The Caprivi Strip in Africa was once off limits to tourists due to the border war, but now, it has become a "wildlife wonderland." The area is rich in wildlife and national parks and it can become a potential eco-tourism destination.
The region's fauna has been dominantly exotic and often endangered like the Wild African Dog, Hippo, and leopards sprawling in the vicinity. Safari camps are often unfenced, according to CNN News, letting travelers see the animals roaming freely in their habitat.
Linda Smit, the manager at Nambwa Tented Lodge on the Kwando River in Bwabwata National Park, told the news site, "We have a resident hippo we call Oliver who comes out of the water at night and often sits in front of the staff tents. And a female leopard who likes to hang out around the swimming pool."
Moreover, the Caprivi Strip serves as navigable waterways and an elephant route of the 700-elephant herd in Africa coming from Botswana to Angola and Zimbabwe. Three national parks can be found in the region - Bwabwata National Park, Mudumu National Park, and Nkasa Rupara National Park - which on their own right, are natural tourist attractions as well.
The Telegraph reports that the local communities around the strip have joined the government in preserving the region and manage its natural resources, given that Namibia, itself, takes conservation seriously. Wildlife during the civil war in the 90's was scarce in number due to the hunting and killing spree of both parties. The animals migrated in the neighboring border until locals have them back after the war.
For travelers, there are a couple of safari camps and various accommodation types to grab where they can view the animals in their natural environment. Meanwhile, thrill-seekers could join a course on dirt biking, skydiving or jet skiing at Namibia's capital city.
