Caprivi Strip

Situated in the north-eastern tip of Namibia, the Caprivi region is a narrow strip of land, over four times as long as it is wide, which borders Botswana to the south, Zambia and Angola to the north, and at its furthest point, Zimbabwe. Four large rivers—the Chobe, Okavango, Kwando and Zambezi—form the boundaries of the strip, ensuring that it is constantly irrigated and thus attracting a variety of game.

With its complex network of rivers, channels and floodplains, and comparatively high rainfall, the Caprivi Strip is the one region of Namibia where water is plentiful. The contrast to the main body of Namibia, with its arid plains and vast deserts, could hardly be more pronounced. Indeed, Caprivi has much more in common with Botswana, particularly the vast wetlands of the Okavango Delta; and a quick glance at a map will show you that its connection to the rest of Namibia is rather tenuous, geographically-speaking.

The wildlife in the Caprivi Strip is richer than in other regions of Namibia. A number of relatively small and compact game reserves and parks have been set up within the region, including Bwabwata, Mudumu and Mamili National Parks, and Caprivi and Mahango Game Reserves. Birdlife is prolific, with Mamili in particular renowned for its excellent birding.

Katima Mulilo, situated right on the Zambezi River, is a lively town with a street market towards its centre, and the most densely populated settlement in the region.

In and around Caprivi, Namibia
For most visitors, the Caprivi Strip is a way to access the Victoria Falls, Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta in neighbouring Zambia and Botswana – it’s generally only visited as part of a combined Namibia-Botswana-Zambia safari. That said, many of the reserves and parks in the region are impressive and certainly worth a visit in their own right, even if their attractions are comparable to those of neighbouring Botswana's more popular game parks.