Etosha, meaning "Great White Place", is dominated by a massive mineral pan. The pan is part of the Kalahari Basin and covers 25% of the National Park. The pan 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 now is a large dusty depression of salt and clay which fills only if the rains are heavy 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 flamingo. The perennial springs along the edges of the Etosha Pan draw large concentrations of wildlife and birds.
The game viewing in Etosha National Park is excellent, the best time being from May to September – the cooler months in Namibia. Etosha Game Reserve is home to elephant, giraffe, rhino, lions and several species of buck. Although in residence, leopard and cheetah are more shy.
