Mavinga National Park

Mavinga covers around forty-six thousand square kilometres of miombo woodland, sandy grassland and river valleys in southeastern Angola, making it one of the largest protected areas in Africa by size if not by management. The rivers rising here feed the Okavango Delta hundreds of kilometres downstream, which is why the park matters beyond its borders. Wildlife was heavily depleted and is recovering slowly; surveys have recorded antelope, elephant moving through, and a rich bird list.

What you actually see

• The Okavango headwaters - rivers rising here that feed the delta downstream.
• The miombo woodland - broadleaf woodland across most of the park.
• The sand rivers - dry valleys and channels crossing the sandy country.
• The scale - around forty-six thousand square kilometres with almost no development.

When to go

June to October is the dry season and the only period the tracks are usable. The rains from November to April cut access entirely. Water sources concentrate what wildlife there is late in the dry season.

Honest expectations

Wildlife is scarce and this is a wilderness rather than a game park. There is no infrastructure of any kind and no help available if a vehicle fails. Access is arranged with operators who know which tracks are cleared and usable, and self-driving without that knowledge is not viable.

Nearby

Luengue-Luiana is east, and Menongue is northwest.