142,373
Population (2023 census)
14,785 km²
Area
3
National Parks
2013
Renamed from Caprivi Strip

Zambezi Region: History & Culture

Discover Zambezi Region

Zambezi Region was the Caprivi Strip, ceded to Germany by Britain in the 1890 Heligoland–Zanzibar Treaty to give German South West Africa access to the Zambezi River, and named after Chancellor Leo von Caprivi. It kept that name until August 2013, when Namibia renamed it Zambezi to shed a colonial administrator’s name from the map. Bordered by the Zambezi, Kwando, Linyanti and Chobe rivers, the region holds three national parks — Bwabwata, Mudumu and Nkasa Rupara — and around 450 animal species, with close to 70% of Namibia’s recorded bird species. Katima Mulilo, the regional capital, lies in the panhandle where Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe come close together.

Key Attractions

Bwabwata National Park, Mudumu National Park, Nkasa Rupara National Park, Katima Mulilo

Heritage & Landmarks

What Makes Zambezi Region Special

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Bwabwata National Park

Namibia's largest wetland park at 6,100 km², home to free-roaming elephant herds

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Nkasa Rupara National Park

A 320 km² wetland reserve on the Linyanti/Kwando system, sometimes called Namibia's 'mini-Okavango'

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Mudumu National Park

A 1,000 km² riverine park on the Kwando River

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Caprivi Strip to Zambezi

Ceded to Germany in the 1890 Heligoland–Zanzibar Treaty; renamed Zambezi Region in August 2013

Explore Zambezi Region

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