Caprivi

Every rule has its exception, and the Caprivi Strip is the exception for the otherwise desert landscapes of the rest of Namibia.  Here there is plenty of water all year round, and if you would like to see buffalo and hippopotamus in Namibia - this is the place. Caprivi is only 40-80km wide, but winds east for nearly 500km between Angola, Zambia and Botswana, reaching as far as Zimbabwe near the Victoria Falls. The River Okavango runs along the border with Angola before crossing the Caprivi and continuing into Botswana and the Okavango delta.

Further to the east it crosses the River Chobe, which then marks the border with Botswana, while the River Zambezi acts as the border with Zambia and Zimbabwe. Even though there are no national parks or good infrastructure here, the animal life is both rich and varied, and is similar to the fantastic districts of Chobe and Linyati in the neighbouring country of Botswana. The best way to see the area is stay on small, exclusive and very comfortable hotel-ships, which provide a really wonderful way of experiencing the wildlife in this area dominated by rivers. The rivers also act like a magnet for birds and big game animals, and you can enjoy it all in peace and quiet from the ships deck, or your cabin with its big panoramic windows. As mentioned earlier you can see both buffalo and hippos here, and there are many of them, but it is also quite usual to also see elephants, various species of antelope and crocodiles. With a little luck you might pass close by some predators coming down to the river to drink, or see an elephant crossing deep water, with only its “snorkel” visible above the water’s surface. This region is far from Namibia’s capital city, Windhoek, and is more easily reached from Livingstone in Zambia, Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe or Kasane in Botswana.

Highlights:

• Comfortable river safaris, allowing you to experience the wildlife from the ship’s deck or your own cabin.
• River banks with many elephants, buffalo, hippopotamus, crocodiles and birds

High season: June to October