The remote Caprivi, named after General Georg Leo von Caprivi is one of the unique places to enjoy a safari in Namibia. Caprivi is crossed by two major rivers, the Kwando and Okavango. It is well-watered, lush, and green. The forests on the edge of these rivers attract many animal species and birds that flock here to wade and feed from the watery landscape.
Need Advice?Eastern Caprivi has its fair share of flood plains and swamps because of the convergence of the Kwando, Chobe, Okavango, and Zambezi rivers.
This area has several safari lodges, and visitors will love all the outdoor activities, like fishing, river cruises, game-viewing safaris, and walks with a professional guide. The Mahango, Caprivi Game Reserves, and the Mudumu National Park are all in the area. The area is rich in animal life.
Caprivi starkly contrasts with the rest of Namibia; its reserves are almost incomparable to other parks, such as Etosha. Its lush, green, well-watered areas, and even its strange finger-like shape, is truly an escape from the dry Namibian lands to the west and south. Its borders Botswana and Angola.
The area's rivers attract many animals and birds, and it embellishes the region in near-tropical green conditions. Caprivi offers a range of fun water-based activities and spectacular sunsets accompanied by sightings of animals like hippos and crocodiles.
The area is an Eden for birds and a 'must-visit for birding enthusiasts. More than 450 different species occur across the region. The fish eagle and its heart-wrenching call can be heard from miles away, and seeing it swoop into the fresh waters to catch fish is an experience that will stay with you forever.
The Caprivi region's untamed nature extends to the experiences on offer to travelers.
Your expedition to the Caprivi will start at OR Tambo International Airport, where you fly to either Windhoek in Namibia or Kasane in Botswana, depending on your specific safari package. Onward travel will then be either overland or by light charter aircraft.
The Caprivi Strip is located in the far north of Namibia, approximately 850km from Windhoek International Airport via the recently paved Trans-Caprivi Highway. African Sky combines the Caprivi with other Namibia destinations so that the long drive will be optional.
It's hard to determine the best time to visit the Caprivi, partly because Namibia experiences approximately 300 days of summer and partly because it depends on what your interests are. During the dry winter, from June to August, the wildlife gravitates towards the watering holes and rivers; thus, game viewing is exceptional. Nights are cold, and temperatures drop significantly from their daytime highs.
January and February are the wettest and hottest months of the year and mosquito season. The summer months are the best time to view birds; newborn wildlife is abundant. We recommend visiting from September to December to enjoy the best of both seasons.
The Caprivi Strip was obtained by Namibia (at the time known as German South-West Africa) in 1890 and named after German Chancellor Leo von Caprivi, who negotiated the exchange of land with the British. It gave the Germans access to the Zambezi River, which they thought would provide them a water passage to the Indian Ocean and a shortcut to Tanganyika – a German colony at the time. Before they knew about Victoria Falls, they abruptly stopped this venture. The acquisition of the Caprivi Strip was part of the Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty, where Germany gave Zanzibar to the British and obtained the Caprivi Strip and the Heligoland Island in the North Sea.
Even though the German plan to gain access to the Indian Ocean did not work out, Namibia gained an area with exceptional natural wealth and even mineral resources. Due to the immense diversity of the fauna and flora in this area, there are currently three marvelous national parks; Bwabwata National Park, Mudumu National Park and Nkasa Rupara National Park. Bwabwata National Park was proclaimed in 2007 when the Caprivi Game Park, Mahango Game Reserve and the unproclaimed area along the Kwando River were united. Mudumu National Park was created in 1990 along with its sister park Mamili National Park, that was changed to Nkasa Rupara National park in 2012 by the Namibian government.
The region is one of the few places where one can still enjoy an authentic wilderness experience. There are hardly any fences. Indigenous animals still follow their historic migratory routes. With unmatched biodiversity due to all the different biomes, the number of species is mind-blowing. Elephants still wade through rivers alongside hippos and crocodiles. Rare antelope species such as sitatunga, red lechwe, roan, and sable occur here, and it also serves as a sanctuary for rare and endangered species like the African wild dog. Other predators include lion, brown hyena, spotted hyena, leopard, caracal, and cheetah.
Buffalo, giraffe, zebra, reedbuck, oribi, tsessebe, duiker, impala, and puku also graze in the area. Similarly, the Caprivi is a paradise for any bird watcher, with more than 450 bird species. The western reaches of the Bwabwata Park have been proclaimed an internationally important bird area, supporting globally threatened bird species. It is also an avian diversity hotspot. Alluring birds in the area include the Barret owlet, Bennett's woodpecker, white-backed night heron, African skipper, African pygmy-goose, and Southern ground hornbill, to name a few. The area is a popular fishing destination, where anglers target highly predatory tiger fish.
The Kalahari Desert covers over 900 000 km2, including the most significant part of Botswana and South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Angola. The Caprivi Strip lies at the bottom of the Kalahari Basin, halfway between the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Although classified as part of the semi-desert, the strip is the wettest region of Namibia, and floods occur regularly in the floodplains. The area includes biomes such as marshes, riverine forests, mopane woodland, deciduous woodland, dense savanna, and dunes. Generally, flat terrain and lush vegetation characterize the area as opposed to the western tree-and-shrub savannas of the more arid desert regions.
The Bwabwata National Park's vegetation is best described as deciduous woodlands. The Mudumu National Park contains savanna and mopane forest, and the Nkasa Rupara National Park is known for its wetlands and marshes. The subtropical features and the presence of the Chobe, Okavango, Zambezi, and Kwando rivers allow a multitude of trees species, such as the mopane, acacia, Zambezi teak, copalwood, and leadwood, to prosper along the riverbanks and the plains.
The Caprivi Strip allows for various methods of pristine game viewing, such as game drives through the parks, bush walks accompanied by experienced rangers, and game viewing by boat. You can also view animals from the comfort of the various lodges along the riverbanks. Water-based activities such as sunset cruises and canoeing are great ways to view the area and unwind. Houseboats on the rivers and fishing in the area is a popular pastimes. Trips on the traditional mokoro boats (made from the trunks of indigenous trees) accompanied by knowledgeable guides make for unique experiences.
Birding is exceptional. Hiking activities are also available in some of the areas. It is, however, best to avoid wandering off by yourself, especially in riverine areas. Hippos are common and highly aggressive and territorial. Namibia is one of the top destinations for stargazing, as the night sky is generally cloudless, so be sure to lie down and experience the marvels of our solar system.
