This text shares my expertise photographing Namibia’s Etosha Nationwide Park. It’s a sensible information specializing in the park itself and the best way to take wildlife photographs in places like this, notably in a self-guided method.
I’ve divided this text into two components. Half One considerations the park itself, the very best instances to go to, and why Etosha is value visiting. The second is about gear and images ideas.
What’s Etosha?
Etosha is a nationwide park in northwestern Namibia and one of many largest nationwide parks in Africa. It’s about 22,300 sq. kilometers, which is big in scale. For reference, probably the most in depth and outstanding park in my residence nation of Italy, Gran Paradiso Nationwide Park, is 710 sq. kilometers. Even in comparison with parks within the USA, Etosha can be one of many largest – for instance, Yellowstone is about 9,000 sq. kilometers in dimension.
Etosha Nationwide Park is residence to tons of of species of mammals, birds, and reptiles, together with a number of threatened and endangered species, such because the black rhinoceros.
It has a savanna desert local weather. In winter, the imply nighttime lows are round 10°C (50°F), whereas on summer time days, temperatures usually hover round 40°C (104°F). As it’s a desert, there’s a vital variation between day and evening. Rain virtually by no means falls within the winter.
Etosha’s historical past is lengthy. It was proclaimed a recreation reserve in 1907. In 1958, the Republic of South Africa, managing Namibia then, determined to protect the world. In 1967, it was awarded the standing of a nationwide park. It was named after the big Etosha pan – a salt lake virtually completely throughout the park, which is generally dry throughout the dry season. Really, with an space of 4,760 sq km (1,840 sq mi), the Etosha pan covers 23% of the whole space of the nationwide park.
Namibia as an entire is a really magical place to go to, too, due to its folks, landscapes, and wildlife. A enjoyable element: with a bit over three folks per sq. kilometer, it has the second lowest inhabitants density on the earth, surpassed solely by Mongolia. It’s mind-blowing to me that Italy has a density of 196 inhabitants per sq. kilometer by comparability!
When to Go and How Lengthy to Keep
Throughout winter (starting from June to September as a result of Namibia is within the southern hemisphere) is normally the very best time to go to the park. Throughout this time, the lake of the Etosha Pan dries up and turns into an arid, limitless white expanse. The park will be dusty because of the white clay within the Pan.
That is additionally the time of 12 months when most guests come to the park (plus the months of Might and October), because the local weather is delicate. Most of all, because of the dry season, the wildlife concentrates across the waterholes throughout these months, and the encompassing areas overflow with springbok and zebra.
Contemplating the atmosphere’s arid look, the abundance of various animals in Etosha Nationwide Park is considerably surprising. The areas with thicker vegetation are residence to elephants, endangered black rhino, and even leopards. Lions are camouflaged within the pale golden colour of the grasslands, whereas giraffes rise excessive above a lot of the dry vegetation. Even when not plentiful by any means, you may spot some cheetah, too.
Due to the low degree of vegetation, and the animals congregating across the waterholes, it’s comparatively simple to identify the plentiful wildlife. However the park is huge, and there are lots of issues to see. In fact, you additionally want time and hopefully good mild to take photographs! For these causes, I counsel staying at the least 4-5 full days. I wish to keep there for months, however this subject is completely different 🙂
One different helpful level to share is that no remedy or vaccine for malaria or different ailments was wanted once I stayed there, and I didn’t see any mosquitoes. Please test the present state of affairs whereas planning your journey and focus on it together with your physician.
The place to Keep
There are a variety of viable lodging inside and outside the park. I counsel you to remain contained in the park, which is nicely geared up with eating places, retailers, swimming swimming pools, and petrol stations within the camps. The three primary camps (Okaukuejo, Halali, and Namutoni) supply varied forms of lodging, from tenting to chalets overlooking floodlit waterholes. Deeper within the park are located the extra unique Dolomite and Onkoshi camps.
I spent a very long time in and round Okaukuejo and Halali and visited Namutoni twice. Whereas the lodge is charming, I wouldn’t spend too lengthy in Namutoni subsequent time, because the space round it wasn’t as appropriate for wildlife images.
Typically talking, the watering holes across the lodges will not be superb for taking good photographs. They’re attention-grabbing to look at after consuming dinner, or very early within the morning earlier than the gates open, however nothing to spend high quality time at.
In the meantime, the world beginning west of Okaukuejo – and between Okaukuejo and Halali – was probably the most attention-grabbing, with many water holes. A few of them have routine animals frequenting them, resembling herd of elephants or delight of lions.
Utilizing Your Automotive
As usually in Africa, one of the best ways to get round is by automotive. An enormous bonus: You’ll be able to drive your automobile within the Etosha Nationwide Park. I used to be excited and thrilled once I first heard of this!
It’s a necessary ingredient for a wildlife photographer and adventurer like me, as a result of it allows you to handle your time when taking photographs or ready for the motion you wish to see. Or simply resting and having fun with the surroundings! You’ll be able to tailor any day to your liking.
Certainly, this doesn’t occur if you happen to be part of jeep safari excursions from the camps. Whilst you can nonetheless be part of a photograph tour and get a safari tailor-made for photographers, belief me, it’s not the identical.
However it’s also an enormous accountability.
The excellent news is that the roads within the park are gravel and in glorious situation in winter. However, a four-wheel drive is advisable, even when the park says a sedan could possibly be sufficient. (Throughout the moist season, the state of affairs adjustments dramatically, and never all roads are usable, even with a jeep. However as talked about earlier than, I don’t suggest getting in summer time.)
While you’re driving your personal automobile in Etosha, you should perceive and respect the park’s guidelines. This implies staying on the approved street, respecting the velocity limits, and avoiding any disturbance to animals which can be crossing or close to the street. Elephants and rhinos could possibly be inclined if you happen to make noise or go too close to them. Together with all that, take note of the park’s timetables and strictly respect them. Lodge gates open at daybreak and shut at nightfall; no one will be outdoors the gates after they shut.
You additionally can not exit out of your automobile if you happen to’re outdoors a couple of particular areas – such because the lodge perimeter or compounds with bathrooms – for any cause. This can be a basic rule as a result of predators could possibly be wherever, even behind the bush you thought you can use as a conceal. You will be two meters from a leopard with out noticing!
I hope you discovered this essay about Etosha Nationwide Park pleasurable. The second half shall be about the best way to take rewarding photographs there. When you’ve got any questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to depart them within the feedback part beneath.