
Close encounters of the elephant kind: Part of the traditional migration route between southern Angola and northern Bostwana, the Caprivi Strip is part of an ecosystem that supports nearly 145,000 elephants at any one time. Herds of up to 700 animals often surround safari vehicles.

The giant baobab trees: Plentiful water and the hot climate cause the baobab trees to grow to Godzilla-like size in the Caprivi Strip.

Tented camps: Like the Okavango Delta across the border in Botswana, the Caprivi is spangled with tented camps, from basic self-catering tents to luxury resorts. Nambwa Tented Camp in Bwabwata National Park flaunts posh tents, gourmet bush cuisine and a swimming pool where a resident leopard hangs out.

A bird's eye view of the waterways: Fly-in trips provide stunning aerial views of the myriad waterways that make up Namibia's Four Rivers region and the greater Okavango Delta area.

Leer at leaping lechwes: Among the Caprivi's three water-dwelling antelope, red lechwes are the most common, and the most graceful when leaping through high grass and knee-high waters. The ruddy creatures are often found in large herds in marshy areas along the Okavango, Kwango and Chobe rivers.

Cruising the bush: The paved Trans Caprivi Highway connects the region's scattered settlements and numerous national parks and other conservation areas. Four-wheel drive is recommended, but ordinary cars can navigate the main highway.

The bush after dark: Camps and lodges in the Caprivi offer nighttime game drives to view animals that are more active after dusk. Nocturnal creatures are everywhere, from owls and bats to snakes and scorpions like the one shown here under a UV flashlight.

Small but interesting: The Caprivi is rife with smaller creatures that often get overlooked in the rush to see the obvious animals. The area has a wide variety of reptiles, amphibians and insects like this "dikpens", or armored bush cricket.

Home of the cape buffalo: The Caprivi Strip is the only place in Namibia where the hulking cape buffalo, one of the charter members of the "Big Five" of African wildlife, can be spotted.

Where four rivers meet: Also called the Four Rivers Region, the Caprivi Strip is ideal for exploring the Okavango and Zambezi rivers, and the wildlife-rich wetlands along the Chobe and Kwango rivers. Guided tours offer views of hippos, crocodiles and other water life.


