Tucked away in the northeastern corner of Namibia, bordering Botswana, lies Khaudum National Park — a remote and rugged wildlife haven that epitomizes true African wilderness. Unlike Namibia’s more popular parks such as Etosha, Khaudum is deliberately undeveloped and isolated, offering intrepid travelers an authentic, off-the-beaten-path safari experience.
Established in 1989, Khaudum covers an area of 3,842 square kilometers and lies within the Kavango East Region. It is part of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA), the largest conservation area in Africa.
Geography
Khaudum National Park sits on the Kalahari Sandveld, a region dominated by deep sands, semi-arid woodland savannah, and ephemeral rivers. The terrain consists of dry riverbeds (omiramba), open grasslands, and dense acacia and teak forests, which create varied habitats for a wide range of fauna and flora.
The park experiences two main seasons
Dry Season (May to October): Wildlife viewing is at its best as animals congregate at waterholes.
Wet Season (November to April): Roads can become impassable, and the bush becomes thick and green, making game spotting more difficult.
Flora and Fauna
Despite its remoteness, Khaudum boasts a rich and diverse ecosystem, especially renowned for its large populations of elephants and predators.
Mammals
African Elephant: Up to 3,000 elephants move through Khaudum, making it one of the best places in Namibia to see these giants in a wild, free-roaming state.
African Wild Dog: One of the last strongholds for this endangered species in Namibia.
Lions, Leopards, and Cheetahs: Khaudum is home to all three of these big cats, although they are elusive.
Spotted Hyena and Jackal
Giraffe, Eland, Roan Antelope, Kudu, and Blue Wildebeest
Rare species: Includes tsessebe, reedbuck, and sitatunga near wetlands.
Birdlife
Over 320 bird species have been recorded. Birdwatching is exceptional, especially near the omiramba and waterholes. Key species include: Bateleur eagle, Secretary bird, African fish eagle, Ground hornbill, Meyer’s parrot.
Khaudum lies near the Nyae Nyae Conservancy, which is home to the San people (Ju/’hoansi), one of the oldest surviving hunter-gatherer cultures in the world. Visitors to the region often combine wildlife viewing with cultural experiences such as:
Traditional San bushwalks
Storytelling sessions
Craft markets
These cultural exchanges provide valuable income for local communities and enhance conservation through sustainable tourism.
Wildlife & waterholes
One of the highlights of a visit to Khaudum is to watch wildlife from the hides provided at some of the waterholes. And, wildlife there is. Khaudum is home to large herds of elephant, a flourishing leopard population, lion, giraffe, spotted hyena and black-backed and side-striped jackal.
It also has a rich variety of antelope species: blue wildebeest, kudu, steenbok and gemsbok, and reedbuck, eland, hartebeest and tsessebe in the central areas. An important conservation area, this is where you have the opportunity to encounter the rarer animals like roan antelope and if fortunate, the endangered African wild dog.
Birdlife
Approximately 320 bird species have been recorded in Khaudum, including Bradfield’s hornbills, black-faced babblers, sharp-tailed starlings, rufous-bellied tits and coppery-tailed and Senegal coucals.
Slow-going
Travelling is slow and vehicles need to be permanently engaged in 4×4, negotiating the deep and loose sand on the two-track roads that weave through the Park, linking waterholes and omurambas.
