Etosha National Park

<Etosha National Park is a unique wilderness dominated by a massive, shimmering salt pan that is so large it can be seen from space. During the dry season, the pan is a white, cracked expanse of salt, and life in the park revolves around the numerous waterholes that dot its southern edge. This makes wildlife viewing incredibly easy, as you can simply sit at a waterhole and wait for the animals—including lions, elephants, and rare black rhinos—to come to you. At night, floodlit waterholes at the main camps offer a rare and theatrical look at nocturnal behavior, where different species interact in the cool desert air. The atmosphere is one of stark beauty and predictable abundance, where the animals stand out like silhouettes against the white ground. It is a place where the drama of the wild is always on display.

• Where it is: Northern Namibia.
• What you can expect to see: Black rhinos, lions, and elephants at floodlit waterholes at night.
• How much it is to get in: ~$10 USD (150 NAD).
• What people say: It’s one of the easiest parks to ‘self-drive’ because the animals are at waterholes.
• Interesting fact: Etosha means ‘Great White Place,’ referring to the massive salt pan.

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