Kavango District

traditional life in Kavango

Heading up out of Tsumeb we drive some 550kms up to Popa Falls close to the borders with Angola and Botswana.

The further north one travels in Namibia, the greener the country becomes with the larger rainfalls. As we enter the Kavango region i really get a sense of Africa, away from the feel of colonialisation. Gone are the security fences surrounding opulent houses and farms, small thatched wooden huts are enclosed by basic stick fences. Cattle and a few goats are herded and a few maize fields are growing along the side of the road.

The road is sealed and straight, and Josef opens up our rented Hyundai like Michael Schumacher.

We arrive at sunset into Popa Falls, where accommodation prices seem to have sky-rocketed since the Lonely Planet was last updated. After shopping around the Pupa Falls Lodge run by the Namibian Wildlife Resorts gets our vote. Despite the somewhat run-down chalet at N$250 per person plus breakfast, it’s some N$100 cheaper than its surrounding competitors.

Set next to the Oriwanga river it is a picturesque stopping point before we hit the Caprivi strip. We will endeavour to get up at dawn to look for hippo and we have to hit the road early anyway to see if we can bring in the car to Zambia.

Be warned however! The Falls are actually small rapids. Clearly trying to tempt passers by.