Popa Falls and Mahango Game Reserve, Namibia Plan a trip

Right on the border of Botswana and Namibia sits Popa Falls and the Mahango Game Park. It’s a truly captivating and astounding natural game reserve – so make sure it’s on your itinerary. The Okavango River runs through the reserve, bringing fresh water to the animals and plants that call this place home. The Mahango Game Reserve is one of Namibia’s most diverse areas, so there are lots of creatures to spot. It only takes half an hour to explore this reserve on its raised wooden walkways, or you can book a river cruise to see everything from the water.

Look out for the distinctive baobab trees, the enormous floodplains and the riverine forests. They’re all absolutely breathtaking, but it’s the animals that are the big draw. During your visit, you’re likely to see elephants, buffalo, roan antelopes, impala, wildebeest and sitatunga, as well as many other Namibian creatures.

As you travel through the reserve, you’ll definitely hear the 400 species of bird cawing away. You might spot an ostrich, kingfisher or even an African fish eagle on your travels. There’s a fantastic picnic spot that looks out over the river, so don’t forget to bring your lunch. There are a few hippos and crocodiles here, however, so keep an eye out for them.

While you’re here, take a boat trip out to the Popa Falls. We’ll admit they’re not the most amazing rapids ever – they won’t match up to the Victoria Falls – but they’re well worth a visit. The water crashes down over a three metre drop right onto the rocks. It’s a great sight, but don’t go swimming there – crocodiles love this place. There’s plenty to discover around the falls, so why not try hiking or birdwatching while you’re there?

The Popa Falls and Mahango Game Park is a nice spot to pass through on your journey between Rundu and Katima Mulilo or the Okavango Delta in Botswana. It doesn’t take too long to see everything, so it makes a great day-trip. Many travellers might think this place is a little underwhelming after the bigger falls and parks. However, Popa Falls and Mahango offers a quaint and quiet side to Namibia that can be tough to find elsewhere.

Plan your trip to the Popa Falls and Mahango Game Reserve today.