The western Etosha NationaI Park may be divided into three physiographic regions, viz. the coastal desert, the escarpment and the inland plateau. A study area was selected on the transition between the escarpment and the inIand plateau. The soils tend to be shallow, alkaline, high in water-soluble salts, poor in phosphates and nitrogen content. The study area falls within the arid savanna. The vegetation is sub-divided into nine smaller associations. Keywords: Acacia, Alluvial soils, Archean basement, Combretum apiculatum, Damara system, Eastern dolomite ridges, Endoreicly drained, Geomorpholagical influence, Gneiss, Granite, Herbs, Kalahari-like red sand, Kaokoveld physiographic regions, Khoabendus formation, Mopane, Natural transverse barrier, Otavi series, Soils types, Vegetation.