Etosha National Park

🇳🇦 Namibia

🐘 Elephants Gather at Waterholes
🌍 #41 Global · 4.6 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #27 in Africa #28 in Savanna & Grassland
Southern Africa, Namibia 933 spp. recorded

Etosha National Park is a wildlife reserve in northern Namibia featuring an open tropical savanna landscape dominated by sparse acacia scrub and a massive salt pan. Visitors travel along flat gravel tracks that wind through wide plains and around natural water sources.

-18.965° S   16.568° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare 5–15%
With luck 15–40%
Possible 40–70%
Likely >70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

African Bush Elephant ★
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

70–80% · Very likely
Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

60–70% · Likely
Black Rhinoceros ★
CR

Black Rhinoceros

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Diceros bicornis

60–70% · Likely
Plains Zebra ★
NT

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

80–90% · Very likely
Cape Turtle Dove
LC

Cape Turtle Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia capicola

80–90% · Very likely
Blacksmith Lapwing
LC

Blacksmith Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus armatus

70–80% · Very likely
Southern Giraffe

Southern Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa giraffa

70–80% · Very likely
Springbok
LC Endemic

Springbok

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Antidorcas marsupialis

70–80% · Very likely
Red-shouldered Glossy-starling
LC

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis nitens

60–70% · Likely
Blue Wildebeest
LC

Blue Wildebeest

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Connochaetes taurinus

60–70% · Likely
Impala
LC

Impala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Aepyceros melampus

60–70% · Likely
Gemsbok
LC Endemic

Gemsbok

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oryx gazella

60–70% · Likely
African Red-eyed Bulbul
LC

African Red-eyed Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus nigricans

60–70% · Likely
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
LC

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tockus leucomelas

50–60% · Likely
Greater Kudu
LC

Greater Kudu

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

African Bush Elephant ★
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

70–80% · Very likely
Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

60–70% · Likely
Black Rhinoceros ★
CR

Black Rhinoceros

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Diceros bicornis

60–70% · Likely
Plains Zebra ★
NT

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

70–80% · Very likely

📊 Most Spotted

Southern Giraffe

Southern Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa giraffa

70–80% · Very likely
Springbok
LC Endemic

Springbok

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Antidorcas marsupialis

70–80% · Very likely
Blue Wildebeest
LC

Blue Wildebeest

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Connochaetes taurinus

60–70% · Likely
Impala
LC

Impala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Aepyceros melampus

60–70% · Likely
Gemsbok
LC Endemic

Gemsbok

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Oryx gazella

60–70% · Likely
Greater Kudu
LC

Greater Kudu

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

50–60% · Likely
Khama

Khama

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Alcelaphus caama

50–60% · Likely
Spotted Hyena
LC

Spotted Hyena

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Crocuta crocuta

50–60% · Likely
Banded Mongoose
LC

Banded Mongoose

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Mungos mungo

50–60% · Likely
Cape Ground Squirrel

Cape Ground Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Xerus inauris

40–50% · Likely
Smith's Bush Squirrel
LC

Smith's Bush Squirrel

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Paraxerus cepapi

40–50% · Likely
Steenbok
LC

Steenbok

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Raphicerus campestris

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Fork-tailed Drongo
LC

Fork-tailed Drongo

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dicrurus adsimilis

80–90% · Very likely
Cape Turtle Dove
LC

Cape Turtle Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia capicola

80–90% · Very likely
Blacksmith Lapwing
LC

Blacksmith Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus armatus

70–80% · Very likely
Red-shouldered Glossy-starling
LC

Red-shouldered Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis nitens

60–70% · Likely
African Red-eyed Bulbul
LC

African Red-eyed Bulbul

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pycnonotus nigricans

60–70% · Likely
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
LC

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tockus leucomelas

50–60% · Likely
Kori Bustard
NT

Kori Bustard

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardeotis kori

50–60% · Likely
Common Ostrich
LC

Common Ostrich

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Struthio camelus

50–60% · Likely
Grey Go-Away-Bird
LC

Grey Go-Away-Bird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Corythaixoides concolor

