Etosha
The days are devoted to early morning and late afternoon open 4x4 safari excursions accompanied by local rangers and trackers.
Etosha, meaning "Great White Place", is dominated by a massive mineral pan. The pan is part of the Kalahari Basin, the floor of which was formed some 1 billion years ago. The Etosha Pan covers around 25% of the national park and was originally a lake fed by the Kunene River. However, the course of the river changed thousands of years ago and the lake dried up. The pan is now a large, dusty depression of salt and clay which fills only in the event of heavy rains and even then only holds water for a short time. This temporary water in the Etosha Pan attracts thousands of wading birds, including impressive flocks of flamingos. The perennial springs along the edges of the Etosha Pan draw large concentrations of wildlife and birds. Lion, elephant (seasonal), gemsbok, springbok, black rhino, greater kudu and red hartebeest can be seen at numerous waterholes and fringing habitats. Apex predators like leopard, cheetah and spotted hyena also occur in this area. Both black and white rhino occur in the area. Spotting one of these prehistoric-looking beasts is sure to be a highlight of your safari in Etosha.