The Great White Place.

Etosha is a shimmering salt crust the size of Switzerland. For most of the year, it is a white wasteland; during the rains, it becomes a shallow green mirror.

The **Etosha Pan** was once the bed of a massive lake fed by the Kunene River. Over millions of years, tectonic shifts diverted the river, and the lake evaporated, leaving behind a 4,800 square kilometer basin of salt and clay. The surrounding savanna is composed of **mopane woodland**, where trees have evolved to withstand high alkaline soil conditions.

Perennial Waterholes

Survival in the Etosha savanna revolves around the edge of the pan. Because there is almost no standing surface water in the dry season, wildlife depends on natural springs and artesian wells. These waterholes create intense zones of interaction, where species like elephants, rhinos, and lions congregate in a fragile, high-stakes peace dictated by the thirst for water.

The Mirage Effect

The flat, reflective surface of the pan creates intense thermal gradients. As hot air rises off the salt, it bends light, producing persistent **mirages** that can make distant animals appear as if they are floating above a non-existent lake. This optical phenomenon is a hallmark of the "Great White Place," adding to its otherworldly atmosphere.