Mudumu National Park
Safari suitability: 7/10
Find your tourFamous for its large number of elephants. Has four of the big five. Only the rhino is absent.
What YAS members think
Highlights
- Great destination for elephant-lovers
- Close to parks in northern Botswana, for combined safaris
- Walking safaris are possible here
- Self-drive safaris are allowed, and there are no formal entrance gates
- Not a popular safari destination, for those looking for a more isolated-feeling safari
About Mudumu National Park
Located in the thin panhandle of northeastern Namibia, abutting the Kwando Concession in Botswana, lies the tiny park of Mudumu. The Kwando River forms a natural border between Botswana and Namibia and it's what separates Kwando Concession from Mudumu.
Wildlife of Mudumu National Park
Although Mudumu suffers from a tumultuous past, marked by high rates of poaching, it is slowly on the incline. Mudumu is known for its large number of elephants, which freely migration between Botswana, Namibia, Angola and Zambia. It is also home to other large animals including lions, leopards, wildebeest, zebra, hippos, crocodiles, buffalo and giraffe. In fact, four of the big five can be spotted here, with only the rhino not present. Some of the big cats are moving south, to the more protected Kwando Concession. It's easy to tell which cats have come from Namibia, they are extremely wary of vechiles and will quickly rise and slip into the dense brush when they hear the vehicle's motor. It is the hopes of neighboring reserves in southern Botswana that these cats will eventually feel more relaxed in this environment.
Bird-watchers will not be disappointed in Mudumu; it is home to over 400 species of bird including the following: slaty egret, swamp boubou and the great reed warbler.
Mudumu does not have official park gates and self-drive safaris are an option here. Its proximity to Kwando Concession and The Okavango Delta in Botswana make it a desirable destination for those wishing to see some of Namibia with limited time. It does not have many campsites or lodging options, but it is also not as visited as many of its neighboring parks, making it an ideal location for those wishing for a more isolated safari experience.
When is the best time of year to visit Mudumu National Park?
Mudumu receives the bulk of its precipitation at the start of the year. January and February are the heavy rain months and it is not unusual for the roads to become extremely muddy and difficult to navigate. Mudumu is best visited outside of the rainy season. April through September is normally very dry, with little rainfall, and temperatures hovering around the low 30sC (high 80s/low 90s F).
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Mudumu National Park is a small, scenic Park with a high diversity of wildlife and some exceptional birding located close to the village of Kongola in the Caprivi region of northeastern Namibia. Mudumu is home to some big wildlife such as buffalo, big elephant herds, sable antelope, roan, hippos and many other antelopes. Visitors are very likely to also spot lechwe and sitatunga. The park is excellent for the traveller wanting to explore and travel to one of the parks less visited and experience this unique piece of wilderness that Mudumu has to offer. The park is very rustic and is still quite untouched. Signed roads cant be found yet but you can explore the region by 4x4 or by foot. The campsites within the national park are not fenced and offer basic ablutions - one must bring in all their supplies. This is an experience for the adventurer who wants to view Africas big game in a park where one might be the only person around for miles. There have been great sightings of lions and elephants walking through our campsite on a few occasions!
Zimbabwe
Mudumu National Park is a small park with great game. It covers 850km2 and is situated close to the village of Kongola. Mudumu has quite a few animals and is home to some big wildlife such as buffalos, big elephant herds, sable antelopes, roan and other antelopes. Visitors are very likely to spot lechwe and sitatunga. The park is excellent if one wants to discover a unique piece of wilderness, as Mudumu is still quite untouched. Signed roads cant be found yet but you can explore the region by 4x4 or by foot. The campsites within the national park are not fenced and basic but offer ablution locks and river water for usage - an authentic safari experience!
Namibia
Mudumu National Park is very often just ignored by travellers to the Eastern Caprivi and it is so much worth a visit. If you do go to Mudumu your first way should be to the rangers office to pay your entrance fees. Here you receive a map of the area and the ranger will be able to tell you, depending on the time of the day where to go to be lucky.If you go to Mudumu you definitely need a 4x4 vehicle and you should be able to handle it, since the tracks are partially very, very sandy and around noon the hot sun makes them even harder to drive. Normally around noon the elephants gather at the Kwando Riverto drink. Find a spot you like, switch off your engine and be on the lookout. They do not only come from the sides you are looking at, they can just as well come from the back. We experienced a herd of altogether approximately 300 animals that stood before, next to and behind us playing and drinking. I left the park with 600 pictures since there were so many lovely things to see,like how does an elephant cross a river when he has a baby with her? The mother picks it up on her trunk going in between the legs and throws it forward. Then she walks in behind, picks the baby up again and throws it forward. This she does until she has reached an island or the other side. It was stunning. Mudumu is one of the game parks that I would still call wild since there are no fences at all, or at least I could not see any, except for those around the rangers hut
Driving to Mudumu
If you are landing at Windhoek's international airport and planning on driving, the drive is at least 12 hours in normal conditions. Driving from Lusaka, Zambia isn't much shorter and coming from Livingstone involves a ferry crossing.
It's also possible to drive from Kwando Concession across the border into Mudumu, although you'll want to use a tour operator who is licensed to operate in both countries if you choose that route. All tous in Kwando Concession are private and require a guide.
Domestic flights to Katima, Namibia
The nearest airstrip is in Katima, which is about 90 minutes away. Air Namibia offers flights which are 90 minutes in duration.
The following airlines travel to Mudumu National Park
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