Etosha National Park

National Park · Namibia

No ratings yet

Photo © Ostaehli

Photo © Ostaehli — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Across northern Namibia's stark semi-arid plateau, a vast shallow depression transforms seasonally into one of Africa's most dramatic wildlife theaters. Etosha National Park, encompassing more than 32,000 square kilometers of salt pan, grassland, and scattered acacia woodland, centers on a luminous expanse of mineral-rich flatness that draws animals across hundreds of kilometers during the dry season. Where water becomes scarce between June and October, the park's perennial springs and strategic waterholes concentrate large herbivores—zebra, wildebeest, springbok, and other grazers—into viewing ranges that rival any on the continent. Predators of every stripe, from spotted cats to larger carnivores, follow this seasonal abundance, while the woodland zones harbor smaller mammals, nocturnal hunters, and an orchestra of birds adapted to the region's variable rainfall and harsh light. The pan itself, blindingly white under midday sun, creates an otherworldly landscape where mirages shimmer and vast herds materialize as if emerging from geological time itself.

For wildlife photographers and patient observers, Etosha demands and rewards dedication in equal measure. The dry season concentrates fauna around water in ways that transform patient hours at a single pan into encounters impossible elsewhere; the intensity of light during early morning and late afternoon sculpts the landscape's geometry and turns common sightings into frames of profound drama. Birdwatchers find the woodland margins and seasonal wetlands alive with raptors, waders, and numerous resident species whose breeding cycles follow the rains. Access via paved roads and established rest camps allows entry without specialized equipment, yet the park's scale—its horizons swallowing whole ecosystems—ensures genuine remoteness and the thrill of genuine wilderness. Most travelers base themselves for several days, rotating between waterholes and habitat types, building an intimate knowledge of the park's rhythms that a single drive cannot provide.

Website etoshanationalpark.org

Ludwig's Bustard

Neotis ludwigii

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

Corvus capensis

Sociable Weaver

Philetairus socius

Struthio camelus

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

Large Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne fuligula

Northern Black Korhaan

Afrotis afraoides

Spilopelia senegalensis

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Lamprotornis nitens

African Red-eyed Bulbul

Pycnonotus nigricans

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix verticalis

Crimson-breasted Shrike

Laniarius atrococcineus

Greater Kestrel

Falco rupicoloides

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Spike-heeled Lark

Chersomanes albofasciata

Acacia Pied Barbet

Tricholaema leucomelas

Red-billed Spurfowl

Pternistis adspersus

Pale Chanting Goshawk

Melierax canorus

Calendulauda sabota

Red-headed Finch

Amadina erythrocephala

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

Marico Flycatcher

Bradornis mariquensis

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Tockus leucomelas

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow

Passer diffusus

Ant-eating Chat

Myrmecocichla formicivora

Black-throated Canary

Crithagra atrogularis

Scaly-feathered Weaver

Sporopipes squamifrons

Red-billed Quelea

Anthus cinnamomeus

Southern White-crowned Shrike

Eurocephalus anguitimens

Pink-billed Lark

Spizocorys conirostris

White-backed Vulture

Cinnyris fuscus

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix leucotis

Yellow-bellied Eremomela

Eremomela icteropygialis

Rufous-cheeked Nightjar

Caprimulgus rufigena

Sagittarius serpentarius

African Grey Hornbill

Lophoceros nasutus

Spotted Thick-knee

Burhinus capensis

Shaft-tailed Whydah

Namaqua Sandgrouse

Pterocles namaqua

Red-capped Lark

Calandrella cinerea

Chestnut-vented Warbler

Curruca subcoerulea

Capped Wheatear

Oenanthe pileata

Double-banded Sandgrouse

Pterocles bicinctus

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Red-breasted Swallow

Cecropis semirufa

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

South African Shelduck

Spatula smithii

Red-billed Teal

Anas erythrorhyncha

Southern Pochard

Netta erythrophthalma

Harlequin Quail

Coturnix delegorguei

Hartlaub's Spurfowl

Pternistis hartlaubi

Swainson's Spurfowl

Pternistis swainsonii

Tachymarptis melba

Red-crested Korhaan

Lophotis ruficrista

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Clamator glandarius

Clamator jacobinus

Diederik Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

Cuculus gularis

Burchell's Sandgrouse

Pterocles burchelli

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

Paragallinula angulata

Gallinula chloropus

Red-knobbed Coot

Fulica cristata

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Recurvirostra avosetta

African Wattled Lapwing

Vanellus senegallus

Anarhynchus asiaticus

Kittlitz's Plover

Anarhynchus pecuarius

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Actophilornis africanus

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Tringa glareola

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Calidris pugnax

Calidris minuta

Double-banded Courser

Smutsornis africanus

Bronze-winged Courser

Rhinoptilus chalcopterus

Temminck's Courser

Cursorius temminckii

Burchell's Courser

Cursorius rufus

Leptoptilos crumenifer

Yellow-billed Stork

Saddle-billed Stork

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

Ciconia abdimii

Plegadis falcinellus

African Spoonbill

Egretta garzetta

Ardeola ralloides

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus

Terathopius ecaudatus

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Brown Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinereus

