The Enchanting Etosha National Park

In the wide and spacious area of northern region of Namibia, lies one of the most significant and must-see wildlife sanctuaries of Africa called as Etosha National park, which is included in the list of most-approachable venues of the country as it provides its admirers the opportunity to see an excellent game. The park’s outer edge also touches the boundaries of Otjozondjupa, Oshikoto and Oshana. The word Etosha means ‘the place of dry water’, which is frequently visited by thousands of tourists who take cheap flights to Windhoek to have an ultimate excursion in the woodland occupied with the amazing variety of animals.

The park is accessible with the help of four gates which are Von Lindequist Gate, Namutoni Gate, Anderson Gate and Otjovasandu Gate. The park was established for the very first time in 1907 when German colonized Namibia which was at that time called as South West Africa. In that time period, it covered the land area of about 100,000 square kilometres. Since when the park was established, the region has gone through many political variations because of which the area is decreased to 22,750 square kilometres but still it has retained its importance of guarding the endangered wildlife species.

The park is a haven for almost 340 breeds of birds, 93 species of mammals and also features a wide range of floras. Springboks and Zebras are found, wandering along the limitless horizon whereas various water-holes, allure so many endangered breeds of antelope, elephant, lion and black rhinoceros and these water-holes offers the best game viewing in the dry months between June and November which are made much glorious and gleaming with floodlights which provides the most bewitching scene. Etosha is very well-known for the wide-spread breeds of Impala especially the black faced ones and is also believed to habitat the tallest Elephants of Africa which are as tall as 4 metres when measured from shoulders.

The park is dominated by the Etosha Pan which is a great endorheic basin which is spread over an area of about 120 kilometres. The history of this salt pan dates back to some 10 million years and was formed because of plate tectonics when some glaciers melted in the northern hemisphere almost 16, 00 years ago, the precipitated climate aspect, filed the Lake of Etosha. Now a day’s Etosha pan is very dry, blanketed with mud and the surface s ripped apart into the hexangular design and the prime source of water supply for the lake is Ekuma River.

The whole neighbouring area is encircled with mopane trees where a large number of elephants dwell. These trees are very much common throughout Africa as they provide nourishment to the mopane worms which are rich in proteins and are highly consumed by the locals. Not much plant life can be seen here, other than the bluish-green algae which help the growth of Sporobolus spicatus in the muddy region.

After the heavy rain falls, the agglomerations of Great White Pelican and Flamingos, head towards the salted pan as the water level rises and it acts as an important breeding region. The park has many other hidden surprises that will be revealed; once you visit this astounding area so don’t miss the chance of travelling to the mesmerizing Namibia.