About Etosha National Park

Etosha National Park is situated in Namibia. Etosha National Park backpacking tours are ideal for the adventure traveller with a love for nature.

AIDS

Etosha National Park HIV/AIDS precautions include the following:
•Don't ever share needles or syringes
•Practice safe sex at all times
•Equipment should be sterilized
•If you require self-administered injections, take an adequate supply of your own needles

Airports

The nearest Etosha National Park airports include:
•Hosea Kutako Windhoek International Airport
•Private airstrips within the park

Birdlife

Etosha National Park birdlife includes some 340 bird species, with a wide range of beautiful habitats including salt pans, wetlands and sparse grasslands. The area is famous for its huge flamingo populations, which include Greater and Lesser flamingos which can be seen in their hundreds across the pans. Etosha is also the only place where the rare Egyptian vulture can be seen fairly often.

Conservation

Etosha National Park conservation is one of the country's top examples of good conservation practices, and the area is one of the largest conservation safari areas in Africa. A wide number of protected species can be found in the park, and with careful border controls and good funding, the park has had a high success rate for the preservation and conservation of key species.

Culture

Etosha National Park cultures include the following:
•Himba tribe architecture dates back centuries
•Himba traditions are passed on from generation to generation
•Bushmen traditions are based on the hunter gatherer history of the tribes
•Bushmen tracking is an ancient skilled passed down from many generations
•Crafts are an important skill and income for many tribes in the park

Customs

Etosha National Park customs allow for free import of the following for travellers over 16 years:
•400 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 250g of tobacco
•2l of wine and 1l of spirits
•50ml of perfume and 250ml of eau de toilette
•Gifts to the value of N$50,000

Health

Etosha National Park health concerns include an outbreak of cholera, which has claimed a number of lives. Other health risks include malaria, tick bite fever, rabies and sleeping sickness so be sure to take precautions against insects. The nearest health care facilities are situated in Windhoek, and while some of the larger camps within the park may have airfields, many don't so hospitals are fairly far away.

Innoculations

Etosha National Park inoculations include:
•Diphtheria
•Hepatitis A
•Malaria
•Rabies
•Tetanus
•Typhoid
•Yellow Fever (if coming from an infected zone)

Languages

Etosha National Park languages include:
•English
•Afrikaans
•Otjiherero
•Nama/Damara

Malaria

Etosha National Park malaria medication includes the following:
•Mefloquine (Lariam)
•Doxycycline
•Atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone)

Money

Etosha National Park money and banking information includes:
•There are banks and ATM's in Windhoek, the nearest city to the park
•Most of the camps accept credit cards but not all accept cards
•The best bet is to draw cash in Windhoek to be prepared
•US Dollars are often accepted at large camps
•Travellers cheques can be exchanged in Windhoek at fairly good rates

People

Etosha National Park people include the following tribes:
•Himba
•Bushmen

Phrase

Etosha National Park local phrases in Afrikaans include:
•Good morning - Goeimore
•How are you? - Hoe gaan dit?
•I'm fine - Goed
•Please - Asseblief
•Thank you - Dankie

Plants

Etosha National Park plants were once lush forests, and the pan itself was filled with water. When the lake dried into the salt pan it is today, vegetation developed into the yellowed open grasslands and mopane woods it is now. Plant species include thorny trees and a range of grasses and scrub.

Religion

Etosha National Park religion includes:
•Christian 80%
•Indigenous beliefs 20%

Safety Tips

•Stay in your car at all times when you are on game drives, and listen to your guide's instructions
•Do not leave the camp areas alone, especially after dark
•Remember that you are in a park filled with wild, potentially dangerous animals, do not ever attempt to touch or feed any animal
•The park closes its gates between sunrise and sunset, so make sure you get to camp before the sun goes down, or be prepared to sleep in the car
•While crime is very low, it is advised to lock all valuables into a hotel safe and don't leave anything lying around which could be too tempting to resist

Transport

Etosha National Park transport options include:
•Car
•Plane

Travel Books

Etosha National Park recommended travel books include:
•Trees and shrubs of the Etosha National Park by Cornelia Berry
•Birds of the Etosha National Park by R. A. C Jensen
•Checklist: Etosha National Park by Blythe Loutit
•Etosha National Park by Hu Berry and Gerald Cubitt
•Etosha: A Visual Souvenir by Daryl Balfour and Sharna Balfour

Visa Requirements

•Most nationals do not require a visa for Namibian travel
•Check with your local embassy to ensure that your country does not require a visa before you travel to Namibia
•A valid passport of 6 months minimum is required
•Visas are generally valid for up to 3 months
•Visa requirements can change at any time, so be sure to contact your local embassy to stay up to date

What To Buy

•Binoculars for bird and game viewing
•Sturdy backpack plus a decent moneybag to keep valuables safe
•Sleeping bag and camping mattress if you are on an overlanding tour
•Etosha game and bird guide plus binoculars
•Insect repellent and malaria medication

What To Pack

•Neutral coloured clothing in lightweight fabric
•Swimming costume, sunglasses, sunhat and sunscreen
•Comfortable walking shoes as well as sandals
•Warm jacket for cooler weather
•Camera, batteries plus spare film or memory cards

When To Go

•Winter months from May to September is best for game viewing
•November to March is best for bird watching
•The hottest months are between October and April
•The rainy season runs from December to March, when the water holes fill up
•August to September offers the best weather conditions

Wildlife

Etosha National Park wildlife is rich and diverse, with about 114 mammal species, 110 reptile species, 16 amphibian species and 1 species of fish to be found across the park's habitats. Visitors can expect to see a wide number of game species, including elephant, lion, buffalo and many types of antelope, and a range of game drive options are available though the various camps.