Rated: 63 / 100
Feel: 7 / 10
Wildlife knows no borders, a key maxim of the KAZA transfrontier conservation area. Slap bang in the middle of this is the area known as the Caprivi strip, and the Kwando core area of Bwabwata National Park.
The Kwando core area is a slice of the riverbank of the vital waterway known at various points along its course as the Cuando, Kwando, Linyanti and finally Chobe. Adjoining this area to the south are the feted concessions of Northern Botswana, therefore it must be just as good. Mustn’t it?
Wildlife and Environment
Scenery
Inhabiting the western bank of the Kwando river valley in the Caprivi Strip, the river that eventually becomes the famed Chobe river near Kasane in Botswana. Just over the border to the south of the reserve are some of the most premium safari areas in the whole of Southern Africa. Kwando should be a value pick, and it looks great. The Horseshoe is a particularly beautiful location and certainly worth a visit.
Variety of Game
Like adjoining areas there’s a good selection of herbivores and carnivores alike. Sitatunga are present in the wetlands in the river valley a bonus for aficionados, Puku are also present, the southernmost extremity of their range, which is a victory over Chobe or Moremi
Amount of Game
Elephants are most prolific, with hundreds inhabiting the Horseshoe from lunchtime onwards. This doesn’t leave too much room for anyone else. Away from the river it felt a little sparse.
Sightings
Sitatunga in the reeds opposite the Horseshoe was a special treat for us. Carnivores were in short supply, a single hyena visited our camp overnight, and we did see lion tracks in the mornings.
Wildlife & Environment Rating
23 / 40
Infrastructure
Access and Roads
The roads around Nambwa and the Horseshoe are some of the sandiest we’d encountered in Southern Africa. The distances aren’t huge, but taking the wrong track and getting stuck in the sand is a right of passage here, let’s hope you only do it the once.
Campsites
Nambwa campsite occupies a decent location near long lagoon, having moved away from the riverside in 2022. It’s only a few minutes drive from the horseshoe and is better located than many of the lodges. Private ablutions are clean and functional, but there are only four campsites, and campsites 3/4 aren’t very private.
Game Loops
There’s a good number of game loops along the riverside, although you will probably want to stay pretty close to the water. “Serengeti” and “Survival” are good, if weirdly named, loops away from the river and past seasonal waterholes. Aside from the horseshoe, which is crowded with game viewers, most loops are empty. Mind the sand around the horseshoe, it’s very deep in places.
Crowdedness
Given the limited number of campsites the park feels very empty. Some of the lodges across the river have game viewers which add a bit more traffic, but overall there’s plenty of space for all
Infrastructure Rating
26 / 40
Administration
Entry Price
Namibian parks are the best value of all, 250 NAD per day for the two of us plus car – less than £10. The park does need some improvement before it can be considered amongst the Southern African heavyweights, so the price is good.
Staff and Administration
Admin staff on the gate were good, campsite staff a little lacking. Campsite booking was managed by African Monarch Safaris, they were reliable and responsive when dealing with emails.
Administration Rating
14 / 20
“Feel”
Our subjective star rating not impartial at all.
Our sightings here were a let down, I have no doubt if we had spotted some wild dogs or lions we would be waxing lyrical, but we didn’t so we can’t. Truth be told we don’t know about the concentration of game around here. Around every corner the terrain felt very promising, yet interesting sightings evaded us. On self drive safaris you have to take the bad days as building up your reserve of luck, but overall it feels like we should have done better.
Overall Rating
| Wildlife & Environment | Infrastructure | Administration |
| 23 / 40 | 26 / 40 | 14 / 20 |
63 / 100
Small Holiday Big Dream 