Etosha National Park: here's why we love it so much

There aren’t two crocodiles, nor an orangutan. Unicorns maybe, but we’ve never seen them. “Make do” with just a few hundred animal species of every kind

Etosha National Park offers the mother of all safaris. Or maybe the father.

Anyway, let’s not get bogged down in the details: Namibia’s park made us fall in love at first sight with its uniqueness. But we’re not possessive, and we want to share that love with you too.

In the following article, we’ll give you an overview of Etosha National Park, focusing in particular on its most fabulous features: its one-of-a-kind environment and the hundreds of animal species found there.

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How amazing Etosha National Park is

In the beating heart of Namibia, where nature expresses itself in a palette of colors and wildlife that seems straight out of a BBC documentary, you’ll find Etosha National Park, an African giant covering an area of 22,000 km².

Here, in the “great white place,” as the Ovambo call it, every corner tells a story, every track on the ground is a sign left by its inhabitants: the wild animals.

Founded in 1907, when Namibia was still a German colony, Etosha has become a refuge for 114 species of mammals, 340 species of birds, and a Noah’s Ark of other creatures that make this place a must-see for anyone visiting the region.

The heart of the park is the Etosha Pan: what a sight! A very, very long time ago it was the basin of a lake, which later dried up and became a desert. Well, a semi-desert. In fact, the appearance of this area changes with the seasons: during the driest months it looks like a salt desert, while when the rains arrive, it floods and turns into a small lake.

Amazing!

Etosha’s wildlife is absolutely incredible!

The real celebrities of Etosha National Park, though, are the countless animal species that inhabit its land.

As we explained in the previous paragraph, it isn’t just a salt desert, but a complex ecosystem where wildlife has adapted in ways that would make Bear Grylls jealous.

There are African elephants with their huge ears, lions lounging in the sun, cheetahs with that “why are these hairless monkeys taking pictures of me?” look on their faces, hyenas cackling away, the miniature tank that is the honey badger, wildebeest, antelopes, and loads of other species.

In short, by visiting Etosha National Park, you can see a whole host of spectacular animals up close. The only problem is that it’s not always easy to spot them all.

The thing is, wildlife isn’t just sitting there waiting for excited tourists to show up for a close-up. No—animals move around, hide, hunt in certain places, drink in others, and so on. And if you don’t know these things, even after spending several days in Etosha National Park, you risk seeing absolutely nothing.

The solution?

Go with someone who knows the park like the back of their hand, who understands the habits of the local animals according to the season, and knows the best places and times to spot them. That’s when you really get to enjoy the safari to the fullest.

That’s why we at Sto Gran Tour visit Etosha with our certified trip leaders and experienced guides.

We’re no fools.

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In conclusion

And here we are at the grand finale, the cherry on top of this article that has taken you around Etosha National Park without even making you get up from your chair. But the park’s real magic reveals itself only when you set foot there.

After all, a trip to Etosha National Park isn’t just a safari—it’s an adventure, a life lesson, a story you’ll want to share with everyone. And who knows, maybe one day you’ll even be able to boast that you saw that famous unicorn. Or at least a few hundred animal species roaming free in their natural habitat.

So, what are you waiting for? Etosha is waiting for you!

Pack your backpack and set off with us to Namibia on a full 12-day itinerary where we’ll enjoy all the beauty of this magnificent land!