Zambezi (formerly Caprivi Strip)

The Zambezi Region is a narrow strip of land in north-eastern Namibia that stretches about 450 kilometres east towards the Zambezi River. Formerly known as the Caprivi Region, it was created during an 1890 agreement between Britain and Germany, with Germany hoping the corridor would provide a route to its East African colonies and the Indian Ocean. The plan failed when Victoria Falls and rapids further downstream made the Zambezi impossible to navigate to the sea, but the shape of the region remained. Today, the area is known for its rivers, wetlands and woodland, with the Okavango, Kwando, Linyanti/Chobe and Zambezi shaping its landscape and wildlife habitats. The region has three national parks, several community conservancies, and is home to elephants, buffalo, hippos, crocodiles, sable, roan, red lechwe and around 450 bird species.