Bagani and the Popa Falls

Bagani is a village with a notable connection to air travel: it is home to a 1,500-metre-long, gravelled and fenced airstrip. A management plan covering 2013/14 to 2017/18 described its intensive use for tourism by air.

Nearby, the Popa Falls lie within an enclave of less than one square kilometre between Divundu and Bagani. The area was designated a game reserve in 1989 and protects a stretch of riverbank vegetation around the cascades. Its limited size and the protection of the riverbank vegetation give Popa Falls a different character from an extensive park landscape.

Popa Falls and its riverbanks

On the east bank of the Okavango at Popa Falls is the N//goabaca Campsite; the Kyaramacan Association is named as the site’s operator. On the west bank of the river is the Popa Falls Rest Camp; Namibia Wildlife Resorts is named as its operator. The east- and west-bank locations are a specific difference to consider when getting your bearings among the named sites nearby. Check current access and availability before making firm plans.

Routes across the wider Caprivi destination

Across the wider Caprivi destination, the routes provide a broader regional overview. The Trans-Caprivi Highway crosses the Zambezi Region and leads from central and northern Namibia towards the Chobe Game Reserve in Botswana and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. The Four Rivers Route runs from Nkurenkuru in the northeast through the Zambezi Region to Victoria Falls. The two routes therefore describe different regional connections. If your plans include the Trans-Caprivi Highway, take current road and border conditions into account.

Landscapes and culture in the Caprivi

Nkasa Rupara National Park is also part of this wider regional context. Most of the park consists of reed channels, lagoons and islands of termite mounds. There are two designated campsites on the banks of the Kwando: Mparamura, also known as Nzalu, and Lyadura. If you are considering a stay there, check current facilities and access before travelling.

The name Nkasa-Rupara refers to seven chiefs who ruled over the Mafwe in the eastern part of the Caprivi Region from 1864 onwards. This offers another way to understand the region: alongside its waterscapes, its history is also part of planning a trip. In Bwabwata National Park, Khwe artisans are known for their unique basket-weaving style, found nowhere else in southern Africa. The Caprivi thus offers nature and cultural experiences side by side, without equating them with Bagani itself.

Finding your bearings when searching for Bagani

If you are looking for a holiday rental in Bagani, start with the place name. The nearby area and regional themes can then help you tailor your trip to your interests.

Discover more destinations: Divundu, Rundu, Mahango, Ndiyona.

Go to the wider travel overview: Kavango.