In northwest Namibia in the Kunene Region is the Etosha National Park. The park shares boundaries with the regions of Oshana, Oshikoto and Otjozondjupa. First established in 1907 this park was 100,000 km2 and was the largest game reserve in the world. At this time Namibia was still a German colony known as South West Africa. The park is now slightly less than a quarter of its original size but still remains very large and its wildlife are protected.

An area called the Etosha Pan dominates the park. The salt pan is a desert area that is roughly 130km long and gets as wide as 50km is some places. The salt pan is usually dry but fills with water in the summer and attracts pelicans and flamingos in particular. Periannual springs attract a variety of animals and birds year round including black rhinos and black face impalas.

Some wildlife in the area depends on the salt from the pan which during the dry season blows across the pan and can reach the southern Atlantic. (more…)

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