Start: Mavunje Campsite
Destination: Ngepi Camp
Region: Kavango East
Date: 04.09.2022
Distance: 333 km
Duration: 2 h 45 min
Route profile: Paved road
Accommodation: Ngepi Camp
Our Rating: 8/10
Fauna: Hippos, birds, elephants, warthogs, waterbucks, water buffalo, antelopes
Shopping: -
Food: Muesli, bread, peanut butter, banana, snacks, rice with antelope at the Ngepi Camp restaurant

Route from Mavunje Campsite back to Ngepi Camp

Today we’re driving back west from Mavunje Camping to the well-known Ngepi Camp. We had considered visiting Victoria Falls, but that would have required at least two more days and over 600 km of driving, so we decided to skip the stress.

Upon arriving at the camp, we set up our spot right by the water and explored the creatively and humorously designed campsite. It’s one of the more famous camps in the Caprivi Strip, known for its trendy style. You should at least take a look at the various toilet facilities; each one is different and designed with a lot of humor. The site also has hammocks for relaxing, a bar, a restaurant, and the famous Hippo Pool. The pool is located in the Okavango River. But beware: there’s no protection from the hippos in the water!

Things got exciting immediately. Two male hippos were fighting in the water, shifting boats and disturbing the pool area. One of the hippos even ran through the camp and jumped back into the river a bit further ahead. Mamma mia! What a scene. Once things calmed down, we made our way to the Hippo Pool, and of course, I couldn’t resist. I had to get in! I took a quick swim in the Okavango River, although I had a somewhat uneasy feeling about it. Not long after, we saw more hippos just a few meters away from the pool. I climbed back onto the deck and enjoyed the view and activity on the river from there.

We spent the rest of the afternoon playing rummy, cooking (rice with curry and okra), reading, and watching animals. Across the river, we could see a herd of elephants, water buffalo, warthogs, antelopes, and hippos. Time flew by.

For dinner, we ate at the camp’s restaurant. For N$280 per person (excluding drinks), we enjoyed bread with butter, salad, garlic potatoes, kudu, grilled vegetables, and a slice of cake with cream for dessert. The food was cooked in pots over a fire. It was simple but delicious. The atmosphere right by the river was perfect. By 8:00 PM, we were in bed, listening to the rumbling and grunting of the hippos all night long. I woke up several times. What a unique environment!