Etosha National Park

Introduction

Etosha National Park lies in the vast arid space of Northern Namibia and is one of Southern Africa’s best loved wildlife sanctuaries. It offers excellent game viewing in one of Africa’s most accessible self drive venues.   Zebra and springbok are scattered across the endless horizon, while the many waterholes attract endangered black rhinoceros, lion, elephant and large numbers of antelope.

Etosha, meaning ‘place of dry water’, it encloses a huge, flat calcrete depression (or pan) of about 5 000km². The ‘Pan’ provides a great, parched, silver-white backdrop of shimmering mirages to an area of semi-arid savannah grassland and thorn scrub. The pan itself contains water only after very good rains and sometimes for only a few days each year, but is enough to stimulate the growth of a blue-green algae which lures thousands of flamingos.

On the southern boundary of Etosha National Park and forming a buffer to the Park lies Ongava Game Reserve, a    30,000-hectare private reserve. It is a haven to large concentrations of wildlife: notably lion, wildebeest, springbok, gemsbok, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, red hartebeest, giraffe, eland and the largest population of the endemic black-faced impala outside of Etosha. The Reserve is also known for the successful reintroduction of white and black rhino. Birdlife is prolific with 340 species seen,amongst them ten of Namibia’s 14 endemic bird species including White-tailed Shrike, Short-toed Rock Thrush, Hartlaub’s Francolin, Rüppell’s Parrot and raptors in abundance. Ongava also provides easy access to the prime game viewing areas of western Etosha, Namibia’s premier wildlife destination.

When To Visit

Every single month is worth a journey to Namibia. Most visitors prefer to travel during the months May to October. It hardly ever rains and the visitor can enjoy the uninterrupted sunshine, except at the foggy coast. The climate is moderate and during the day it does not get extremely hot. Nevertheless it can get very cold in the evenings.

January, February, March

These mid Summer months tend to be the wettest and hottest.  This is the time when rainfall is expected.  Temperatures can be 30-35degC peaking to over 40degC in the desert.  This can make travel a little uncomfortable.  Torrential downpours can occur in the mountains causing flash floods in the valleys.  Once the rains start wildlife viewing in Etosha can be poor because of animal dispersals.

April, May

These are often lovely months in Namibia. Increasingly dry, with a real freshness in the air, and greenery in the landscape; at this time the air is clear and largely free from dust, allowing superb photography.  Game viewing is getting better and travel gets easier as roads that may have been damaged during rainfall are repaired.

June, July, August

This is Namibia’s winter.  Nights can become cold, incredibly dropping to below zero giving frosts in Etosha and the mountain regions.  With the drying conditions the wildlife in the north starts heading towards the permanent water, so making for better wildlife viewing.  It is peak season for game viewing with visitor numbers increasing.

September, October

Temperatures are rising and game-viewing in most areas is at its best, although there’s often a lot of dust around and the high temperatures are starting to take their toll on the vegetation

November, December

November can be a variable month for weather. Some years the hot dry weather continues and other times by early November rain clouds can be forming.  If rains do occur this can be quite a dramatic experience.

December temperatures are high averaging 30 degC, some days may be humid with localized thunderstorms usually in the afternoon especially in the center and east of the country.  Desert regions remain dry.

Temperature & Rainfall

Climate Data – Etosha