Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
NORTH-CENTRAL NAMIBIA
When you have little more than a car window separating you from the surrounding white
plains, and with a thermos of early-morning coffee and cameras ready, there are few places
that can match the wildlife prospects of dawn in Etosha National Park. Home to a network
of artificial waterholes and naturally up-welling springs, the southern boundary of the
Etosha Pan harbours enormous congregations of African animals. Just one day of wildlife
watching at a single waterhole can produce literally thousands of sightings, which has justi-
fiably earned Etosha the reputation as one of the best reserves in the world.
Unlike the vast majority of safari parks in Africa, all roads inside Etosha are 2WD ac-
cessible and open to private vehicles. This, of course, means that if you've been fortunate
enough to rent your own vehicle, you're in for one of the most memorable safaris of your
life. Anyone can tell their friends and family back home how quickly their guide spotted a
pride of lions, but how many people can say that they drove on the edges of a salt pan
while tracking herds of zebra in the distance?
The crown jewel in Namibia's rich treasure trove of protected areas, Etosha dominates
the tourism circuit in North-Central Namibia. However, there are plenty of worthwhile op-
portunities here for hiking and exploring, and there's a good chance that the tourist crowds
will be elsewhere. If you have the time to spare, don't overlook the region's other high-
lights, which run the gamut from lofty plateaus and art-laden caves to hulking meteorites
and dino footprints.
Geography
Although the Etosha Pan is the most prominent feature in the region, the area is primarily
known as a mining and cattle-ranching centre. Large-scale mining, particularly in the
Tsumeb area, dates back to the early 1900s, while pastoralism, especially among the
Herero, pre-dates the German colonial era. North-Central Namibia is also known for its
unique natural landscapes, particularly the Waterberg Plateau Park, a lovely island in the
sky, and the Erongo Mountains (Erongoberg), which form a dramatic backdrop along the
route from Windhoek to Swakopmund.
Getting Around
Since the majority of sites in North-Central Namibia are outside population centres, you
will need a private vehicle to access most of the region . Etosha itself is easy enough to vis-