50–60% · Likely
Helmeted Guineafowl
LC

Helmeted Guineafowl

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numida meleagris

50–60% · Likely
Pale Chanting Goshawk
LC

Pale Chanting Goshawk

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Melierax canorus

50–60% · Likely
LADO

LADO

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spilopelia senegalensis

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Kalahari Tree Skink
LC

Kalahari Tree Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis spilogaster

40–50% · Possible
Helmeted Turtle

Helmeted Turtle

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Pelomedusa subrufa

30–40% · Possible
Ground Agama
LC

Ground Agama

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Agama aculeata

30–40% · Possible
Fischer's Thick-toed Gecko
LC

Fischer's Thick-toed Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Chondrodactylus laevigatus

30–40% · Possible
Bocage's Mabuya
LC

Bocage's Mabuya

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis binotata

30–40% · Possible
Leopard Tortoise
LC

Leopard Tortoise

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Stigmochelys pardalis

20–30% · Possible
Rock Monitor
LC

Rock Monitor

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus albigularis

10–20% · Possible
Wahlberg’s Striped Skink

Wahlberg’s Striped Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis wahlbergii

10–20% · Possible
Western Rock Skink
LC

Western Rock Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis sulcata

10–20% · Possible
Namib Rock Agama
LC

Namib Rock Agama

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Agama planiceps

10–20% · Possible
Bradfield's Dwarf Gecko
LC

Bradfield's Dwarf Gecko

☀️🌙 Day & Night Reptile

Lygodactylus bradfieldi

10–20% · With luck
Etosha Agama
LC

Etosha Agama

Reptile

Agama etoshae

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Power's Toad
LC

Power's Toad

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Sclerophrys poweri

0–10% · With luck
Giant bullfrog
LC

Giant bullfrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Pyxicephalus adspersus

Insufficient data
Tandy's sand frog
LC

Tandy's sand frog

🌙 Nocturnal Amphibian

Tomopterna tandyi

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Elephant waterhole congregation

Aug

During the dry season, elephants gather in large numbers at Etosha's permanent waterholes, creating dramatic sightings.

African Bush Elephant
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

70–80% · Very likely
🦌

Lion pride breeding peak

Nov

Lion mating peaks in November, leading to increased pride activity and roaring displays across the park.

Lion
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

60–70% · Likely
🦌

Cheetah cub rearing season

Mar

Cheetah mothers raise their cubs during the cooler months, making them more visible as they teach hunting skills.

Cheetah
VU

Cheetah

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Acinonyx jubatus

30–40% · Possible

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
African Bush Elephant
60–70
50–60
70–80
60–70
50–60
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
Lion
60–70
70–80
70–80
50–60
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
Black Rhinoceros
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
50–60
Plains Zebra
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
Fork-tailed Drongo
70–80
70–80
60–70
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
90–100
80–90
80–90
80–90
80–90
Cape Turtle Dove
80–90
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
70–80
80–90
80–90
80–90
Blacksmith Lapwing
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
60–70
70–80
70–80
Southern Giraffe
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
Springbok
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
60–70
Red-shouldered Glossy-starling
60–70
40–50
40–50
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
70–80
80–90
70–80
70–80
70–80
Blue Wildebeest
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
Impala
60–70
80–90
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
Gemsbok
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
African Red-eyed Bulbul
60–70
50–60
30–40
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
30–40
30–40
30–40
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
60–70
60–70
40–50
50–60
Greater Kudu
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
Animal Events
🦌 Elephant waterhole congregation
🦌 Lion pride breeding peak
🦌 Cheetah cub rearing season

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class
🐘 Elephants Gather at Waterholes

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
589
🐒 Mammals
153
🦎 Reptiles
167
🐸 Amphibians
24
933 Total Species
841 Global average across 280 parks
36 Threatened 16 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
72%
📊
Coverage (231 species at ≥5% of 933 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
25%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (8 mammal, 4 bird)
47% Global avg
59%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
132 Global avg
152
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
14 Global avg
34
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
26 Global avg
38
⚖️

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