Namibia - Etosha National Park - West

When you enter Etosha National Park you need to register at the gate. It is at that point you are told that you can not go off the road and must be out of the park or at you lodging by sunset.

As soon as we start along the roadway we see a herd of zebra and impala. The park is a 22,270 km squared and is a fenced area.  The elephants frequently take out the fence so the staff are constantly trying to repair the fencing.  Animals congregate near the waterholes during the dry season. In the wet season we were told it is sometimes very hard to even find zebras.

Springbok

Mountain Zebra

Our accommodation for two nights is the Dolomite Camp. This camp is safari style tents built on top of a rocky hill. It can be quite a walk up the hill to go for a meal or go on a tour. 

Dolomite Camp

In the afternoon we took another trip out to find animals by a waterhole close to the camp.

Mountain Zebra have strips on their legs.

Long way down to drink.

Standing watch for the ones drinking.

We enjoyed the giraffes that visited the waterhole but had to be back to the camp before sunset.

The next day we visited a different area on the westside of the park. Today we saw a zebra with melanism. Melanism is a condition where black pigmentation on the skin making this zebra look like he is missing his white stripes. This is opposite to an albino condition.

Zebra with melanism

Red Hartebeest

Heading to the waterhole

Black Rhinoceros

Oryx

Our last night at the camp we could hear the lions in the valley roaring. Sound was so load that Bill thought they were much closer and would come through our balcony door. In the morning we watched two lions and a lioness walk across the valley.

Leaving the camp we watch a lion, jackal and the kori bustard birds at the waterhole located at the bottom of the hill from the camp.

Heaviest bird that can fly - Kori Bustard

On our way to Okaukuejo Camp in Etosha National Park we came across more animals. 

Duiker

Flock of birds sitting on bushes.

H

Wildebeest

Sociable Weaver and nest.

Helmeted Guineafowl