Etosha National Park is not only home to large animals but is also a great place for birdwatchers. The park has over 340 recorded bird species and offers birding opportunities throughout the year.
Its habitats range from woodlands and bush to wetlands, salt pans, and Savannah. These environments support a wide variety of birds that change with the seasons, making Etosha interesting for both experienced birders and beginners.
One of the highlights of bird-watching in Etosha is during the rainy season, from November to April, when migratory species arrive. At this time, the usually dry Etosha Pan becomes a shallow lake that attracts thousands of waterbirds, including pelicans and flamingos.
A famous sight in Namibia is the large flocks of pink flamingos spread across the pan. Bird activity increases during this period, with many species breeding and feeding their young, filling the park with sound and movement.
Etosha is home to many birds that visitors enjoy spotting across its grasslands. These include the kori bustard, Africa’s heaviest flying bird, and secretary birds, easily recognized by their long legs and head feathers, often seen walking slowly across the Savannah looking for prey such as snakes.
High in the sky, bateleurs, martial eagles, and pale-chanting goshawks can be seen gliding, while closer to the ground, colorful birds such as lilac-breasted rollers, hornbills, and bee-eaters add bright splashes to the scenery.
Bird-watching in Etosha is easy, even for visitors without binoculars. Rest camps and roadside waterholes provide good viewing spots. Early mornings and the golden hour before sunset offer the best light and the most bird activity.
Around Okaukuejo, Halali, and Namutoni camps, visitors can see scops owls, crimson-breasted shrikes, and small sunbirds moving through the trees. At open waterholes, sandgrouse, plovers, storks, and sometimes the shy Verreaux’s eagle owl come to drink alongside elephants, creating memorable sightings.
