Day 16 - Kongola, Caprivi Strip

Point of departure : Rundu

Point of arrival : Kongola, Caprivi Strip

Accommodation: Namushasha Lodge (www.namibia lodges.com)

Km travelled today: 437 kmCum: 3 823km (gravel 30km cum 1 237km)

Countries so far: 2/16

Where to next? Livingstone, Zambia

Total number of photos taken: 44 (cum 633)

A dull and overcast start with temperatures relatively cool (24 degrees) but that quickly changed to the normal upper 30 plus temperatures we had been experiencing.A long and non very winding road… had to brace for ourselves for a bend every 50km or so!

At about 200km from Rundu we stopped at the Popa Falls on the Kavango River, more of a big rapid than a real waterfall but still very pretty and a nice spot for lunch.While admiring the western side of the falls from the riverbank we were approached by a couple of kids with a dugout mokoro who assured us that there was a better view of the falls if we crossed the river (with them), at a fee! And about a 7 or 8 minute walk.We thought… what the heck, lets do it and took the opportunity for photographs and updating our own video record.When we got back to our vehicle, we discovered that our river crossing was illegal in terms of park's board regulations but fortunately we were not nabbed.

It was also a day for meeting overland bikers, two just after the Popa Falls, trekking down from Ethiopia to Cape Town having flown their bikes in from Germany.The other bikers were a South African group, 4 bikes and 6 people - Antonie and Atoinette Botha (from Cradock in Eastern Cape) and party - who were on a fairly rushed two week trip around Namibia and Botswana.Stopped for a chat with both with an update on the road conditions in northern Kenya from the first two and general chat with the others.

Namushasha Lodge was quite rustic but nice, right on the Kwando River, but cunningly concealed from view in amongst the trees. We opted for a trip on the river which we did with our guide Hans (of the Mayeyi tribe).Pleasant end to the day with lots of information on local customs and traditions, information on day and night water lilies, the reeds and grasses and sightings of a number of birds and a pod of 5 hippos.A magnificent electrical storm off in the distance at night, but too far to get any decent pictures.

The Caprivi Strip is steeped in history, long before it was parcelled out in the Scramble for Africa.However, in the late 1800's Britain was anxious that Germany might cut off their access to Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) and after negotiations with King Khama III they declared Bechuanaland (now Botswana) a British Protectorate and this included the Caprivi Strip.When Namibia (then German South West Africa) was annexed by Germany in 1884, the idea was to have a thoroughfare from SWA through to German East Africa (then Tanganyika, now Tanzania).Germany also had laid claim to Zanzibar. However at the Berlin Conference in 1890 Britain claimed Zanzibar and in return relinquished the Caprivi Strip to Germany.The strip was named after Count von Caprivi who was the man chosen to administer the region and secure access to German East Africa.During WW I Britain again administered the Strip but it was neglected and became a lawless frontier. (Courtesy of the Namibian Tourist Board).

The Caprivi Strip actually starts at Divundu and ends at Katima Mulilo and Kongola is half way along the Strip.

The Kwando River's source is in the Angolan highlands and enters the Caprivi at Kongola and its called Mashi by the locals.It then flows south and becomes the Linyanti River (on the border with Botswana) and from there it becomes the Chobe River which joins the mighty Zambezi at Kanzangulu.