North-eastern Namibia (Zambezi) · Stop 12
Caprivi Strip (Zambezi)
A 450 km tongue of land between Angola, Zambia and Botswana, where Namibia turns green: hippo rivers, forests, villages — another Africa, for long-haul travellers.
A colonial curiosity (Germany obtained it in 1890 hoping to link its colonies to the Zambezi), the Caprivi Strip — officially the Zambezi region — resembles nothing else in the country: floodplains, broadleaf forests, roadside villages and four major rivers: Okavango, Kwando, Chobe and Zambezi.
Getting around is easy: the tarred B8 crosses the whole strip from Rundu to Katima Mulilo. The parks (Bwabwata, Mudumu, Nkasa Rupara) work differently from Etosha: no fences, wildlife moving freely to and from neighbouring Botswana — elephants in numbers, hippos, crocodiles, marsh antelope, and exceptional birdlife.
It is an extension for itineraries of three weeks and more, or a route towards Victoria Falls and Chobe. A year-round malaria zone (preventive treatment to discuss with a doctor), humid heat in summer — a journey within the journey.
What to see and do
1.Bwabwata park and the Mahango
Between the Okavango and the Kwando, a park crossed by the B8 where elephants amble over the road. The Mahango sector near Divundu loops in half a day: hippos, buffalo, roan antelope and lechwe along the river.
2.Popa Falls and the Okavango
Near Divundu, the Okavango steps down a series of rapids between islets — not spectacular falls, but a lovely place to stay: sunset boat trips, fishing, birds in profusion.
3.Mudumu and Nkasa Rupara
Along the Kwando, two wild, confidential parks: sandy tracks, simple camps, elephants by the hundreds in the dry season. Nkasa Rupara, Namibia's mini-Okavango, partly floods in summer — enquire first, 4x4 essential.
4.Katima Mulilo and the Zambezi
The regional capital on the Zambezi, facing Zambia. Lively markets, riverside lodges, and a strategic position: Victoria Falls is about 200 km away via the Ngoma border post and Botswana, or through Zambia.
Where to stay
By category — the guide covers how to choose and when to book.
Riverside lodges
The region's trump card: lodges with their feet in the water on the Okavango, Kwando or Zambezi (€90-250), hippos as the night's soundtrack. Many offer boat trips and drives in the neighbouring parks.
Community and park campsites
Simple waterside camps, often community-run: pitches under great trees, basic ablutions. Leave no food out — elephants, hippos and monkeys visit the camps.
Relay stop at Rundu
At the strip's western entrance, Rundu serves as the stage town: fuel, supermarkets, guesthouses and campsites on the Okavango. It breaks the long road from Etosha (520 km from Namutoni).
Driving advice
- The B8 is tarred and fast, but cattle, donkeys, children and elephants cross constantly: 80 km/h in inhabited areas, and never drive at night — even less than elsewhere.
- In Bwabwata, elephants have absolute priority: stop far back, engine running, and let the herd cross without hooting.
- The park tracks (Mahango, Mudumu, Nkasa Rupara) are sandy: 4x4 engaged, tyres slightly deflated, and ask about conditions after rain.
- Fill up at Rundu, Divundu and Kongola: stations exist but supply outages happen — never count on the last one.
Distances to neighbouring stops
| To | Distance | Driving time | Road |
|---|---|---|---|
| Etosha (Namutoni) | 520 km | 6 h to Rundu | B1 via Tsumeb then B8, tar |
| Waterberg | 480 km | 5 h 30 from Rundu | B8 then B1 via Grootfontein, tar |
| Windhoek | 700 km | 8 h from Rundu | B8 then B1, tar — split over two days |
This stop in our itineraries
These stops link together in our three day-by-day circuits:
Our flagship guide — €29
Plan this trip without leaving anything to chance
The “Namibia on your own” guide covers this stop and everything else: renting the 4x4 without the insurance traps, 10/15/21-day itineraries day by day, the Etosha strategy, a full budget and checklists. Currently in French — English edition coming.
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Before you go
Readers' questions about Caprivi Strip (Zambezi)
Is the Caprivi Strip worth the detour?
If you have 21 days or more, or if you're continuing to Victoria Falls: yes, a thousand times. It's a fluvial, green Africa the rest of Namibia never shows. On 15 days, the 1,400 km round trip from Etosha rules it out — keep it for a second trip or a Chobe/Victoria Falls combination.
Do you need antimalarials?
The Caprivi Strip is a year-round malaria zone, unlike the country's centre and south. Preventive treatment is generally recommended, to be confirmed with your doctor or a travel clinic before departure. On site: repellent, long sleeves in the evening, a mosquito net.
Is the region safe?
Yes: the insecurity of 1999-2002 (linked to the Angolan civil war) is long closed, and the B8 is a normal tourist and trade artery. Precautions are those of all Namibia, plus wildlife vigilance: hippos and crocodiles make river swimming strictly unthinkable.
Can you reach Victoria Falls?
Yes — one of the strip's great attractions: from Katima Mulilo allow about 200 km either via Botswana (Ngoma post, crossing Chobe park) or via Zambia towards Livingstone. Check your rental vehicle's formalities (cross-border letter, insurance) when booking the 4x4.