Okavango sunset
Red water and dark trees.
Jedesto — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Roger Culos — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Marco Schmidt[1] — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Jedesto — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Marco Schmidt[1] — CC BY-SA 3.0
Bwabwata National Park is a reserve in northeast Namibia covering 6,274 square kilometres along the Caprivi Strip, between the Okavango River in the west and the Kwando River in the east. Angola lies to the north and Botswana to the south, and it is an important migration route for elephants and other game. The area was first proclaimed a nature park in 1963. In 2007 the Caprivi park, the Mahango reserve and an area along the Kwando were joined into one park. Unusually, about 5,500 people live inside it, and the government involves them in planning and management. It runs 190 km from west to east and 40 km from north to south, and it is largely unfenced. The main highway between Rundu and Katima Mulilo crosses it, with the settlements of Divundu and Kongola at either end. In the river areas you can see hippos, elephants, buffalo and lechwe among green floodplains, open woodland and low dunes. Sunsets bring red water and dark trees, and many birds live along the rivers. The park lies about 203.6 km from Rundu in a straight line, close to several borders. Some side tracks are sandy and need a four-wheel drive, so ask at park offices before entering them. Elephants may cross the highway at any time, so slow down and avoid driving at night. Do not leave your vehicle near animals, and take malaria precautions after asking a doctor.
Red water and dark trees.
Herds among green grass.
Animals along the riverbanks.
Zambezi and Kavango East regions, northeast Namibia
For the sandy side tracks yes, though the highway is paved.
Yes, about 5,500, and the government involves them in managing it.