Namibia • Caprivi • Zambezi Region
Caprivi Strip Safari Guide: Namibia's Zambezi Region
Most people picture Namibia as red dunes and endless desert. The Caprivi Strip is its surprising other side: a lush, green finger of land in the far northeast, laced with rivers and swamps, where elephants wade across channels and hippos grunt below your deck. Officially called the Zambezi Region since 2013, it is one of Southern Africa's most rewarding and least crowded safari areas. In this guide we show you the best parks and our favourite places to stay: the riverside lodges and camps of the Gondwana Collection on the Kwando, Zambezi and Chobe rivers.
The Caprivi at a glance
- Where: northeastern Namibia, bordering Angola, Zambia, Botswana and close to Zimbabwe
- Rivers: the Okavango, Kwando, Linyanti, Chobe and Zambezi
- Parks: Bwabwata, Mudumu and Nkasa Rupara
- Best for: elephants, boat safaris, birding, tiger fishing and fewer crowds
- Where to stay: Gondwana's Namushasha River Lodge, Zambezi Mubala Lodge and Chobe River Camp
- Best time: May to October for game viewing
- Ideal stay: 4 to 6 nights, split between two or three lodges
Why the Caprivi is so special
Five great rivers give the Caprivi a completely different character from the rest of Namibia. It sits at the heart of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA), a vast conservation area shared by five countries and home to one of the largest elephant populations on Earth. Herds move freely between Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Angola and Zimbabwe, and in the dry season they gather along the rivers in impressive numbers.
The best places to visit in the Caprivi Strip
West and central Caprivi
Bwabwata National Park
Bwabwata stretches across the strip from the Okavango River to the Kwando. In the west, the Mahango area is known for its floodplains, sable and roan antelope, and big baobabs. In the east, the Buffalo and Kwando areas offer riverside drives and boat trips among elephants and hippos. Local communities live within the park, making it a conservation success story.
Kwando River
Mudumu National Park
A quiet park on the Kwando River, with riverine forest, floodplains and lagoons. Look for elephants, buffalo, red lechwe, sitatunga and hippos. Mudumu is an easy self-drive excursion in a 4x4 from Namushasha River Lodge.
Namibia's wetland wilderness
Nkasa Rupara National Park
Often called Namibia's mini Okavango Delta, this remote wetland park is a maze of channels, reed beds and islands. It's wild, beautiful and best explored by 4x4 in the dry season. Read our Nkasa Rupara guide.
Where four countries meet
Impalila Island
At the Caprivi's eastern tip, Impalila Island sits where the Chobe and Zambezi rivers meet. Its lodges offer tiger fishing, birding and boat trips into the Chobe River's wildlife areas, and it's close to Kasane in Botswana.
Gateway town
Katima Mulilo
The regional capital, on the banks of the Zambezi. It's a useful stop for fuel and supplies on a self-drive.
Where to stay in the Caprivi: Gondwana's river lodges
The Gondwana Collection has three riverside properties in the Caprivi, each on a different river, so it's easy to build a journey that moves from one to the next.
Kwando River • near Kongola
Namushasha River Lodge
About 24 km south of Kongola, Namushasha's thatched chalets look over the Kwando River, opposite Bwabwata National Park. Guided game drives into Bwabwata, boat cruises on the Kwando, catch-and-release fishing and the Namushasha Heritage Centre, which shows traditional village life, fill your days. For more privacy, ask about the Namushasha River Villa. Self-drive travellers on a budget can choose Namushasha River Camping2Go or the campsite.
Zambezi River • east of Katima Mulilo
Zambezi Mubala Lodge and Camp
About 40 km east of Katima Mulilo, Zambezi Mubala sits right on the Zambezi, with river-facing bungalows, a pool and peaceful sunsets. Enjoy sunset and birding cruises, tiger fishing and, in season, a guided walk to a colony of carmine bee-eaters. Zambezi Mubala Camp and the campsite offer simpler options on the same river.
Chobe River • near the Ngoma border
Chobe River Camp
Just a few kilometres from the Ngoma border post, Chobe River Camp looks over the Chobe floodplains and was rebuilt with 20 new river-view rooms in 2024. It's the perfect base for a day trip into Botswana's Chobe National Park, with a boat cruise and game drive, as well as canoe trips and birding drives. Victoria Falls is about 150 km away.
