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Swimming Elephants in Bwabwata NP !! - Namwba Campsite

joostremke

Nambwa Campsite - Bwabwata NP (The Best!)

Several experienced and well travelled adventurers we have met in the last few weeks have told us that we MUST visit Nambwa Campsite, just before Kongola, on the Western shore of the Kwando river in namibia on the Caprivi strip. Why then? Elephants, elephants and some more elephants. Drive down to horshoe bay in the afternoon and you will not believe your eyes. Warning though …… keep your distance as these elephants are not as chilled as the ones in Etosha, not as accustomed to cars and people.


We had a day spare after Ngepi and so we decide to go to Namwba even though they told us they were fully booked. We decide to simply rock-up and count on them not sending us away. This is Africa (TIA), can work both ways, in this case not booking does not necessarily mean they have no space. And so it turned out….. we get a spot on the overflow, no issue, enjoy your time, all chill and relaxed.


The drive into the park to the camp is about 10km but is takes us around 1.5 hrs! We were in awe with the herds of elephants, kudu, water buffalo, impala and springbok, they were everywhere and the warning was justified, the elephants were skittish and the first herd was charging through the bushes, crossing the river to calm down when they were apparently safe across the water.


The terrain is gorgeous, hilly, and the bush thick and green. The tracks are amazing and we do not have the feeling we are in a park, we are simply in the bush, absolutely on “their turf”. Thick sandy tracks keep us on our toes and we assist some couples who got stuck, thanking Boy back in the Netherlands for passing on his tricks and tips during our 4x4 course, earlier this last summer.


We head out at 4pm for our afternoon game drive and experience a drive that will be hard to match! The scenery stunning with water flows of the delta all around and the tracks following the edges of the water. Elephants are eating, playing and swimming everywhere. Giraffes are wandering in front and behind us, while the monkeys are chilling on the road and in the forests we drive through. The wildlife is healthy, with so many cups, babies and little ones among the animal herds. Our destination is horseshoe bay as it seems to be the place for an afternoon drink and cooling down place for the large number of Elephants crossing through Bwabwata from Angola to Namibia and on to Botswana, or in any other direction. The stories match the reality and around every corner we see a herd with the pinnacle at Horseshoe bay where one herd after another goes down to the water to drink. Herds are roughly 20-30 elephants at the time and they do check us out so we keep our distance, as you should. We sit back and enjoy the spectacle ……… for as long as we can. Soaking it in and appreciating these fantastic animals and their group dynamics. Roles in the herd are clear, they move together, Matriarch is in charge, little ones always protected and one dominant male letting them all know he is the dominant male (tough life, right?!) Some Elephants are across the water on a smaller island and decide to swim across, fully submerged except their trunk. Wow! not something you see every day!


We stay as long as we can but need to return before sunset. Our route back gets blocked by Elephants and they have a different time schedule than we have so no other alternative their either wait, or turn around and find a different route. Driving back, sub-consciously puts you in an “that’s it”mentality, like waling out of a cinema, but in game driving, it does not work like that! It is never over, not even when you arrive at camp, as there are no fences and the impala, warthogs and hippo’s are everywhere around you. By coming here you know, we are the visitors, we are on “their turf”, and we should never ever forget that.


We will return to Nambwa for sure! It is our favorite spot, by far!




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