Hieraaetus pennatus

African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila spilogaster

Micronisus gabar

Little Sparrowhawk

Tachyspiza minulla

Tachyspiza badia

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

Western Barn Owl

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Glaucidium perlatum

African Barred Owlet

Glaucidium capense

African Scops Owl

Otus senegalensis

Southern White-faced Owl

Ptilopsis granti

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

Green Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus purpureus

Violet Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus damarensis

Common Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Damara Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus damarensis

Southern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus rufirostris

Monteiro's Hornbill

Tockus monteiri

Bradfield's Hornbill

Lophoceros bradfieldi

Coracias naevius

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Halcyon leucocephala

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

Merops hirundineus

Lesser Honeyguide

Indicator minor

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

Polihierax semitorquatus

Falco rupicolus

Red-necked Falcon

Falco chicquera

Falco amurensis

Falco biarmicus

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra australis

Black-backed Puffback

Dryoscopus cubla

White-crested Helmetshrike

Prionops plumatus

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Urolestes melanoleucus

Southern Fiscal

Lanius collaris

Lesser Grey Shrike

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

Melaniparus carpi

Melaniparus cinerascens

Cape Penduline Tit

Anthoscopus minutus

Fawn-colored Lark

Calendulauda africanoides

Monotonous Lark

Mirafra passerina

Rufous-naped Lark

Corypha africana

Spizocorys starki

White-throated Swallow

Hirundo albigularis

Achaetops pycnopygius

Long-billed Crombec

Sylvietta rufescens

Phylloscopus trochilus

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Desert Cisticola

Cisticola aridulus

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Barred Wren-Warbler

Calamonastes fasciolatus

Burnt-necked Eremomela

Eremomela usticollis

Bare-cheeked Babbler

Turdoides gymnogenys

Southern Pied Babbler

Turdoides bicolor

Wattled Starling

Creatophora cinerea

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Burchell's Starling

Lamprotornis australis

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Groundscraper Thrush

Turdus litsitsirupa

Kalahari Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas paena

White-browed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas leucophrys

Chat Flycatcher

Agricola infuscatus

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

Short-toed Rock Thrush

Monticola brevipes

Cinnyris mariquensis

White-bellied Sunbird

Cinnyris talatala

Passer motitensis

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow

Passer domesticus

Red-billed Buffalo Weaver

Bubalornis niger

Lesser Masked Weaver

Ploceus intermedius

Chestnut Weaver

Ploceus rubiginosus

Yellow-crowned Bishop

Black-faced Waxbill

Brunhilda erythronotos

Ortygospiza atricollis

Cut-throat Finch

Amadina fasciata

Violet-eared Waxbill

Granatina granatina

Uraeginthus angolensis

Green-winged Pytilia

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Vidua paradisaea

Anthus vaalensis

Crithagra flaviventris

Lark-like Bunting

Emberiza impetuani

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Emberiza tahapisi

Golden-breasted Bunting

Emberiza flaviventris

Crested Francolin

Ortygornis sephaena

Eastern Clapper Lark

Corypha fasciolata

Neophedina cincta

Rufous-eared Warbler

Malcorus pectoralis

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis

Blue-billed Teal

Spatula hottentota

Orange River Francolin

Scleroptila gutturalis

Coturnix coturnix

Freckled Nightjar

Caprimulgus tristigma

Bradfield's Swift

Apus bradfieldi

White-rumped Swift

Denham's Bustard

Rüppell's Korhaan

Heterotetrax rueppelii

Centropus senegalensis

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Clamator levaillantii

Chrysococcyx klaas

Cuculus clamosus

Cuculus canorus

Mourning Collared Dove

Streptopelia decipiens

Allen's Gallinule

Porphyrio alleni

Great Crested Grebe

Podiceps cristatus

Lesser Flamingo

Phoeniconaias minor

Common Buttonquail

Turnix sylvaticus

Water Thick-knee

Burhinus vermiculatus

Pluvialis squatarola

Common Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Eurasian Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Black-tailed Godwit

