Bwabwata National Park

Bwabwata runs along the strip of Namibia between Angola and Botswana, and it is managed differently from the country's other parks: around 5,500 people live inside it and are part of its management, with core wildlife areas set aside around them. It sits on a major elephant corridor between Botswana, Angola and Zambia and herds move through in numbers. The Kwando and Kavango rivers bound it and the core areas at Mahango and Buffalo hold the densest wildlife.

History

The area was first proclaimed the Caprivi Nature Park in 1963, became a game reserve in 1966 and the Caprivi Game Park in 1968, and in 2007 it was merged with the Mahango Game Park to form Bwabwata, covering 6,274 square kilometres, with its residents involved in running it (Wikipedia, Bwabwata National Park).

What's there

• The Mahango core area - riverfront floodplain with elephant, buffalo and sable.
• The elephant corridor - herds moving between Botswana, Angola and Zambia.
• The Kwando river - the eastern boundary with lagoons and floodplain.
• The resident communities - people living inside the park as part of its management.

When to go

June to October is the dry season and best for wildlife on the rivers. The rains from December to March disperse animals and make interior tracks difficult. The floodplain is highest around April.

Practical notes

Wildlife is concentrated in the core areas; the transit strip along the main road holds little. Interior tracks need a four-wheel drive and are sandy. Elephants on the main road are a genuine hazard after dark.

Nearby

Popa Falls is west, and the Zambezi region runs east.

Key facts