Mudumu National Park
Mudumu National Park, a part of the Caprivi region in northeast Namibia, is one of Africa’s hidden gems. One of Mudumu’s primary attractions includes its healthy African elephant population as well as a lack of crowds. Visitors planning a trip to Namibia’s northeast region can also add Bwabwata National Park, Mangetti National Park, Nkasa Lupala National Park, and Khaudum National Park to their list and could spend a day exploring each of these less visited and less well known parks.
Mudumu National Park’s ecosystem is predominantly riverine along the Kwando River. Mudumu also has two other vegetation types, the Kalahari woodlands and dense mopane woodlands. These habitats are home to over 400 bird species.
Mudumu National Park is located at the heart of the Kavango-Zambezi Trans-frontier Conservation Area, KaZa TFCA. The region acts as a wildlife corridor for the African elephant, African buffalo, sable antelope, and roan antelope migrating from Botswana to Zambia and Angola. KaZa TFCA comprises over 20 wildlife reserves across Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe and aims to expand the wildlife protected areas, widen the historical game migration routes, grow biodiversity and ultimately draw tourists to the area.
Mudumu National Park Wildfires
Mudumu has annual fires that are either caused by humans or lightning. The park’s authority takes preventive actions to protect the important wildlife and ecosystem. Every year, gaps are built between the vegetation or any other combustible materials.
Such gaps (known as firebreaks) act as barriers that help slow the progressing wildfires. In Mudumu, firebreaks are created during November to April, the wet summer season in the region. Another preventive measure is the introduction of an early burning program, which is implemented at the beginning of the dry winter season, from May to July.
Wildlife In Mudumu National Park
Mudumu National Park has one of Namibia’s largest concentrations of African elephant as well as three other African big five animals – lion, leopard, and African buffalo.
Mudumu is also home to herbivores such as hippopotamus, elands, sitatunga, sable antelope, impala, spotted-necked otter, meerkat, blue wildebeest, zebra, and giraffe. African wild dogs, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, and Nile crocodiles are some of the predatory wildlife species found in Mudumu. Crocodiles and hippopotamus are found in the river, the crocodiles basking on the river banks, hippos wallowing in the water.
With over 400 bird species to its name, Mudumu is a sought after birding destination. It is known for its highly diverse birdlife, including African jacana, African darter, little grebe, helmeted guineafowl, double-banded sandgrouse, small buttonquail, grey lourie (or go-away-bird), water thick-knee, lesser moorhen, and Eurasian hoopoe. It is home to five Kingfisher species: brown-hooded, giant, striped, pied, and woodland kingfishers.
Mudumu harbours endangered bird species such as bateleur, martial eagle, steppe eagle, hooded vulture, lappet-faced vulture, and white-backed vulture.
When To Visit Mudumu National Park
Avoid visiting Mudumu National Park from January to March. During these months, the conditions are difficult in the rains and a lot of the sections of Mudumu become inaccessible during the wet season. It is better to visit the park during the dry season (June to September). It is an excellent time for wildlife viewing, as Mudumu’s wildlife gathers around the park’s permanent water sources, and the thinning vegetation makes it easier to spot them, even from a distance from inside the game vehicles.
Mudumu’s exceptional birdlife is best seen during the wet months when the migrant species make their way to the park, but the rainfall from November to April can make the roads inaccessible so it’s not advisable to visit the park during this period. So, visitors should consider planning a trip in the dry season, when they can see the park’s resident birdlife which is plentiful.
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