Nkasa Rupara National Park

About the park

Nkasa Rupara, formerly Mamili, is 320 km² of reed-bed channels, lagoons and islands on the Kwando-Linyanti, a miniature Okavango on Namibia's side of the border. It holds Namibia's biggest buffalo herds, around a thousand animals, along with hundreds of hippo and crocodile, elephant and lion, and wetland antelope such as red lechwe, sitatunga, puku and reedbuck. About 450 bird species are recorded, including wattled crane and Pel's fishing owl. Access is via the D3511 from the B8 after the Kongola bridge, entering over a bridge near Sangwali; Rupara Island can be reached by dirt track, but Nkasa Island is cut off when the water is up. Stay at the Nkasa Lupala tented lodge or the community campsite on the northern edge, and travel with at least two 4x4s, because the tracks turn to mud and water.

Highlights

• Buffalo herds on the floodplain
• Channels and lagoons around Nkasa and Rupara islands
• Wetland birding for wattled crane and Pel's fishing owl

Good to know

• 320 km²; Namibia's largest formally protected wetland
• Access via the D3511 and a bridge near Sangwali
• At least two 4x4 vehicles needed
• Nkasa Island cut off when flooded
• Nkasa Lupala tented lodge and a community campsite on the northern boundary