The Kavango River and its broad flood plains dominate the Kavango Region, which makes the area considerably greener than the rest of Namibia.

The plains on either side of the river are fertile, providing a living for the Kavangos by fishing, tending cattle and cultivating their staple diet of maize, millet and sorghum.

The Kavango are renowned wood carvers and local crafts include furniture, ornaments, masks and bowls.

The district capital Rundu is the only commercial centre in the Kavango region. The town offers basically no sights, but beautiful spots on the river and spectacular sunsets.

Rundu is the gate to the Caprivi and here you should fill up your petrol tank and stock up on groceries.

A welcome stopover for visitors travelling towards Katima Mulilo is the Popa Falls. Actually, they are rapids rather than waterfalls. Although the rapids have a total drop of only about 4 m, they extend across the full width of the river.

Mamili National Park is the largest wetland area with conservation status in Namibia - a paradisiacal area of watery channels, reed islands and beautiful wetlands.

It is situated in the eastern part of the Caprivi Strip and is home to elephant, lion, buffalo, giraffe, rare sitatunga and red lechwe, crocodile and hippo and otters.

Kaudom Game Reserve is in the more remote north-eastern corner of the country bordering the Botswana border. The area is dry for most of the year but the grasslands and game flourish during the brief summer rains.