Caprivi Strip
In this part of Namibia, which is literally a remote corner, you will find a Namibia you have never seen before. This enchanting swamp area with an impressive amount of wildlife is one of Namibia's best kept secrets. The Caprivi Strip is a 450 km long strip of land in northeastern Namibia, sandwiched between Angola and Zambia to the north and Botswana to the south. The strip is shaped like a pointing finger and is a legacy of colonial times. The area has high rainfall and is home to the wide permanent Zambezi and Kwando rivers. The lush and green landscape created because of all this water is unique in Namibia. The area is much like the Okavango Delta; deep waterways lined with reeds and papyrus create islands in the river with baobab and mopane trees. You will find different animal species in this tropical landscape than in the drier parts of Namibia. The rivers are a paradise for hippos, crocodiles and elephants. The area is further home to lions, leopards, sable and roan antelope, waterbuck, sitatunga, red lechwe, bush buck, zebras, kudus, impalas and about 450 bird species. Caprivi is the only place in Namibia where you can see the buffalo and is the best place in the country to see the critically endangered African wild dog. The area was not accessible for a long time because of a border war, which affected the concentration of wildlife. However, three National Parks can now be found in the Caprivi Strip and wildlife is on the rise. Caprivi offers the easiest connecting route between Namibia and Victoria Falls and Botswana's Chobe National Park. However, the area is not just a thoroughfare, but a destination in itself. For visitors who like to go off the beaten path, there is the opportunity to explore emerging wildlife parks such as Nkasa Rupara and Bwabwata, before they also become known to the masses. A great way to explore the Namibian answer to Botswana's Okavango Delta is by boat.
Bwabwata National Park
Bwabwata National Park consists of vast savannah, ancient Kalahari forests, lily-strewn wetlands and an abundance of wildlife. The area has little tourist infrastructure and is accessible only by 4WD. The park is home to elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards, cheetahs, African wild dogs and hyenas. Enjoy beautiful views of the wetlands or elephants that come in the afternoon to drink and bathe in Horse Shoe lagoon. Take a cruise down the Kwando River or visit the Mahango Game Reserve section of the park, home to more bird species than anywhere else in Namibia.
Mudumu Nationa Park
Mudumu National Park is a vast 1,010 km area with the Kwando River as its western boundary. The area consists of papyrus swamps, riverine forests of mopane and acacia trees and dense grasslands. You will find here more than 400 different species of birds, the sitatunga, the red lechwe, waterbuck, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, otters, lions, leopards, hyeanas and occasionally the African wild dog.
This part of the Caprivi is best known for its herds of buffalo and large hippo population. A 4x4 vehicle is recommended. You can stay overnight at the park's campsite, the Nakatwa Nature Conservation Camp.
Nkasa Lupala National Park
This national park, previously known as Mamili National Park, is also called Nkasa Rupara. The small 320 km2 park lies below Mudumu National Park and is Namibia's largest wetland. The area lies between the Kwando and Linyanti rivers and consists of a labyrinth of canals, reed beds, swamps, lily-filled lagoons and forested islands. Many animals can also be found in this park including; elephants, lions, buffalo, lechwe, antelopes, giraffes, crocodiles, hippos and more than 400 different species of birds. Because of the rough dirt roads, the park may only be explored by 4x4 or by boat. You can spend the night at the park's campsite, the Shisinze Nature Conservation Camp. You are truly in the African wilderness here; the area has no more than a few hundred visitors a year. Keep in mind that malaria is prevalent in the area and in the wet season 80% of the park floods.
Impalila Island
Impalila Island is located in the Zambezi River. The island is 12 kilometers long and 6 kilometers wide, making it the largest island in the Caprivi. The island can be reached by boat or plane. The island is inhabited and there are many small villages. But the main attraction is the wildlife; hippos, crocodiles, elephants and buffalo, among others, are found in this wilderness. A spectacular number of birds can also be found, including the African pairbill, the African pygmy cormorant and several species of kingfishers. The island is further a good place for fishing.
Birds
Caprivi is a true paradise for birdwatchers. White-cheeked ducks roam the islands while snake-necked birds fish in the rivers. Among others, the egret, rock fork-tailed plover, African bald eagle, rail cuckoo, lagonosticta and the impressive bee-eater are found in the area.
Boat trip on the Chobe River.
At the eastern end of the Caprivi Strip, the Chobe River forms the border between Namibia and Botswana. Since there are no roads along the Chobe River on the Namibian side, you will be transported across the river by boat. You will discover a beautiful green delta area where elephants, buffalo, rhinos, puku and Chobe bushbuck can often be found. From the water you can get close to the animals on the banks and enjoy all the colorful birds. You will stop at several islands along the way.