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Namib-Naukluft National Park
This huge park covering over 19,000 square miles is not only the largest nature conservation area in Namibia, but the fourth largest in the world, as well as being the most unusual. Landscapes range from impressive mountains to desert plains and high dunes, from deep gorges to an estuarine lagoon. The park can be broken up into four distinct areas. The Namib area has an essence of timelessness and, depending on the time of day, there is a shift in moods. A play of light and shadow gives the desert landscapes entirely new tints and textures. On the plains vast herds of oryx, springbok and zebra may be seen. The Naukluft area includes the mountainous escarpment as well as the edge of the Namib desert. It is a sanctuary for mountain zebra and other species of game. The Sesriem area lies west of the Naukluft Mountains where the Tsauchab River disappears dramatically down a steep gorge in the plain. Pools of water on its gravelly bed attract birds and animals in this otherwise arid region. The Sossusvlei area has sand dunes as far as the eye can see, reaching as high as 1,000 feet . Their rich tints vary from pale apricot to vivid reds and oranges. During a good rainy season, the Tsauchab River flows into a pan, creating a haven for water birds. Even during the dry season, oryx, springbok and ostriches can be seen in the dry water courses.
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Etosha National Park
The Etosha National Park is one of the major sanctuaries for wildlife in Africa and was proclaimed a game reserve in 1907. The heart of the park is the Etosha Pan, meaning "place of dry water". An extensive, flat depression, this great white expanse is a place of shimmering mirages, and seeing large herds of game in this setting makes Etosha a unique experience in Africa. Expert game management and the protection of the unspoiled environment makes Etosha National Park one of the greatest and most important game parks in Africa. There are 144 mammal species in the park including elephant, giraffe, wildebeest, black rhino, lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena and jackal, as well as various species of antelope. Bird life is prolific with some 340 species having been identified.
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