National Parks

Proclaimed in 1989 as Khaudum Game Park. Regazetted in 2008 as Khaudum National Park.

Khaudum National Park is a true African wilderness. The park, situated in north-eastern Namibia bordering Botswana, has less than 3,000 visitors annually and there are only a few tracks through the deep Kalahari sand. More elephants than people frequent the park. It is a refuge for African wild dog and roan antelope. Lion, cheetah and leopard are also found here.

The park is unfenced except along the Botswana border, so game is able to move into neighbouring conservancies. Park staff co-operate with the conservancies in the joint management of the wildlife that moves between the park and neighbouring land. The Park is home to large herds of elephants, the African wild dog, Africa’s most endangered large predator, rare sable antelope, and over 320 species of birds.

Location: Kavango East, on the border to Botswana

Natural features: Kalahari sandveld with omurambas (fossil drainage lines) which act as ideal routes for wildlife.

Vegetation: Tree and Shrub Savannah Biome. Dominant trees include leadwood (Combretum imberbe), evergreen false mopane (Guibourtia coleosperma), various acacia species including camel-thorn trees (Acacia erioloba), Zambezi teak (Baikiaea plurijuga), tamboti (Spirostachys africana) and baobab (Adansonia digitata).

Wildlife: Elephant, roan antelope, giraffe, eland, tsessebe, reedbuck, lion, African wild dog, leopard, spotted hyaena, ostrich, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, kudu, gemsbok, warthog, side-striped jackal and various other smaller species. A total of 320 bird species have been recorded, including ground hornbill, African hobby falcon, racket-tailed roller and Bradfield’s hornbill. Summer visitors are Abdim’s stork, yellow-billed kite, steppe and lesser spotted eagles, and African golden oriole.

Tourism: Game viewing, bird-watching. New camps and a lodge under construction. There are 12 artificial watering holes and two natural fountains, and several game-viewing hides. The MET recommends at least two 4x4 vehicles per party, at least three days’ worth of food rations per person and 100 litres of water per vehicle.