Mamili National Park

Mamili National Park, now officially named Nkasa Rupara National Park, in the Zambezi Region of northeastern Namibia covers 320 square kilometres of seasonally flooded Okavango floodplain, papyrus swamp, and riverine forest habitat, with entry fees of N$200 per person per day for international adults payable at the park entrance. The park is located approximately 30 kilometres south of Mudumu National Park along the D3511 road and centres on two large islands — Nkasa and Rupara — that rise above the seasonal floodwaters of the Linyanti and Kwando river systems. Mamili holds lions, leopards, African wild dog, elephants, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles, sitatunga, red lechwe, and over 400 recorded bird species, and is one of the few Namibian parks where extensive wetland habitat dominates the wildlife experience. The park is only accessible by 4WD vehicle, and during the peak flood season the interior can only be reached by boat.

The park’s flooding pattern is its defining ecological character and its primary challenge for visitors. Up to 80 percent of the park’s area is inundated during the peak wet season from January to April, when the Kwando and Linyanti systems receive their maximum flow from Angolan catchments to the northwest. This flooding creates a vast shallow-water habitat that supports enormous concentrations of waterbirds, sustains the lechwe and sitatunga populations, and forces other mammals onto the islands and the higher ground at the park’s margins. By June the waters recede and the park becomes increasingly accessible, with the dry season from June to November offering the best conditions for both wildlife viewing and vehicle access.

Sitatunga and Red Lechwe in the Floodplains

Sitatunga is the most characteristic antelope of the Mamili wetland system and inhabits the papyrus beds, reed margins, and flooded forest edges that define the park’s interior. This medium-sized antelope is highly adapted to semi-aquatic conditions, with long splayed hooves that support its weight on soft mud and the ability to wade through chest-deep water that would be impassable for other antelope species. Males carry long, spiralling horns and are considerably darker than the reddish-brown females. Sitatunga are most reliably seen at the margins of papyrus beds in the early morning, when they emerge to graze on vegetation at the swamp edge before retreating into the dense cover of the reed beds.

Red lechwe forms large herds in the shallow floodplain areas of Mamili, particularly in the open water areas around the Nkasa and Rupara islands during the flood season. This semi-aquatic antelope, with its distinctive reddish-brown coat and elongated hindquarters adapted for moving through shallow water, is one of the most visually characteristic mammals of the Linyanti-Kwando floodplain system. Herds of 50 to several hundred animals are seen on the floodplains during the flood season, moving in long lines across the shallow water and providing one of the most distinctive wildlife spectacles in Namibia’s parks.

Elephants, Buffalo, and Large Mammals

African elephants are present throughout Mamili and are among the most commonly seen large mammals during the dry season. The elephant population in the Mamili-Mudumu landscape is part of the broader Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area population, which is one of the largest remaining elephant populations in Africa. Dry-season concentrations near the permanent water points and river margins bring herds of 20 to 100 or more animals into view from the island tracks. Elephant numbers increase substantially in the dry months of August and September as the surrounding landscape dries and animals concentrate on the remaining water sources.

African buffalo herds move through the park’s more accessible areas in the dry season, and lions follow the buffalo movements. Lions are present in the Mamili landscape but at lower density than in Namibia’s flagship game parks, and sightings require time in the field with knowledgeable guides. Leopard uses the riparian forest and reed bed margins for cover and is present throughout the park but is rarely encountered by day. African wild dog has been recorded in the park and uses the broader Zambezi Region landscape, with sightings being among the most sought-after encounters for visitors to this part of Namibia.

Hippos and Nile Crocodiles on the Rivers

The Kwando and Linyanti river systems that border and feed into Mamili National Park hold substantial populations of hippopotamus and Nile crocodile. Hippo pods occupy the deeper pools and river channels throughout the year, and large groups of 20 to 40 animals are commonly seen from the river bank viewpoints accessible by vehicle in the dry season. Boat excursions on the Kwando or Linyanti during periods of adequate water level provide closer access to hippo pods and crocodile basking sites along the sandy river margins. The rivers at their most concentrated for wildlife in September and October, when the dry season has reduced water levels and animals are compressed along the remaining permanent channels.

Nile crocodile reaches large sizes in this river system, with individuals over four metres in length seen basking on exposed sand bars. The river channels also provide habitat for the water monitor lizard, which can reach two metres in length, and various water-associated snake species including the African rock python. Fish eagle pairs are resident along the river corridor, and their characteristic calling is one of the most evocative sounds of the Linyanti waterway. Pied kingfisher and giant kingfisher are abundant along the river margins throughout the year.

Birdwatching in the Mamili Wetlands

Over 400 bird species have been recorded in the Mamili-Mudumu landscape, and the wetland habitats of Mamili are among the most productive birding environments in Namibia. Pel’s fishing owl inhabits the large riverine trees along the Kwando and Linyanti and is one of the most sought-after species for birders visiting this part of Africa. African skimmer uses the sandy river banks for nesting, and groups of these distinctive black-and-white birds with their unique laterally compressed lower mandible are found on the Kwando between October and March. Wattled crane is a species of high conservation priority in the broader floodplain system and is seen in the open floodplain areas.

Slaty egret, one of southern Africa’s least numerous waterbirds, inhabits the shallow floodplain margins and is seen feeding in the flooded areas around the Nkasa and Rupara islands. African jacana walks on floating vegetation in the shallow wetland areas. Rufous-bellied heron, rare in most of Namibia, inhabits the reed beds and papyrus margins. In the drier woodland sections of the park, Meyer’s parrot, lilac-breasted roller, and African hoopoe are among the most conspicuous species. The combination of waterbird and woodland bird habitats within a single visit to Mamili gives birders access to a diversity of species not available in any other single Namibian park.

The Nkasa and Rupara Islands

The two large islands of Nkasa and Rupara rise above the seasonal floodwaters and form the permanent core of the park’s terrestrial habitat. During the flood season, these islands are effectively isolated from the surrounding landscape and can only be reached by boat, creating a refuge where wildlife concentrates as the surrounding floodplain fills with water. The islands support permanent woodland vegetation including sycamore fig, jackalberry, and various Acacia species, and their elevated ground provides the only dry-season night soil for camping within the park’s interior.

The island tracks can be explored by 4WD during the dry season and provide the park’s best game drive routes, passing through mixed woodland and floodplain edge habitats with views across the surrounding wetland. The tracks are sandy and require low-range four-wheel drive in places. No Namibia Wildlife Resorts facilities exist within the park itself, so visitors must be fully self-sufficient in terms of camping equipment, food, water, and fuel. The nearest fuel and supplies are available at Kongola, approximately 60 kilometres from the park entrance on the B8 highway.

Cost Breakdown for Mamili National Park

Best Time to Visit Mamili National Park