A massive fire that has scorched through more than a third of Namibia's best-known national park has been contained, the environment minister said on Monday.

The blaze at Etosha National Park, one of Africa's largest game reserves, broke out on September 22 and spread rapidly due to high winds and parched vegetation.

It forced the government to deploy 500 soldiers on Sunday to help contain the fire, believed to have started at a charcoal production site.

"Fire is now contained," Environment Minister Indileni Daniel told state broadcaster Namibia Broadcasting Corporation.

Extent of damage unknown

"There was no visible fire as we flew over but there are some places that have got fires on and off," she said.

It was not immediately clear the extent of damage or total number of animals killed.

The environment ministry had said earlier that at least nine antelopes had been killed in the blaze while the prime minister said an elephant had also died.

As of Sunday, about 775,163 hectares (1.9 million acres) – roughly 34% of the park – had been burned, according to the environment ministry.

Firefighters' deployment continues

Located in the north of the largely arid country, the park is home to 114 mammal species, including the critically endangered black rhinoceros, and is a major tourist draw.

Firefighters will remain deployed in the area to prevent flare-ups, Daniel said.

"We have noticed some new fires at one spot only, the team has been already dispatched," she said.

The park stretches across 22,270 square kilometres. Its main feature is the ancient Etosha salt pan, which is around 130 kilometres long and 50 kilometres wide and draws huge flocks of migratory flamingoes during the rainy season.