About Mudumu National Park 

Mudumu National Park is one of five national parks located in the Zambezi region of Namibia. The others are Bwabwata, Mangetti, Nkasa Lupala, and Khaudum National Park.

Mudumu National Park encompasses varied environments including Kalahari woodlands, Caprivi mopane woodlands, and Caprivi floodplains. As such, it can support a wide variety of game, although its small size can’t support large populations.

This National Park’s central location and abundance mean it forms a vital game corridor within the Kavango–Zambezi Trans-frontier Conservation Area. This region is significant in that it unites Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe’s conservation efforts.

The Park consists of several concessions which divide the park into various tourism and recreation areas. These hunting and safari initiatives help support local communities and reduce human-wildlife conflict by providing jobs and income for the people.

Location

Mudumu National Park is located 1 150km from Windhoek in the north-eastern reaches of Namibia. It is a remote destination accessible about 116 km from Katima Mulilo on the Zambian border.

Brief History

Originally, the Mafwe and MaYeyi people settled in the area of Mudumu National Park, but they moved away after a tsetse fly infestation in 1945. After that, the park became traditional hunting grounds until 1987, when it attracted attention as a potential conservation area.

At this time, the Department of Agriculture and Nature Conservation signed an agreement with the local people with a view to creating a conservation area.

In 1989, The Administrator General for South West Africa approved that the Mudumu area be declared a National Park. The newly formed Namibian government wasted no time making this official in 1990 after the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) conducted an extensive socio-ecological survey of the area.

In 2013, KdW Development Bank got on board with NamParks to further enhance this wildlife area by upgrading facilities, enhancing Mudumu’s biodiversity and encouraging touristic activities.

The Park gets its name from the fossil wetland (now non-functional), known as Mudumu Mulapo, that flows across most of the park.

Fauna and Flora

The national park is characterized by a riverine ecosystem that follows along the Kwando River, and features wild syringa, leadwood trees, mopane, and mangosteen groves. The terrain is flat and there is an abundance of water in the south of Mudumu National Park.

In this area, zebra, sitatunga, impala, eland, red lechwe, kudu, roan antelope, oribi, giraffe, buffalo, hippo, crocodile, and elephant thrive along with 400 species of birds. Some of the most prominent of these include western-banded snake eagles, African fish eagles, and African skimmers.

Those who venture along these rugged paths may also come across leopard, lion, cheetah, African wild dog, spotted-necked otter, and spotted hyena. Although there are no rhino in the area, sable antelope have been reintroduced to the park recently.

Despite the abundance of game, few people visit here due to its remote location.

Accommodation

There are three main accommodation options within Mudumu National Park. These are

Nakatwa Camp

This is a basic unfenced camp with just three sites. Overnighters should bring everything they need for their stay.

Lianshulu Lodge
Lianshulu Lodge is a luxury option set on the banks of the Kwando River. It has ten chalets and offers fully inclusive accommodation, a restaurant and bar, and an outdoor swimming pool.

Lianshulu Bush Lodge
Touted as a smaller version of Lianshulu Lodge, Lianshulu Bush Lodge lies in the east of Mudumu National Park.

The camp offers 12 en-suite chalets, each sleeping two people and boasting either river or bush views. Guests may book all-inclusive or bed and breakfast stays.

The lodge has several attractive dining areas, a game viewing deck, and a sparkling swimming pool for guests’ enjoyment.

Activities

Walking, bird watching and game viewing are the major activities in Mudumu National Park.

The private lodges offer guided game drives and walks as well as boat trips and sunset cruises.
Guests staying at Lianshulu Lodge can also enjoy cultural outings to visit the Lizauli community or fish in the river on a catch-and-release basis.

Packing List for Visiting Mudumu National Park

Wherever you travel in Africa, you should always check with your doctor regarding antimalarials for your trip. A good supply of bug spray will also go a long toward ensuring your nights aren’t plagued by some unwanted buzzing visitors.

You’ll also need to pack:

• Reusable water bottle
• Camping gear if necessary
• Sun protection
• Sunglasses
• Swimming costume and towels
• Sturdy, comfortable walking shoes
• Body lotion and other personal toiletries
• All necessary medications
• A map and guidebook
• Binoculars and a camera
• A first aid kit
• A torch
• Memory cards and chargers for your electronics

You need to bring your own provisions if you opt to stay at Nakatwa campsite, including potable water.

Getting There

You don’t need a permit when travelling on the tarred C49 road which traverses the park between Kongola and Sangwali. All other roads in the area require an entry permit, which you can get from the office close to the Lianshulu airstrip.

Due to the remoteness of this area, a 4×4 is essential for safe travels, and many guests choose to fly into one of the private lodges instead of driving.

Mudumu is approximately 1 150 km from Windhoek

Directions from Windhoek:

• Take the Western Bypass to the B1
• Follow the B8 to C49 in the Zambezi Region
• Continue on the M125(C49) to Mudumu National Park

Explore More of Namibia

If you enjoy unique experiences, Namibia offers a host of out-of-the-way game viewing destinations.

Browse our travel guide for more information and start planning something new for your next trip to Namibia.

Disclaimer
Please Note: The details shared herein were correct at the time of publishing. However, with time some of this information may change. We recommend confirming information with suppliers prior to making final travel arrangements. If you do happen to find an issue with any information we’ve shared here, please feel free to contact us so that we can make the relevant changes.