Etosha, meaning 'place of dry water', is centred around a huge, flat calcrete depression (or pan) of about 5,000 square kms in extent in far north Namibia. The 'Pan' provides a great, parched, silver-white backdrop of shimmering mirages to an area of semi-arid savannah grassland and thorn scrub. The pan itself contains water only after very good rains, and sometimes for only a few days each year, but is enough to stimulate the growth of a blue-green algae which lures thousands of Flamingos.

Etosha National Park is one of Africa's major wildlife sanctuaries, being proclaimed a game reserve in 1907 and covering an area of more than 22 750sq kms. Despite being a highly 'managed' environment featuring a cluster of man-made water-points around the central pan and its boundary designated by a patrolled electrified fence, this is indeed one of the most special game parks in Africa. During the drier months of June to November the water points exert a magnetic pull on the big game herds, and forms the centrepiece for visitors looking to see the nearly 150 mammal species to found in the Park, including several rare and endangered species such as the Black Rhino, Black-faced Impala, Tssesebe and Gemsbok.

Served by three well established rest camps (Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni) within the Park and a host of private lodges on its borders, Etosha offers visitors a wide choice of safari options. The floodlit waterhole at Okaukuejo and Fort Namutoni, previously the northernmost German outpost and now a rest camp, are just some of the charms of this place called Etosha.

Particular points of interest include:

• Andoni (the northern most waterhole) - excellent birds
• Namutoni - the former imperial German fort, a good view from the ramparts and tower
• Klein Namutoni waterhole - the best place to see black-faced impala
• Fischer's Pan (near Namutoni) - excellent birds, good for springbok and wildebeest
• Bloubokdraai road - good for Damara dik-dik (Africa's smallest antelope)
• Chudob waterhole (near Namutoni) - especially good for eland and giraffe
• Batia (between Halali and Namutoni - near Springbokfontein) - elephant, blue wildebeest and springbok
• Halali - well shaded camp site in an area of dolomite outcrops
• The Charitsaub, Salvadora/Sueda waterhole cluster (between Halali and Okaukuejo) - excellent for plains game
• Oliphantsbad (near Okaukuejo) - excellent for elephant
• Okaukuejo ("the place of the women") - site of the Etosha Research Station, a good place for black rhino under the floodlights at night, has a good view from the water tower across to the Ondundozonananandana Mountains
• The Haunted Forest (near Okaukuejo) - a forest of legendary moringa trees (Moringa ovalifolia)
• Ongava Game Reserve - private reserve at Andersson gate on the southern boundary, night drives, game walks and the presence of white rhino are particularly good

This information was provided by Etoshi National Park. For more information please go to www.etoshanationalpark.co.za/