CAPRIVI GAME RESERVE
NAMIBIA
LOCALE
| Area (SqKm): | 5,715 |
| # Species: | 464 |
| # Excl Vagrants: | 464 |
| # Endemics: | 0 |
| # Near Endemics: | 0 |
| Species/100 SqKm: | 8.1 |
| Habitat: Swamps, floodplain, woodland | |
ABOUT THE BIRDING
Caprivi Game Reserve is now encompassed in the newly established Bwabwata National Park, which covers and protects a substantial portion of the Caprivi Strip in northeast Namibia between Angola and Botswana. It's basically an extension of the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana. During the 1980's the reserve was used as a military training ground during the independence struggle with South Africa, and during much of the 1990's it was used as a private hunting reserve for the president of Namibia. It has since been set aside as part of the national park and game populations have been recovering since then. The main highway traverses the length of the park, but the park is otherwise still unspoiled wilderness. The park is very tropical, with heavy rainfall during rainy season from December-March. The habitat is mostly swamps, floodplain, wetland, Mopane woodland, and riverine woodland. The park is a popular game-viewing destination during dry season. It features substantial herds of elephant, zebra, wildebeest, cape buffalo, antelope, lion, cheetah, leopard, and spotted hyena. Over 430 bird species have been recorded in the park. Birding is best during rainy season when the weather is least pleasant.
LOCATION OF SITE
Caprivi Game Reserve is encompassed by the newly created Bwabwata National Park is located in a narrow extension of northeast Namibia sandwiched between Angola and Botswana. The park can be reached from Etosha National Park via Rundu or from Zambia via Katima-Mulilo. The distance from Rundu to Katima-Mulilo is 542 km, with the game reserve covering about 180 km of this distance along the main highway.