NATURAL HISTORY
CAPRIVI GAME PARK
Wedged between Angola and Botswana the Caprivi Game Park
extends along the Okavango River for about 112 miles (180km)
until it meets the Kwando River in the east. Although it
was proclaimed a park in 1968, it was controlled by the
South African Defence Force and not managed as a conservation
area. As a result there are few tourist facilities and the
terrain is extremely sandy so a 4X4 vehicle is a pre-requisite.The
terrain is generally flat with deciduous woodlands, except
for some 97-195 feet high (30-60m) dunes covered in vegetation.
MUDUMU NATIONAL PARK
The Kwando River runs through this National Park which offers
a true African wilderness experience. In contrast to the
rest of Namibia, the area is lush with marches, riverine
forests, dense savannah and mopane woodland.Unusually for
a National Park there is a private lodge within its boundaries
– Lianshulu Lodge – which offers guided walks,
nature drives, boating and bird watching. South of Lianshulu
the river breaks up into a labyrinth of channels to form
the Linyati Swamp.
MAMILI NATIONAL PARK
This has the distinction of being the largest wetland area
of conservation status in Namibia. It is characterised by
a complex network of channels, reed beds, ox-bow lakes and
tree-covered islands. The focal points are the two large
islands of Nkasa and Lupala in the Kwando/Linyati River.
These islands can be reached by road but only in the dry
season. After rains the area becomes flooded cutting them
off from the mainland.
An
astonishing 430 species of birds have been recorded which
is nearly 70% of Namibia’s total, and much game including
the rare sitatunga
and red lechwe
as well as buffalo,
elephant,
zebra,
antelopes, hippo and crocodiles.