Bwabwata National Park- Namibian National Park
Positioned in Northeastern region, Bwabwata National park is a Namibian protected area that was established in 2007. Sitting on an area of 6,274 square kilometers, the park was created by merging Caprivi Game Park and Mahango game reserve. Bwabwata National park is situated in the Zambezi and Kavango East regions extending along the Caprivi Strip.
Bwabwata National Park
Caprivi Strip
This is one of the major safari destinations in Namibia and it encloses different reserves and parks for various activities like game viewing and birding by both land and boat. The strip also consists of five mighty rivers that flow through it including the Kwando River, Linyanti River, Okavango River, Chobe and Zambezi rivers. Caprivi Strip is a destination for a variety of wildlife including the four of the big five animals – Elephants, lions, buffalos and hippos. Other animals in the park are crocodile, leopards, wild dog, giraffe, roan, sable, sitatunga, reedbuck, waterbuck and others.
Best time to visit Bwabwata National park
Bwabwata National Park can be visited all year round. But for the best game viewing experience, dry season which June to September is the better. This is son because a number of animals congregate around the water sources so as they could quench their thirst due to lack of rain.
Dry Season situation in Bwabwata National Park
Safari activities in Bwabwata National park
While at a safari in Bwabwata National park, a visitor can take part in a number of activities that will surely make the safari experience more memorable and interesting. Among these activities include bird watching, game driving, sport fishing. Safari walks and others.
Game drive
Enjoy a guided game drive with a skilled park ranger through the trails of the park. During the activity, sight different wildlife including big herds of elephants, lions, buffalos, leopards, crocodiles, wild dogs, lots of antelope species and thousands of bird species. The routes in the park can only be accessed by 4×4 cars only due to their remoteness.
Nature walks
Take part in the safari walks by the lead of professional guides. These walks in the park are a great opportunity to spot different bird species, tree species and some animal species in the park.
Bird watching
Bwabwata National Park is surely a birder’s paradise with a thousand of bird species more especially at Mahango area and Kavango River in the western region. Among the recorded bird species in the park include slaty egret, wattled crane, black winged pratincole, coppery tailed coucal, Rufous bellied heron, black faced babbler, barred owlet, wood owl, cisticolas, warblers, white backed night heron, African pygmy goose, African skimmer, southern ground hornbill, collared palm thrush, Allen’s gallinule and others.
Sport fishing
Bwabwata National Park encompasses the best fishing sports in the country of Namibia. Among these include Okavango River that enters Caprivi Strip in the west and then flows out into Okavango Delta and the Kwando river cuts through the heart thus becoming Linyanti wetlands.
How to access Bwabwata National Park in Namibia
Bwabwata National Park is located about 900km from Windhoek on the Trans Caprivi highway. The park is mostly visited by the independently on self-drive tourists and the 4×4 cars are the best for the journey to this park.
Kutako International Airport
Also, the park can be accessed by air transport by using charter flights from Hosea Kutako International Airport.
Where to stay while at the park
There are varieties of accommodation facilities where one can retire from while on a safari in Bwabwata National park. These accommodations range from budget, midrange and luxury rates and among them include Divava Okavangu lodge and spa, Rainbow River lodge, Shametu River Lodge and campsite, Mahangu safari lodge, Ndhovu safari lodge, Popa falls resort and others.
Divava Okavangu lodge
