Khaudom National Park, Nature reserve in Kalahari Desert, Namibia.
Khaudom National Park is a 3,841 km² national park in the Kalahari Desert of northeastern Namibia, in Kavango East south of the Caprivi Strip. Its terrain is a sand sea of stabilized, orange-red longitudinal dunes running east-west, crossed southeastward by three dry Omuramba valleys—Nhoma, Cwiba and Khaudum—whose peaty beds hold reeds and water lilies. Dry forests of Pterocarpus angolensis, Baikiaea plurijuga and Burkea africana reach 10 m, with acacia woodland along the valleys.
The area was first protected as the Khaudum Game Park and later redesignated Khaudum National Park. Both camps and the whole park were closed in May 2013 and reopened at the end of June 2013. The Khaudum campsite was privatized and renovated in 2015, and a new campsite opened in 2016; in 2022 a campsite and self-catering accommodation followed at Sikereti.
The name Khaudum comes from the Khaudum River, one of three omuramba that cross the park; the German form Kaudom or Kaudum is a common misspelling. Visitors reach the park over deep sandy tracks, and since 2016 a campsite has operated again, with a second campsite and self-catering units added at Sikereti in 2022.
The best time to visit is during the dry season from June through October, when wildlife concentrates around water sources. Visitors should prepare for large temperature swings between day and night and bring sufficient water and sun protection.
During the rainy season from December to March, the dry riverbeds transform into green corridors lined with dense acacia forests. This seasonal change draws wildlife into concentrated areas where animals normally disperse across the vast terrain.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,350 contributors worldwide.