By Glory Moralidad
THE Caprivi Strip was once off-limits to tourists, due to the liberation struggle border war, but it has now become a wildlife wonderland.
The area is rich in wildlife and can become a potential ecotourism destination.
The region’s fauna has been dominantly exotic, and often endangered, like the African wild dog, hippos and leopards, which sprawl in the vicinity.
Safari camps are often unfenced, according to CNN News, letting travellers see the animals roaming freely in their habitat.
Linda Smit, the manager at Nambwa Tented Lodge on the Kwando River in the Bwabwata National Park, told the news site, “We have a resident hippo we call Oliver, who comes out of the water at night, and often sits in front of the staff tents; and a female leopard who likes to hang out around the swimming pool.”
Moreover, the Caprivi Strip serves as navigable waterways and a route to a 700-strong elephant herd, coming from Botswana to Angola and Zimbabwe.
Three national parks can be found in the region – Bwabwata, Mudumu and Nkasa Rupara – which in their own right, are natural tourist attractions.
The Telegraph reports that the local communities around the Caprivi Strip have joined the government in preserving the region and managing its natural resources. Namibia, indeed, takes conservation seriously.
Wildlife was scarce during the liberation struggle, due to the hunting and killing of animals.
The animals migrated to the neighbouring countries back then, but they have now returned in their droves, after the war.
For travellers, there are safari camps and various other accommodation types, where they can view the animals in their natural environment.
-Travellers Today