Bwabwata-Nationalpark

IUCN Category II - National Park

Elephants in Bwabwata

The Bwabwata National Park (formerly Caprivi National Park and mahango National Park ) is a national park in Namibia. It covers almost the whole area of the western Caprivi Strip in Namibia.

In the north and south it is Namibian border (Angola to the north and Botswana to the south), on the west by the Okavango ( Bagani ) and bounded on the east by the Kwando. Eastern closes beyond the Kwando on the Mudumu National Park.

The park was proclaimed as a merger of the Caprivi National Park and the mahango National Park in 2007. The Caprivi National Park was established in 1968, the mahango National Park in 1986. For a long time South African troops were stationed here, pursued the rebels in neighboring Angola.

Vegetation

The middle part is completely covered with deciduous forests and is cut to 180 km from the Trans Caprivi Highway. At the eastern end of the park falls into the broad plain of the Kwando. Here is the park by some developed though very poor, sandy slopes. In the western part, with the exception of direct shoreline, the vegetation is in the park of a typical dry forest, the dunes are found Mukwa ( Pterocarpus angolensis ), Burkea africana and Rhode Sisches Teak ( Baikiaea plurijuga ), between which let Schivibaum ( Newtonia hildebrandtii ) Mankettibaum ( Ricinodendron rautanenii ) and Combretum collinum. In the shrub layer contact twin leaf coffee shrub ( Bauhinia petersiana ) and Baphia massaiensis strikingly apparent.

Of particular importance is the riverside forest on the section along the Okavango, as this is largely unique in Namibia. Here the Kalahari apple leaf tree predominate ( Lonchocarpus neisii ), Syzygium guineense, Garcinia livingstonei and jackal berry tree ( Diospyros mespiliformis ). In addition, worm bark trees found ( Albizia pallida ), Acacia nigrescens, raisins bush species ( Grewia spp.), Wart- a-bit ( Ziziphus mucronata ) and the annular sleeve (Acacia tortilis ). Directly on the banks and in the flood areas there are minor occurrences of Wild Date Palm (Phoenix reclinata ) appear at the picnic area at Okavangoufer some baobabs (Adansonia digitata ).

In the area of ​​Omiramba mahango and Thinderevu there is typical Omiramba vegetation with marshy river beds and a typical acacia dry forest with Acacia and Combretum species: the camel thorn (Acacia erioloba ), the sand field (Acacia fleckii ), candles (Acacia hebeclada ) and sleeve ring acacia ( Vachellia tortilis ) and ancestral tree species Combretum imberbe and Combretum hereroense.

Flora

The largest part of the park is covered with a dense savanna of trees. To the east in the flood plain of the Kwando marshes and Reetinseln are dominant.

Fauna

The Bwabwata National Park is home to a large number of animals, including four of the famous " Big Five " lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo. Along the rivers crocodiles and hippos and many water birds can be observed. The marshes of the Kwando for the big elephant herds that traverse the area (some 100 animals and more) are also known. On big game, there are numerous species of antelope such as lechwe, reedbuck, and Sitatunga, which can only be found here. In addition, you will find bushbuck, horses and sable antelope, Topi, Blue Wildebeest, Impala, Kudu and Oryx rare, but also buffalo that make here on their migration from the Caprivi halt. Finally, a number of small antelope and small mammals occur.

One can also find some of the last wild dogs in Namibia as well as more than 400 bird species.

Photos

Baobab in Bwabwata National Park

Landscape in Bwabwata National Park

Landscape in Bwabwata National Park