Khaudum National Park
Overview
Namibia Parks
Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the 'Botswana & Namibia' guide.
Khaudum National Park is a fantastic wilderness destination. It’s also the second-most productive park for wildlife viewing in Namibia, after Etosha National Park. However, Khaudum is much less visited and considerably more challenging. It is mostly a self-drive destination for experienced 4x4 drivers who travel in convoy. Most big safari animals are present in the park, including lions and wild dogs. There are no rhino or buffalo.
Pros & Cons
Wildlife
The park has ample wildlife and there’s a good chance you’ll have most sightings to yourself. Elephant, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, greater kudu and gemsbok are present, as well as more unusual antelope such as tsessebe and roan. There is a good population of most predators, including lion. The vegetation is much thicker than in some of the semi-desert parks, which makes animal sightings more difficult.
Scenery
Most of the park has thick and varied vegetation with trees being a feature of the landscape. Large baobab trees are dotted throughout, and there are magnificent patches of teak as well. Marula trees and a variety of acacia trees are also common. In between these forested patches are grassy enclaves that are great for spotting wildlife.
Activities
The only activity allowed within Khaudum is the game drive, where you’ll go looking for birds and animals. Unless you’re here on a tour (of which there are few), you’ll most likely explore the park on a self-guided game drive. Ask at the park gate for a map, or better still, obtain one before your arrival.
Weather & Climate
Winter in Khaudum runs from May to October and is known as the Dry season, while summer lasts from November to April and coincides with the Wet season. However, the rains that mark the beginning of summer sometimes arrive early (or not at all), making the transition between the two periods hard to predict. Winter will be dry and cool, and summer will be wetter and hotter.
Best Time To Visit
Animals stay close to Khaudum’s water sources during the Dry season (May to October), which makes them easier to see. Particularly impressive are the elephant herds that trek in from across the Botswana border. Although this period coincides with Namibia’s high season, the park is never busy. The landscape is prettier and the birding is better in the Wet season (November to April), but roads might be impassable at this time.