On the way in • Okavango River
Hakusembe River Lodge
About 16 km west of Rundu, Gondwana's Hakusembe River Lodge on the Okavango River is the ideal first stop when driving from Etosha to the Caprivi, with sunset cruises, fishing and a nearby cultural village.
Top things to do in the Caprivi
- Sunset boat cruises on the Kwando from Namushasha, the Zambezi from Zambezi Mubala and the Chobe from Chobe River Camp
- Game drives in Bwabwata, Mudumu and Nkasa Rupara, and across the border in Chobe National Park
- Tiger fishing on the Kwando, Zambezi and Chobe, always catch and release
- Birding: over 400 species, including African skimmers, carmine bee-eaters and Pel's fishing owl. See our Chobe River Birding Guide.
- The Namushasha Heritage Centre, near Namushasha River Lodge, to learn about traditional life along the rivers
- Popa Falls, a set of rapids on the Okavango River at the western end of the strip
Best time to visit the Caprivi Strip
| Months | What to expect |
|---|---|
| May–July | Cool, dry and green-gold. Game viewing improves as water dries up. |
| August–October | Peak game viewing, with big elephant herds on the rivers. Hot by October. |
| November–April | The green season: superb birding and lush scenery, but hot and humid, with some roads and parks harder to reach. |
How to get to the Caprivi Strip
By road: a good tarred highway runs the length of the strip, making it ideal for a self-drive. Follow our Etosha to Caprivi and Victoria Falls self-drive route.
By air: fly into Katima Mulilo's Mpacha Airport and transfer to Zambezi Mubala Lodge, or fly to Kasane in Botswana, a short drive from Chobe River Camp.
From Victoria Falls: the Caprivi is easy to reach via Kasane, so it combines well with Chobe and the Falls.
Combine the Caprivi with…
- Etosha: start at Gondwana's Etosha Safari Lodge or Etosha King Nehale, then drive east for the ultimate desert-to-rivers contrast. See our Etosha National Park Travel Guide.
- Chobe and Victoria Falls: continue east into Botswana and Zimbabwe. See our Chobe Safari Day Trip from Victoria Falls.
- The Linyanti and Okavango Delta: just across the river in Botswana. See our Linyanti Wildlife Reserve Guide.
Practical tips
- Malaria: the Caprivi is a malaria area, so see a travel clinic before you go.
- Driving: the main road is tarred, but parks need a high-clearance 4x4. Watch out for elephants and livestock on the road, and avoid driving at night.
- Border crossings: if you plan to visit Botswana, Zambia or Zimbabwe, check visas and your car hire company's cross-border rules.
The boat drifts on the Kwando as the sky turns orange. An elephant family wades across the channel, trunks raised, and a fish eagle calls overhead. This is Namibia, too, and it might just be the part you love most.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Caprivi Strip?
The Caprivi Strip is in northeastern Namibia, between Angola and Zambia to the north and Botswana to the south. It has been officially called the Zambezi Region since 2013.
Is the Caprivi Strip worth visiting?
Yes. Its rivers, elephants, boat safaris and birdlife offer a lush contrast to the rest of Namibia, with far fewer visitors than many safari areas.
What is the best time to visit the Caprivi Strip?
May to October is the best time for game viewing, with August to October the peak for elephants on the rivers. November to April is best for birding.
Can you self-drive the Caprivi Strip?
Yes. A tarred highway runs through the region, but you need a high-clearance 4x4 for the national parks.
Can I combine the Caprivi with Chobe and Victoria Falls?
Yes. Gondwana's Chobe River Camp is just a few kilometres from the Ngoma border and a day trip from Chobe National Park, and Victoria Falls is about 150 km away.
Where should I stay in the Caprivi Strip?
Gondwana's Namushasha River Lodge on the Kwando, Zambezi Mubala Lodge on the Zambezi and Chobe River Camp on the Chobe are excellent bases. Staying at two or three of them lets you experience different rivers.
Plan your Caprivi adventure
Self-drive or guided, we'll book your Gondwana lodges, river activities and border crossings across the Caprivi.
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