Khaudum National Park - Kavango Region, Namibia

A game reserve since 1989 and a national park since 2007, Khaudum National Park represents the unexplored and with an area covering over 384 000 hectares that is a whole lot of unexplored.

Khaudum is tucked away in the top east corner of Namibia in the Kavango Region, one of the greenest regions in Namibia. The region is different from the other Namibian regions because of the Okavango River and its wide flood plains which are covered in fertile soil. The park is probably one of the wildest parks you are likely to visit and was originally established to conserve the primeval existence of the San people, who have inhabited the Kalahari for thousands of years. Khaudum National Park has since become an open-fenced wildlife refuge for the endangered African wild dog and the wary leopard as well as antelope, huge herds of elephant, zebras, lions, and over 320 different bird species.

Khaudum operates an open-park system, which goes some way to explaining why game numbers vary considerably. Only the border with Botswana and a 55km section of the western border of the park are fenced; this enables animals to follow their natural hereditary migration routes to and from the water-rich Kavango River and floodplains. This natural migratory behaviour is what leads Botswana's elephants, in their hundreds, to the permanent waterholes fed by Khaudum's omiramba, ancient riverbeds.

There are two tourist camps that only have basic facilities in the park, Sikeretti in the south and Khaudum Camp in the north. The nearest places for supplies are in Frontiersmen or Rundu and no fresh produce is available within Khaudum or its surrounding villages. There are 2 access points to the park. From the north it's from the Katere road and from the south entrance is via the Tsumkwe road. Drivers should note that all roads, including access roads, require 4X4 vehicles, mainly due to heavy, loose sand and the best time to visit it is during the dry winter months, June to October. The Namibian tourism board has stated that a minimum of two 4X4 wheel drive vehicles must be used per party, provisions for 3 days and 100 litres of water per vehicle, per day, must be taken with. There are also certain requirements set for 4X4 usage which has a lot to do with the fact that most of the driving is done on tracks that tend to follow omurambas (dry river beds) linking several waterholes together. There are 12 artificial waterholes and 2 natural fountains and they can all be reached by vehicle as 2 track roads interlink the park in its entirety. Most of the watering holes have hides, from which game can be viewed safely.

Khaudum is not one of those nature reserves that you pop out to during your lunch break to relax before heading into you 13:00 meeting, its real untamed Africa at its best! It's 4X4 country, it's rough and it cries out to those who want adventure, who want to get back to basics and enjoy nature without all the bells and whistles. If that is you, there is a piece of the Kavango Region with your name on it!

(Remember that the Kavango region is a malaria area, and travellers must consult with their doctors on malaria precautions before entering the area.)