Long ago, Etosha was a shallow lake. Over thousands of years the climate became drier and the lake dried up, leaving behind all the salt and minerals that had been dissolved in the water. Today the pan is completely flat and white, like a giant mirror when it catches the light. In the local Ndonga language, 'Etosha' means 'great white place'.
After heavy rains, a thin layer of water sometimes covers the pan and thousands of flamingos fly in to feed. The flamingos eat tiny shrimps and algae that bloom in the salty water, and their legs turn the pan into a mass of pink. Seeing tens of thousands of flamingos from above looks like someone has painted the pan pink.
Around the edges of the pan are waterholes where animals come to drink. Because the pan itself has no fresh water, these waterholes are incredibly busy — elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras and rhinos all visit the same spots. Some of the waterholes are lit at night so visitors can watch animals drinking under the stars.
Etosha National Park protects more than 100 different species of mammal, including the largest population of black rhinos anywhere in the world. The park was one of the first places in Africa to be set aside for wildlife protection, and the animals there have grown comfortable enough that they come very close to visitor vehicles.