Matt just returned form a Namibia Botswana NBa21 and has this interesting blog about the The Caprivi Strip which is an interesting piece of geography. If you look on a map of Southern Africa, take a close look at the borders of Namibia. You’ll find a thin strip of land jutting out from the mainland, across Botswana, reaching all the way to Zimbabwe.

 

The reason for this analogy is the absurd scramble for Africa that happened in the late 1800’s between all the major European powers. From this scramble, Germany emerged with the colonies of Namibia (then German South West Africa) and Tanzania (then Tanganika).

Germany wanted to connect this two colonies by railway. This was a problem because in between these two colonies, lay between other colonies, owned by Britain. Germany therefore went to the negotiating table with Britain. Germany just needed enough land to build a railway. Britain therefore agreed to cede to Germany a thin strip of land at the north of their colony for Germany to build a railway, in return for the island of Zanzibar. This negotiation process was headed by German General von Caprivi. As thanks for his expertise in securing the deal, this little strip of land was named after him. Unfortunately for the General, and for Germany, after signing the deal, they discovered the most of the land in this area is wetland, completely unsuitable for building a railway.

 

 

Today, the Caprivi Strip has been renamed the Zambezi region, and is a beautiful spot to go and visit, with wonderful birdlife. Ngepi camp is undoubtedly the highlight in this region. Accommodation is in treehouses overlooking the Kavango River. There are outdoor showers and toilets, and a swimming cage in the river. The swimming cage is a lot of fun. The current flows fast enough that you can swim against it and remain in the same place, like a treadmill..