Game Viewing

Mamili National Park

The 320 km2 Mamili National Park is Namibia’s version of the Okavango Delta Itwas proclaimed in 1990 and has the distinction of being the largest wetland area with conservation status in Namibia. A paradisiacal area of watery channels, reed islands and beautiful wetlands. It is situated in the eastern part of the Caprivi Strip and is home to elephant, lion, buffalo, giraffe, rare sitatunga and red lechwe, crocodile and hippo, puku and otters.

The park is characterised by a complex network of channels, reed bed., ox-bow lakes and tree-covered islands, with the focal point on Nkasa and Lupala, two large islands in the Kwando/Linyanti River. During the dry season the islands can be reached by road, but after the rains 80% of the area becomes flooded, cutting them off from the mainland. 

Vegetation is dominated by species accociated with floodplains and termitaria. Floodplains provide ideal protection for swamp and floodplain mammals such as the sitatunga and red lechwe, buffalo, wild dog and it is the last stronghold of the remnant population of Puka. Wattled cranes have been recorded breeding here.

The same bird and animals species occur in Mamili as in Mudumu National Park. For campers who like to rough it, Mamili offers basic campsites at Nzalu and Lyadura in the east and south east of the reserve. Please keep in mind, however, that there are no facilities whatsoever at these camp sites, so visitors have to be completely self-sufficient in terms of water, food, fuel, and so on. Entry permits for the park are obtainable at the MET office in Katima Mulio.

Remote, beautiful and utterly wild (only visitors with 4x4 can use the roads), this reserve is also a great birding spot with over 430 bird species recorded here. Mamili is only suitable for the hardiest guests and should only be tackled between September and April in 4x4 convoy fashion.