Gallinago nigripennis

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

Three-banded Courser

Rhinoptilus cinctus

Black-winged Pratincole

Glareola nordmanni

Chlidonias hybrida

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

African Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia microscelis

Microcarbo africanus

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Egretta ardesiaca

Yellow-billed Egret

Ardea brachyrhyncha

Egyptian Vulture

Neophron percnopterus

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

White-headed Vulture

Trigonoceps occipitalis

Lappet-faced Vulture

Torgos tracheliotos

Gyps coprotheres

Macheiramphus alcinus

Polemaetus bellicosus

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Clanga pomarina

Wahlberg's Eagle

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

Aquila nipalensis

Verreaux's Eagle

Aquila verreauxii

Ovambo Sparrowhawk

Accipiter ovampensis

Circus macrourus

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

White-backed Mousebird

Striped Kingfisher

Halcyon chelicuti

Woodland Kingfisher

Halcyon senegalensis

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

Olive Bee-eater

Merops superciliosus

Red-footed Falcon

Falco vespertinus

Rüppell's Parrot

Poicephalus rueppellii

Rosy-faced Lovebird

Agapornis roseicollis

White-tailed Shrike

Lanioturdus torquatus

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

African Golden Oriole

Oriolus auratus

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Pinarocorys nigricans

Yellow-bellied Greenbul

Chlorocichla flaviventris

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Riparia riparia

Pearl-breasted Swallow

Hirundo dimidiata

Hirundo rustica

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Greater Striped Swallow

Cecropis cucullata

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica

Cecropis senegalensis

South African Cliff Swallow

Petrochelidon spilodera

Great Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Icterine Warbler

Hippolais icterina

Cisticola fulvicapilla

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Southern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops anderssoni

Black-faced Babbler

Turdoides melanops

Pale-winged Starling

Onychognathus nabouroup

Amethyst Sunbird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Passer melanurus

Red-headed Weaver

Anaplectes rubriceps

Southern Red Bishop

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala

Pin-tailed Whydah

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Motacilla capensis

Nicholson's Pipit

Anthus nicholsoni

Plain-backed Pipit

Anthus leucophrys

White-throated Canary

Crithagra albogularis

Emberiza capensis

Square-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus fossii

Southern Black Korhaan

Black-bellied Bustard

Lissotis melanogaster

Streptopelia semitorquata

American Flamingo

Phoenicopterus ruber

Microparra capensis

Collared Pratincole

Glareola pratincola

Asian Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia episcopus

Butorides striata

Pandion haliaetus

Necrosyrtes monachus

Dark Chanting Goshawk

Melierax metabates

Eastern Chanting Goshawk

Melierax poliopterus

African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus erythrorhynchus

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Halcyon albiventris

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus chrysoconus

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Grey Penduline Tit

Anthoscopus caroli

Karoo Long-billed Lark

Certhilauda subcoronata

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Tinkling Cisticola

Cisticola rufilatus

Grey-backed Cisticola

Cisticola subruficapilla

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Northern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops senegalensis

Hartlaub's Babbler

Turdoides hartlaubii

Southern Black Flycatcher

Melaenornis pammelaina

Namibornis herero

Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow

Gymnoris superciliaris

Ploceus cucullatus

Pycnonotus barbatus

African Savanna Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Black Rhinoceros

Diceros bicornis

Acinonyx jubatus

Panthera pardus

Southern Giraffe

Giraffa giraffa

Antidorcas marsupialis

Blue Wildebeest

Connochaetes taurinus

Aepyceros melampus

Black-backed Jackal

Lupulella mesomelas

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

Alcelaphus buselaphus

Crocuta crocuta

South African Ground Squirrel

Geosciurus inauris

Banded Mongoose

Raphicerus campestris

Smith's Bush Squirrel

Paraxerus cepapi

Phacochoerus africanus

Madoqua damarensis

Yellow Mongoose

Cynictis penicillata

Tragelaphus oryx

Mellivora capensis

White Rhinoceros

Ceratotherium simum

Common Slender Mongoose

Herpestes sanguineus

African Wildcat

Lepus saxatilis

Elephantulus intufi

Procavia capensis

Southern Lesser Galago

African Savanna Hare

Hystrix africaeaustralis

Petromus typicus

Congo Rope Squirrel

Funisciurus congicus

West-central Four-striped Grass Rat

Rhabdomys bechuanae

Black-tailed Thallomys

Thallomys nigricauda

Sundevall's Thallomys

Thallomys paedulcus

Egyptian Slit-faced Bat

Nycteris thebaica

Otocyon megalotis

Southern Aardwolf

Proteles cristatus

Sylvicapra grimmia

Namaqua Rock Rat

Micaelamys namaquensis

Xeric Four-striped Grass Rat

Rhabdomys pumilio

Angolan Epauletted Fruit Bat

Epomophorus angolensis

Caracal caracal

Common Dwarf Mongoose

Helogale parvula

Suricata suricatta

Parahyaena brunnea

Genetta genetta

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Damaliscus lunatus

View Complete List (406 more) →

0 Community observations

No community observations yet — be the first to log a sighting here.