EXPLORING THE WILD SIDE OF THE ZAMBEZI REGION

Willie Olivier

SUMMARY

The Zambezi Region is one of the most popular off-road destinations in Namibia. There are hundreds of kilometres of tracks to be explored and driving conditions range from easy to extreme, depending on the route you have selected.



The Zambezi Region is renowned for its magnificent woodlands, superb birding and wildlife. Unless you overnight at a lodge, facilities are at best basic and you should be self-sufficient for the duration of your journey. A two-vehicle party is highly recommended in this remote area, which should be explored with a GPS unless you are familiar with the area. There is the additional danger of potentially dangerous wild animals such as elephant, lion, buffalo, hippos and crocodiles that you would need to consider.

The riverside loop in the Mahango Core Area of the Bwabwata National Park is accessible in a sedan vehicle and is an excellent game viewing drive. Game to be on the lookout for include elephant, red lechwe, reedbuck, blue wildebeest, tsessebe, buffalo, kudu, roan, sable, impala and lion.

With a checklist of over 400 species, Mahango is also one of the top birding destinations in Namibia. The 29km loop through the dunes can only be negotiated in a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Game is generally scarce in this area, but you might encounter some animals in the Mahango and Thinderervu omiramba (usually dry seasonal river courses). Mahango is open from sunrise to sunset and although there are no overnight facilities, there are several nearby lodges and camps.

The Golden Triangle along the Kwando River is another rewarding area to explore. Game-viewing is especially rewarding during the dry winter months when the animals congregate along the Kwando River. Large herds of elephant, as well as buffalo, roan, sable, impala, kudu, red lechwe, giraffe, blue wildebeest, giraffe, tsessebe and wild dog are among the species to be seen. Facilities south of the B8 are limited to a few camping sites at the upmarket Nambwa Lodge.

Other options include the Mudumu National Park where facilities are limited to demarcated camping sites without any facilities. The tracks are not signposted and conditions range from soft, deep sand to mud during the rainy season. Roan, sable, elephant, Burchell’s zebra, impala, red lechwe, kudu, giraffe and hippo are among the game to be seen, while the birdlife is nothing short of spectacular.

The Nkasa Lupala National Park provides a sanctuary to the largest population of buffalo in Namibia, elephant, red lechwe, impala, reedbuck, kudu and lion, but its main attraction is its wilderness atmosphere and its truly amazing birdlife. A network of tracks criss-crosses the park and as the Ministry of Environment of Tourism map is of no help, a GPS is essential if you are unfamiliar with the area. The Kavango-Zambezi National Parks map, while includes the Nkasa Rupara National Park, is a handy companion.

Access depends on the extent to which the park is inundated. Large areas become inundated during ‘wet’ years when the water of the Kwando River spills across the floodplains. There are no camping facilities, but camping is available at the Rupara community campsite and the privately run Livingstone’s Camp, both of which are close to the park entrance. Livingstone’s Camp has five well-spaced campsites each with its own private bathroom (with hot water showers and flush toilets) and a thatched lapa/kitchen area.

Driving conditions can be very challenging during the rainy season when it is easy to get trapped in the black ‘cotton’ mud. Interactions with wildlife, especially herds of elephant, require visitors to maintain a respectful distance, especially if you encounter breeding herds with calves.