Zambezi Region, Namibia

Far removed from Namibia’s famous deserts, the Zambezi Region is a landscape of winding rivers, lush floodplains, riverine forests and broad woodlands. Wedged between Botswana, Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe, this narrow strip of north-eastern Namibia was formerly known as the Caprivi Strip. Today, it offers a completely different side of Namibia, where permanent water shapes both the landscape and the wildlife.

Part of the KAZA Wildlife Corridor

The Zambezi Region forms part of the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA), one of the world’s largest interconnected conservation landscapes. Spanning five countries, this remarkable wildlife corridor links Namibia with Botswana, Zambia, Angola and Zimbabwe, allowing elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, African wild dog and countless other species to move freely across international borders. Rather than existing as isolated reserves, the region’s protected areas function as one vast ecosystem, supporting healthy wildlife populations and preserving ancient migration routes that have shaped this landscape for thousands of years.

Home to Nkasa Rupara National Park

At the heart of the region lies Nkasa Rupara National Park, Namibia’s largest formally protected wetland. Covering around 320 km², this remarkable landscape of seasonal floodplains, reed beds, lagoons and islands supports an extraordinary diversity of wildlife. Separated from Botswana’s renowned Linyanti region by the Linyanti River, the park forms part of the same interconnected ecosystem, with wildlife moving freely between the two countries. Despite its relatively modest size, only a handful of safari lodges operate within the park, creating one of southern Africa’s quietest and most exclusive safari destinations.

Exploring the Zambezi Region

The Zambezi Region is particularly rewarding to explore by self-drive. Generally good roads, light traffic and ever-changing scenery make it easy to discover at your own pace, whether following the Kwando River, exploring the region’s national parks or travelling between its small collection of safari lodges. Many visitors include the region as part of a one-way journey across Namibia, with Katima Mulilo Airport offering regular flights to Windhoek, making fly-drive itineraries straightforward.

For travellers seeking a more traditional safari experience, a small collection of luxury lodges offers expertly guided game viewing and water-based activities, with convenient road transfers available from both Katima Mulilo and Kasane in neighbouring Botswana. Depending on water levels and location, activities may include game drives, boat cruises, seasonal mokoro excursions, fishing (where permitted) and guided walks, creating a safari experience unlike anywhere else in Namibia.

Looking to the Future

The Zambezi Region is also becoming the natural gateway to south-eastern Angola. Across the border lies Luengue-Luiana National Park, a vast wilderness that forms part of the wider KAZA conservation landscape. Following decades of restoration and ambitious wildlife reintroductions, this little-visited region is emerging as one of Africa’s most exciting conservation success stories. While tourism remains in its infancy, the Zambezi Region is expected to play an increasingly important role in providing access to this remarkable new safari destination in the years ahead.

Combining abundant wildlife, permanent waterways and one of Africa’s most important cross-border conservation landscapes, the Zambezi Region offers a completely different perspective on Namibia. For travellers willing to venture beyond the country’s famous deserts, it is one of southern Africa’s most rewarding and least-visited safari destinations.