Etosha's vegetation varies from dwarf shrub savannah and grasslands, which occur around the pan, to thorn-bush and woodland savannah throughout the park with mopane trees.

The vegetation is primarily arid savanna, shrub and thorn scrub in the west, tending towards tree savanna and broadleaved woodland in the east. Acacia woodland is found throughout the region with Mopane woodland (central) and Combretum woodland (east) dominating patchily within the park's broadleaved savanna belt.

The vegetation of the park can mainly be classified into two subtypes, namely a tree savanna in the east and a shrub and thorn tree savanna in the west. Mopane trees constitude about 90% of all trees, while several Acacia species, such as the water horn, red umbrellathorn, umbrella thorn and hairy umbrella thorn, and a number of Combretum species, varying from shrubs to trees, are also characteristic. The dominant grasses are, Anthephora, Enneapogon, Artisda and Stipagrotis.

A specie which arouses the curiousity of most visitors is the moringa (phantom) tree, which can be seen in the Moringa Forest, 30km west of Okaukuejo. This population is unique because phantom trees usually occur on hillsides. Regrettably these trees are enjoyed by the many elephants of the Park and many have been destroyed.