ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK
Etosha means “the great white place” and the name naturally refers to the huge salt desert located in the national park. Etosha is one of southern Africa’s largest national parks and offers spectacular wildlife. Here we find four of the big five, only buffalo are missing, where the elephants and the black rhinos are the main attractions. Often large groups of elephants come to the water hole we will be staying at and every evening black rhinos appear.

Photographing and going on a game drive is a little different in Etosha compared to most parks in e.g. East Africa. Instead of driving around looking for the animals, we often wait for the animals at a water hole. During the dry season, which lasts until December, there is very little water out in the grounds and the animals therefore stay close to the park’s waterholes. In some waterholes, pumps have been installed, which means that there is always plenty of water for the animals, and thus a lot of animals there. Sitting at a watering hole and waiting for the animals to come in is an exciting experience, something is always happening and species come and go. At the waterholes we will be able to see and photograph gemsbok (oryx), springbok, kudu, wildebeest, giraffes and zebras as well as several other species. Both at the waterholes and around the park we will see a lot of birds, here there are several species of birds of prey and birds of prey. Even the area where our lodge is located is rich in birds and here many birds are relatively fearless as there are people moving around all the time.

In the national park there are lions, leopards and cheetahs. Of these three, we have a good chance of seeing lions at one of the waterholes as they often come there to drink and then spend the day there. There are very few cheetahs in Etosha and the chance of seeing them is very small. Even the leopard is rare even though it is relatively common but it is very shy here. But being on safari in Etosha is not primarily a “cat issue”, but here it is elephants and black rhinoceros that are the big stars. Black rhinoceros is one of Africa’s most endangered animals and is in many places very difficult to see. Here in Etosha it is almost guaranteed to see black rhinoceros if you stay a few nights. With a bit of luck we will find them out in the bushland in the park, but otherwise it is almost certain that they will come to the water hole at the camp where we live. Throughout the day there is activity at “our” watering hole, during the day there are almost always animals here, springbok, gemsbok, giraffes and other species replace each other. As dusk begins, large groups of elephants often come to drink and so do the black rhinos. The water hole is lit up so whoever wants and has the energy can spend the whole night here and follow the animals.

Etosha’s dry environment makes the park different from many other parks. The landscape is relatively open, both where there are grasslands and forests. The waterholes act as magnets for the animals and create exciting interactions between the animals.