MUDUMU NATIONAL PARK

Along the Kwando River in the Caprivi Namibia.

Mudumu National Park was proclaimed in 1990. It lies on the eastern bank of the Kwando River and is reached via the D3511 (MR125/C49) turn-off at Kongola.

The Kwando River breaks up into a maze of channels as it flows towards Lynyanti. The Mundumu National Park section is characterised by a riverine forest and extensive floodplains of Papyrus swamps. East of the river the vegetation is a combination of grassland and dense stands of mixed Teak, Terminalia, Combretun, Burkea, Arcacia and Mopane.

Naturally this diverse habitat is ideal for birds and the count stands at over 400 species with specials such as Wattled Crane, Slaty Egret, Swamp Boubou, Great Reed-Warbler, Greater Swamp-Warbler, Chriping and Luapula Cisticola, Hartlaub’s Babbler, Rufous-bellied Heron, Coppery-tailed and Sendgal Coucal, Allen’s Gallinule and African Purple Swamphen..

There are large herds of buffalo, good numbers of elephant, antelope such as the shy swamp-loving sitatunga and red lechwe, waterbuck, roan, oribi and impala. Other animals include giraffe, zebra, warthog and boboon. Both species of otter, rock and water monitor as well as the predators’ lion, leopard, hyaena and occasionally African wild dog. Crocodile are fairly abundant and this part of the Caprivi is famous for its hippo population.

This is 4x4 terrain as conditions are sandy when dry and muddy when wet. There is one campsite at the Nakatwa Nature Conservation Camp and campers should carry food, water and fuel. A variety of accommodation options exist on the east bank of the Kwando River between Kongola and Mudumu National Park.

Weather Facts: Rainfall begins to increase towards the east and this area can receive up to 700mm annually with the peak in January/February. Flooding can be extensive in this park although it is drier in Mudumu than it is further south in Mamili.