The rivers of Namibia

Namibia is one of the most mysterious states of the African continent. At the mere mention of this amazing country in the imagination, pictures of an arid desert, tall sand dunes and shimmering mirages are drawn. Despite the fact that this region looks absolutely lifeless and inhospitable, to the surprise of many tourists, even on its territory there are several full-flowing rivers. Let's talk about them in more detail.

The largest rivers of Namibia

Looking at the map of Namibia, you can find that this country is actually rich in water, only a large part of it, unfortunately, dries up during the dry season. Some of them soon (in the rainy season) again turns into boiling river streams rushing along the deserted coasts, and only the smallest ones are never destined to reborn. As for the large rivers, whose length exceeds 1000 km, there are only 3 of them in Namibia.

The orange river (Orange River)

The most important river of South Africa and one of the longest on the whole continent. It originates in the Kingdom of Lesotho , less than 200 km from the Indian Ocean, and flows westward towards the Atlantic Ocean about 2000 km. Geographically, the Orange River crosses one of the regions of the Republic of South Africa , after which it determines the southern limit of the Kalahari and divides the southern Namib in half before falling into the Atlantic near one of the cities of South Africa (Alexander Bay).

The orange river in Namibia is a relatively quiet and calm pond, and its valley is almost untouched by tourism, which makes this place even more attractive for lovers of wildlife and pristine beauty. Thus, the wetlands of the river have become a real home for more than 60 species of birds (14 of them are on the verge of extinction) and 40 species of mammals, which allows travelers to become more familiar with local flora and fauna. In addition, canoe tours and rafting are very popular. To worry about the overnight stay is not necessary: ​​along the whole stream on both banks there are small houses where local residents will happily allow to stop (if necessary) the tired traveler.

Okavango River

The fourth largest river in southern Africa and one of the largest reservoirs of Namibia (length - 1700 km, width - up to 200 m, depth - 4 m). Its origins are located in Angola, where it is known as Rio Cubango. Flowing south along the border with Namibia, it forms a delta on the east side of which in 1963 one of the largest reserves of Botswana, Moremi Game Reserve (Moremi Game Reserve) was created. By the way, there are more than 150,000 islands of different sizes on the Okavango River: from small meters to huge islands that extend more than 10 km in length. Other features include a complete lack of access to the sea, because Okavango ends its movement, falling into a swamp in the Kalahari Desert.

The Okavango River is a complex food chain that supports a large ecosystem, including livestock and the peoples of Namibia and Botswana. In addition, it is famous for its rich flora and fauna, and some of the species are endemic to the region, making it an ideal tourist association. Travelers and locals come here every year to watch exotic birds and animals in their natural habitat. They also participate in recreational activities, such as game walks, photographic safaris and boating. In addition, Okavango is an excellent place for fishing, as it is inhabited by tiger fish, bream and many small fish-kapente.

Kunene River

Cunene, the third largest river in Namibia, is located in the northern part of the country and is one of its key attractions . Its length is about 1050 km, and on 1/3 of them (325 km) is the border of Namibia with Angola. The rapid flow of the river seems to create its own unique ecosystem, cutting a new life in the lunar landscape of the arid desert.

Cunene attracts the attention of tourists, primarily, a large number of all kinds of streams and waterfalls that flow into it. One of the most famous is the waterfall Epupa (about 190 km upstream from the mouth of the river), where travelers can do various water sports, such as rafting or canoeing. Not far from here, surrounded by centuries-old baobab trees, is an ancient gorge, you can look at it from a special viewing platform. And in 2 hours drive is the famous waterfall of Ruakana , whose height is more than 120 m! Amazing landscapes can be seen when a bubbling stream of falling water creates a snow-white foam that successfully contrasts with dark brown rocks.

"Route of four rivers"

Creating an unusual aquatic ecosystem that gives life to a rich wildlife, birds and local culture , the "Route of the Four Rivers" is named after the river systems that flow through the Zambezi and Kavango regions, namely the Zambezi, Okavango, Kwando and Chobe rivers. The unique world is one of the most interesting in South Africa. There are more than 430 species of birds inhabiting its entire territory, many rare plants grow, and dozens of culturally rich villages and famous sights are located.

This route extends from Nkurenkuru to the northeast through the Zambezi region (the former Caprivi strip) to one of the most spectacular sights of South Africa - Victoria Falls. Covering a huge territory, the whole way is conditionally divided into 3 parts (each is a separate tour): "Discover Kavango!", "Caprivi" and "Experience of four corners." Let's consider features of each of them:

  1. "Discover Kavango!" - a route stretching for 385 km, passes through the landscapes of the same river, past the nearest villages and their inhabitants. The road begins in the west, in the village of Nkurunkuru, and ends in Mohambo in the east. The beauty of this area was discovered by researchers in the late XIX century. and to this day delight tourists from all over the world. The road "Discover Cavango!" Offers a lot of entertainment, including visits to the villages of Nyangana and Andara peoples, the Mbunza (Rundu) museum, the Haudum and Mahango national parks, the Popa Falls waterfall, fishing and more. other
  2. "Caprivi" is another popular track for travelers that covers 430 km and runs along the most beautiful rivers of Namibia. The more accurate route name - "Paradise District of Caprivi" - accurately reflects the true essence of this place. During the trip you will be able to see Africa "from within" and visit several communities, where, at first glance, the foreigner's leg did not go before. In the park of Bwabvata, where the road starts, now more than 5000 people live, who created their association for joint management of the reserve with the Ministry of the Environment. Known in Namibia as a paradise for birds, this area has a rich flora: broad-leaved and acacia forests, river forests, floodplains, etc. Such a variety favorably affects the local fauna - only the feathered in Caprivi there are more than 400 species.
  3. "The experience of the four corners" - having traveled this route that stretches from the Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe / Zambia) through the Chobe National Park (Botswana) to the Ngoma Bridge (a border post between Namibia and Botswana), travelers will witness the mighty flow of the Zambezi and Chobe Rivers the place of their confluence. Also, any tourist who has a passion for wildlife, birds and fishing will have the opportunity to stay on the island of Impalila - an amazing piece of land that connects four countries: Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.