Sample journey · 8–10 days
Green Namibia: the rivers and floodplains of the Zambezi Region
The Chobe, Nkasa Rupara, the Kwando & the Okavango
Photo: m_oros / Unsplash
Illustrative journey ideas — not bookable packages. No prices, dates or accommodation are implied.
Other Namibian journeys cross dunes, rock and salt pans. This one is the complete opposite. In a narrow strip of land in the north-east, between Angola, Zambia and Botswana, four rivers flow, the Zambezi, the Chobe, the Kwando and the Okavango, and the landscape is green: floodplains, papyrus channels, riverine forest and lagoons where hippos are a common sight. This part of Namibia is quiet, its parks see few visitors, and much of the wildlife is best watched from a boat.
The journey begins in Kasane in Botswana, crosses to Namibia's bank of the Chobe, then travels west: to the wetland park of Nkasa Rupara, to the Kwando river, and on to Mahango and the Popa Falls on the Okavango. Almost every stop has two or three nights in a lodge on the riverbank, with boat trips morning and evening and days to rest on a terrace above the water. It suits couples and experienced travellers who have seen a classic safari and want a quieter, watery version of it.
The route
The journey
- Kasane (Botswana)
- The Chobe river from the Namibian bank
- Katima Mulilo
- Nkasa Rupara National Park
- The Kwando river & Bwabwata
- Mahango
- Divundu & the Popa Falls
- Out via Maun or Kasane
01Days 1–4 · Kasane & the Chobe river
The river from the other bank
A flight to Kasane and a short transfer, by boat or by road across the border, to Namibia's bank of the Chobe. Three nights in a riverside lodge, with floodplain meadows and islands stretching away below the terrace. On the far bank lies Chobe National Park, whose elephants often come down in herds to drink and bathe in the dry season, while hippos and crocodiles live in the river. Mornings and evenings are spent on the water: from a boat you can watch animals up close and quietly, away from the dust and engines of the roads. On a free day, fishing or a village walk with a local guide, and in the evenings sunset over the river as the birds fly in to roost in the reeds.
02Days 4–6 · Nkasa Rupara
Namibia's own Okavango
Through Katima Mulilo, the regional centre on the Zambezi, it's around four or five hours south-west to Nkasa Rupara National Park. It's Namibia's largest protected wetland, sometimes called a little Okavango: islands of reed and papyrus, flooded meadows, channels and lagoons. Two nights in a lodge on the edge of the park. The marshes are home to lechwe and sitatunga, buffalo herds, elephants and hippos are often seen, and there are so many birds that a whole morning for them alone is well spent. When the water is high, some park tracks become impassable, and game drives give way to boats or dugout-style canoes. Everything depends on the water level, so we set the exact plan only once we know how that year's flood looks.
03Days 6–8 · The Kwando river & Bwabwata
The horseshoe bend
About two hours north lies the Kwando river near Kongola. Two nights in a lodge on the bank, within easy reach of the eastern part of Bwabwata National Park. The key place is a bend in the river known as the Horseshoe: in the dry season elephants often come down to it, and sable and roan antelope sometimes appear in the riverine woodland. Mornings bring a guided drive in the park; afternoons, a boat through the Kwando channels or a walk with a guide who talks about trees and tracks. Bwabwata is also home to Khwe communities whose land is part of the park; any visit is made only with local guides and on their terms. Evenings mean a fire by the river and no shortage of night sounds.
04Days 8–9 · Mahango
Floodplains on the Okavango
About three hours west on the Trans-Caprivi road through the woodlands of Bwabwata to the Okavango river at Divundu. Two nights in a lodge on the bank, where the river is still broad and quick before it reaches the delta in Botswana. Nearby is Mahango, a small part of Bwabwata where green floodplains meet baobabs and woodland. Buffalo, elephants, lechwe and roan antelope are often seen, with hippos and crocodiles at the water. You can drive it yourself, but you'll see more with a guide. In the morning it's worth stopping at a great baobab; in the evening, a boat on the Okavango, where birdwatchers often go looking for Pel's fishing owl, though it's rarely seen.
05Days 9–10 · The Popa Falls & the way out
The Okavango over a stairway of rock
The last morning brings the Popa Falls, near Divundu. It isn't a tall waterfall but a broad run of rapids, where the Okavango drops a few metres over a stairway of rock between islets and trees. Paths and small bridges lead right down to the water, and the morning light here is especially soft. Then the journey out. From Divundu there are several ways: through the Mohembo border post into Botswana and on to Maun, convenient for onward flights or an extension in the Okavango Delta; back to Kasane; or to Rundu. Which one we choose depends on the flights available at the time and your onward plans.
Experience highlights
- 01
The Chobe by boat
Elephants, hippos and birds up close, from the quiet Namibian bank.
- 02
The Nkasa Rupara wetlands
Namibia's largest protected wetland, with lechwe, sitatunga and a wealth of birds.
- 03
The Kwando Horseshoe
A river bend where elephants often come down in the dry season.
- 04
Mahango and the Okavango
Green floodplains, baobabs and an evening boat near the Popa Falls.
First, we listen. Then, we explore what's possible.
Make it your own
With Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls is about an hour from Kasane, so the journey begins naturally with two nights at the falls.
With the Okavango Delta
Leaving through Maun, the journey can continue with a few nights in the Okavango Delta, reached by light aircraft.
Self-drive or guided
Experienced drivers can do the journey in their own 4×4, while those who'd rather simply rest and watch can travel with a private guide and driver.
For birdwatchers
Roughly November to March the migrants arrive, and Nkasa Rupara and Mahango become some of the richest birding in the country.
Practical considerations
- Wildlife viewing is best in the dry season, roughly June to October, when animals gather at the rivers. The timing and height of the floods vary every year, so some Nkasa Rupara tracks are impassable in certain months; October and November are often very hot.
- The journey crosses the border between Botswana and Namibia, and the exit may be through another border post; we check requirements and border-post hours before you travel.
- Flights to Kasane, Maun and Rundu don't run every day and schedules change, so arrival and departure need to be matched with international connections well in advance.
- This is a malaria area; it's worth talking to your doctor about precautions in good time. We check current travel advice before you travel.
General guidance only. Seasons, weather and wildlife are never guaranteed, and travel requirements are always worth checking before you go.
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