Caprivi
The Caprivi is a narrow strip of land in the far northeast of Namibia, about 400 kilometres long. The German Kaiserreich exchanged the area - together with Helgoland - with the United Kingdom for Zanzibar in 1890. It was named after the German chancellor of the time, Graf von Caprivi, who signed the contract with the British.
The tarred Trans-Caprivi-Highway (B8) was built in 2001 to replace the corrugated dirt road through the Caprivi to the district capital of Katima Mulilo in the east, which was hardly passable during the rainy season. The Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and Zambia and the Chobe National Park in Botswana, both popular tourist destinations in the north, are now easily accessible.
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The Caprivi falls into the tropical climate zone receiving high rainfalls during the rainy season (December to March). This - together with high temperatures - often makes for sweltry conditions. Malaria prophylaxis is highly recommended for the Caprivi.
The Caprivi is the wettest region in Namibia, not only for the high precipitation, but for its mighty rivers, Okavango, Kwando and Zambesi. All of them have their sources in Angola and drain an enormous area. The Caprivi has a few smaller rivers as well, the Linyanti and the Chobe.
The abundance of water in the Caprivi region supports huge herds of game. Particularly huge is the number of elephants, although one doesn't always see them in the dense vegetation. The animals are protected in the reserves Bwabwata, Mudumu and Mamili. There is no fencing anywhere and the animals can roam freely, also into the neighboring countries Botswana and Zambia. Ideal for game safaris is the Chobe National Park south of the Caprivi in Botswana.
Travel Information and Accommodation
Photo: B8 Trans-Caprivi-Highway. Fully tarred and not much travelled. Over long stretches it goes just straight. |
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