | | | | happening are very small. The park has gone to |
| greenish surface serves as a breeding ground for | | | | extreme measures to prevent any harm to any |
| flamingos during the rainy season, when the | | | | visitor and since poaching happens mostly at night |
| Etosha pan becomes a shallow lake with a depth | | | | there is no need for alarm. |
| of approximately 10 cm. The rare sight of | | | | An African safari holiday |
| thousands of flamingos covering the pan like a | | | | The only thing that you would have to concern |
| pink blanket attracts many tourists and | | | | yourself with is spotting the exciting game and |
| photographers every year. | | | | animal interactions that take place on a safari |
| The wildlife | | | | drive, and whether you have enough sun cream! |
| Game viewing in the Etosha Park really is terrific. | | | | On the back of a Land Rover 4x4 you will drive |
| With so many watering holes on the outskirts of | | | | through the beauty that is the Etosha Park. From |
| the Etosha pan, chances are good that you'll see | | | | bushy green areas to the scorched Etosha Pan, |
| more than flamingos. The Etosha pan provides | | | | the Etosha National Park is all that and more for |
| plenty of water for wildlife in the park, which | | | | the ideal African Safari. |