The Etosha Pan is the biggest tourist attraction in Namibia! The white salt pan dominates the park, roughly 130km long and up to 50km wide. This white chalky expanse, along with all the waterholes and wildlife, creates the unique atmosphere that is the Etosha Pan today. The Etosha Pan is a unique game viewing experience. It is an easy Park to navigate if you are on a self-drive vacation. There are luxury accommodation options just outside the park, in private concessions, and game drives can be done in these private concessions, as well as in Etosha Park.
The park is packed with a variety of African safari wildlife and then also animals specially adapted to the harsh conditions. Here you can spot cheetah on the vast open plains, lions lazing under the hot sun, elephants, plenty of plains game and desert specialties like the springbok and striking gemsbok.
The pan is usually dry but occasionally fills with water in the summer months. It then attracts pelicans and flamingos, creating a shimmering, beautiful sight! The Etosha Pan is open throughout the year but the dry summer months are the best time for game viewing. The landscape is arid and bare, the animals congregate around the scare water sources and some magical wildlife moments are usually on the cards!
There are local lodges that are run within the park gates, however game drives are only allowed during daylight hours. We have some excellent recommendations situated just outside the Park – the Ongava Reserve run by Wilderness Safaris on the western side of the Park, and the Onguma Reserve on the Eastern side of the park. If you are not sure how to plan your itinerary our consultants have been there and driven the routes. We have some great recommended itineraries which we have put together.