Nkasa Rupara National Park

The Nkasa Rupara National park which is located on two of the largest islands Of Namibia that is the Nkasa Island and the Rupara Island was formerly referred to as the Mamili National park covers about 320 square kilometers and it was officially opened up in 1990. The Nkasa and Rupara is where the former Mamili National Park got its name and it is surrounded by two Rivers which in most cases flood especially during the rainy season.

The Nkasa Rupara National park is mostly covered in wetland and it is the largest conservation wetland in the whole country and it is also a home to a variety of wild life although it has the largest number of Buffalos in Namibia. Since it is a wetland, a trip to the National park will reward you with all the wetland animals and birds you can think of, the Linyanti River, vegetation of all types, the Kwando River and many more other tourist attractions. The park has less or no facilities within which means that all tourists should go to the National park when they are self-sufficient otherwise you might not enjoy your safari to the National park.

The Nkasa Rupara National park is a good place to visit due to the wilderness that encompasses the park and it is just sitting there in Namibia waiting for all tourists to discover it and find out what makes it a top destination. With the many activities that are carried out within the National Park, you are ensured of having the best safari while in the Park and all you need to do is book in advance so that you get the best of everything that the Park as to offer. The dry winters that are experienced within the Park bring many animals together especially the elephants making it easy for one to spot the animals.

How to get to the National park

You might also be wondering how to get to the National Park and this is the easy Part for as long as you have a 4×4 car to get you through the National park due to the tough terrains that are found within the Park. There are however different routes that you can use to access the National Park although the one that is commonly uses is the one that is within Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia. You can buy yourself a map if you are planning on self-driving yourself to the Park but it is much better if you get a local tour guide who is well versed with the roads and your destination to take you around so that you do not get lost.

Birding in the Nkasa Rupara National park

The Nkasa Rupara National Park has about 430 bird species that have been recorded by the government and these are best seen during the wet season although you can still the birds all throughout the year. Most of the bird species that you will see will be wetland species and this is because the whole Park is a wetland itself. Some of the bird species that you will get to see while in the Nkasa Rupara National Park include the rosy throated longclaw, long toed Lapwing, Dickson’s kestrel, Stanley’s bustard, the Luapula Cisticola, the black coucal, the red winged pranticole, the kisser Jacana, wattled cranes, the Allen’s Gallinule, the slaty egret, the coppery tailed coucal and many more other species.

Game viewing in the Nkasa Rupara National Park

Game viewing within Nkasa Rupara National Park is best done in the months of June to October and this is because during this time, the park is not as flooded as it always is during the wet season. Some of the animals that you will get to see while in the Nkasa Rupara include leopards, crocodiles, a large herd of buffalos, situngas, crocodiles, hippos, warthogs, the roan antelopes, the red Lechwe, monitor lizards, reedbucks, the common impalas, kudus, lions, elephants, wild dogs, spotted necked otters among others. The Nkasa Rupara National Park also acts as a corridor for animal migration especially those that come from the neighboring countries Angola, Botswana and Zambia and it is elephants that normally migrate into the park when it is conducive and then after that they migrate back to the other countries. The one rule that governs the national park while game viewing in Nkasa Rupara is that you are not supposed to feed the animals because it is considered criminal to do so.

A photo safari through the Nkasa Rupara

The Nkasa Rupara National Park is a top destination for tourists who love photography due to the good landscape and the wild life that is found in the Park. Carry your camera with you and get to see some of the rare wetland bird species in the park, the wild animals, the vegetation, Rivers and swamps and all these behind a camera which is considered to be one of the best ways to go on a safari because you get to keep all your memories. Photography is also best done in the morning when the lighting is still perfect if you want to get some of the best photos in the Park.

The vegetation within Nkasa Rupara national Park

The vegetation that is found in the Nkasa Rupara National Park is also a tourist attraction on its own as it is in abundance and acts as a habitat for some birds and animals within the Park. Botanists will have a field trip while they are in the country and some of the vegetation that is in the Park include the Zambezi flood plains, the jackal berry trees, papyrus and reeds which are located is found in the wetlands around the Park, the Mangosteen vegetation which are found along the River banks and the savannah shrubs. The vegetation can be seen while driving through the Park but the best way to know the different types and know of the different medicinal uses of some of them is by taking a guided walk through the Park.

Camping around the Nkasa Rupara National Park

There are two major camps that have been set up by the park authorities for camping and these are the Lyadura camp which is located along the River Kwando and the Mparamura camp and tourists are expected to stay in these camps however you will find that there are no resources and therefore you will need to carry all that you need when it comes to camping. There are a few rules that govern the camping activity in the park and some of these are:

  • After cooking, you should not leave anything outside the tent.
  • You are not supposed to move out of your tent at night to avoid animal attacks.
  • Make sure that all your body parts are inside the tent.

Camping will give you a chance to see some of the nocturnal animals that live in the park and on a clear day, you will be able to enjoy a camp fire and the stars at night.

When to visit the Nkasa Rupara National Park

The best time for tourists who would love to go game viewing to visit the Nkasa Rupara National Park is between the months of June to November and this is because during this time the Park is not all that flooded and one can easily access it and this is also the best time for one to go for birding. Between the months of November and April, the heavy rains set in and since it is already a wetland, almost the National park gets flooded making it hard for anyone to access it.

The game in the National Park might not be as abundant as it is in other National parks but it is still a good destination for all tourists to visit. There are many ways as to how you can spot the animals that is you can drive through the park and keep on following them from a distance, take a guided bush walk with an expert while trekking through the National park. All the above activities can be scheduled with your desired tour operator so that they help you tailor your trips so that you get an exciting and almost perfect safari to the Nkasa Rupara National Park. A trip to the Park will also contribute greatly to the surrounding areas in form of the fees that is paid at the entrance and it has helped raise their standards of living as well.

The Park will offer you what is only referred to as the true African adventure and for all those what want to experience what the wild in Africa feels like, the scorching sun, the heavy rains and the wild life then the Nkasa Rupara National park is the place to be for everyone. Grab everything that you need and fly to Namibia just to take a wonderful trip through this Park.