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 is a great wilderness destination with a healthy population of wildlife. This is probably Namibia’s second-most productive wildlife destination, after Etosha, but much less visited. The park is mostly a self-drive destination for experienced 4x4 drivers who travel in convoy. Most big safari animals are present 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 oryx 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 hit-and-miss.
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 great for spotting wildlife.
Weather & Climate
Generally, winter in Khaudum lasts from May to October, and summer from November to April. But the rains that mark the beginning of summer often arrive early, making the transition between the two periods hard to predict. What can be relied on is the fact that winter will mostly be dry and cool, and summer will be wetter and hotter.
Best Time To Visit
Animals typically gather at Khaudum’s water sources in the drier months (May to October), so wildlife watchers will want to visit then. Particularly impressive are the elephant herds that trek in from across the Botswana border. Also, although this period aligns with Namibia’s high season, the park is rarely very busy. The landscape is prettier in the wetter months, but roads might be impassable at this time.
