Mudumu National Park

Superb birdwatching in a little-known park

Mudumu lies beside the Kwando River in East Caprivi. Its glossy waterways, lush riverbanks and marshlands are home to red lechwes and sitatungas, as well as hippos, turtles, frogs and a fabulous selection of birds.

Away from the river, there are grasslands and thick mopane woodlands to explore, home to elephants, buffalo, antelopes and zebras. With dense vegetation and few tracks, it’s rather hard to see predators here, but lions, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs are all present.

I think Mudumu has great potential as a safari destination, particularly for birdwatchers, as its tranquil river and woodland habitats harbour a tremendous variety of species (well over 400, including cranes, coucals and gorgeously colourful carmine bee-eaters). But for now it’s little known. Opportunities to stay overnight and go out on boat trips, game drives or bushwalks are rather slim. There’s just one very basic campsite in the park, plus one well-established lodge, with a couple more nearby.