Kavango
Kavango is a region in northern Namibia.
Cities
Other destinations
- 1 Bwabwata National Park, a national park in the Okavango Panhandle, the remote east of the region, extending into the Caprivi
- 2 Khaudum National Park, a national park in the remote southeast of the region, at the border to Botswana
Understand
Kavango borders to with Angola in the north and Botswana in the southeast, and to the Namibian regions of Otjozondjupa in the southwest, Four-O region in the west, and Caprivi in the east. Administratively it is divided into Kavango East (capital Rundu), and Kavango West (capital Nkurenkuru).
The Kavango is a sparsely populated area. The banks of the Okavango River, however, are lined by villages throughout.
Talk
Native peoples of the Kavango are the Mbukushu, Mbunzu, Sambuyu, Gciriku and Uukwangali. They speak ThiMbukushu, RuKwangali and RuGciriku. English is widely understood, particularly among the younger people.
Get in
Due to the scarcity of other options, most travellers will arrive by car, either from Botswana or from the capital Windhoek. The only highway in the region is the Trans-Caprivi Highway (B8) from Grootfontein to Rundu and Katima Mulilo.
There is no railway infrastructure in Kavango. Many settlements have small airstrips but there are no major airports in the region, and therefore no scheduled flights.
By public transport
Between towns you can catch a minibus. Rundu and Divundu are on the route of the big coaches that travel between Windhoek and Lusaka.
Get around
The B8 highway is tarred and in very good condition, as is the section of the C45 that is west of Mpungu. All other C-roads are gravel roads and in fair condition, easily passable with an ordinary sedan. Other roads (D-roads and those without letters or numbers) tend to be rough, sandy, heavily corrugated, and will further deteriorate after rainfall. Khaudum National Park is very remote and very inaccessible, without any car infrastructure but all the more deep sand. You will need two vehicles in case one breaks down, and they need to be serious all-terrain cars, not just SUVs with four-wheel drive.
See
- 3 Popa Falls on the Cubango River
Do
Sleep
Kavango is touristically not well developed. There is accommodation in all towns and villages, but the smaller the place the more basic the facilities.
Eat
Buy
Drink
Stay safe
The Kavango is a Malaria risk zone. Take the necessary precautions.
Go next
Kavango shares a border with Angola in the north and Botswana in the southeast. Domestically, the following regions of Namibia border with Kavango:
- Otjozondjupa region in the southwest
- Four-O region region in the west
- Caprivi region in the east