During these rare breeding events, the pan becomes a cradle of life. Thousands of flamingos gather after performing elaborate courtship rituals at coastal lagoons such as Walvis Bay. These displays involve head-flagging, synchronised marching and sudden wing salutes. At sunset, they take to the skies in long skeins, navigating by the stars as they head inland to Etosha. There, they use their specially adapted beaks to build conical nests from wet clay and lay a single egg.

Voice imprinting ensures that even in enormous groups of nearly identical, downy chicks, each parent can locate and feed its own offspring. Guided by their parents, the chicks march across the drying pan in huge groups known as kindergartens. They walk for weeks, covering up to 80 kilometres, often burdened by crusted clay, stalked by predators, and entirely dependent on their parents’ commitment.

In 1971, one of the most spectacular breeding seasons occurred, when more than a million flamingos arrived at Etosha. Of the 30,000 chicks hatched that year, an estimated 25,000 survived the gruelling journey to water. It was a powerful demonstration of endurance and the tenacity of nature.

The flamingos of Etosha are more than a visual marvel. They are living relics of a prehistoric world, symbols of resilience, and reminders of the fragile balance that sustains life in Africa’s wild places. TN