Zambezi Region (Caprivi Strip)

The Caprivi Strip offers a watery contrast to the rest of arid Namibia with a number of river-based game lodges.

Overview

The Zambezi region (also commonly called the Caprivi Strip) is Namibia’s outstretched arm reaching towards the great rivers of the Chobe, Linyanti and Zambezi. It ends at the only spot on the planet where four countries meet, (Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana), close to the Victoria Falls. This lush green riverine landscape offers a watery contrast to the rest of arid Namibia.

The Caprivi Strip lies in the far northeast of Namibia. It has Victoria Falls to the east and the Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta to the south. So it’s an ideal link between Namibia and both Victoria Falls and the Chobe area.

Historically the Caprivi Strip has not been an easy destinations to reach! However this is all changing with the new Fly Namibia flight from Windhoek to Katima Mulilo. But it’s still ideal for second time visitors.

By far the best way to visit is to self-drive.  But you need to have enough time: at least 4-5 nights and ideally 6-8 nights. You travel via the Mahango National Park (now the Bwabwata National Park) all the way to Katima Mulilo, by mostly tarred road. En route you can visit the Mahango Core park, the Popa Falls, the Kwando area with its rich wildlife, and perhaps even take a detour down to the Nkasa Lupala National Park which shares its the riverine wildlife with the Linyanti swamps of northern Botswana. Finally as you pass Katima Mulilo, you can enjoy peaceful birding and fishing along the Zambezi River.

Caprivi Strip

Access into Botswana and Victoria Falls

You can end your self-drive at Katima Mulilo or you can fly in and out of Katima if you just want to experience 2-3 nights in the area.

But from Katima, it is easy to take a road transfer across into Botswana to the Chobe area (1.5 to 2 hours) or even continue to Victoria Falls (Alllow 4 hours).

Caprivi Strip

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Features

Why you may love it

  • With almost 450 bird species, nearly 70% of the total number of species in Namibia, are found in this birders paradise
  • Over a quarter of this regions birds don’t occur anywhere else in the country
  • Namibia’s only hippopotamus are found in the Caprivi

When to visit Zambezi Region (Caprivi Strip)

December to March

Summer Rainfall

This is the summer rainy season it is green and lush, and it’s a good time for birding and new born babies. Temperatures are high at 31C and humid, but drop after the late afternoon rains. It is slightly less rainy in March.
AVG RAINFALL 140mm
MAX TEMP 30 ℃ / 86 ℉
MIN TEMP 18 ℃ / 64 ℉

April to June

Shoulder Season

This is considered the shoulder season it’s the start of the dry season. The landscape is still green and lush but grasses start dying down. The sunsets are superb as the skies are clearer. The game-viewing is gets better as the dry season continues.
AVG RAINFALL 22mm
MAX TEMP 28.5 ℃ / 83 ℉
MIN TEMP 11 ℃ / 52 ℉

June to mid-Sep

Best time to travel

Traditionally this is considered the best time to visit as the dry season continues. The dense bush thins out and the animals flock to the rivers to drink, so they are easier to find. Daytime temperatures are 27-28C but the nights are quite cold (7C)
AVG RAINFALL 1mm
MAX TEMP 26 ℃ / 79 ℉
MIN TEMP 5 ℃ / 41 ℉

Mid-Sep to November

Heating up quickly

Temperatures heat up quickly in September and October prior to the start of the summer rains and it can get very hot by the afternoon. It is hot, hot, hot in October prior to the start of the summer rains. Expect at least 35C and sometimes more. So make sure you are comfortable with heat if you travel in October. Somewhere in November, the summer rains start taking the form of late afternoon showers.
AVG RAINFALL 48mm
MAX TEMP 33℃ / 91℉
MIN TEMP 18 ℃ / 64 ℉

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Gloria Darvall

Africa Travel Specialist

Hi I'm Gloria, I'm here to help you plan your ideal holiday experience
Did you know
  • NameAlso called the Okavango Strip
  • BorderForms the border between Namibia, Botswana & Zambia