Kasikili, River island in Chobe River, Botswana
Kasikili is an island in the Chobe River where water flows around it in two distinct channels. The landmass covers about 3.5 square kilometers and sits at roughly 928 meters (3,000 feet) elevation.
A border dispute between Botswana and Namibia over the island was settled by the International Court of Justice in 1999. The court determined that Botswana held rightful ownership after examining which water channel was the main one.
Local communities valued these lands for farming when water levels allowed, taking advantage of the fertile soil that emerges seasonally. The river island remained important to people as a resource for growing crops during specific times of the year.
You need permission from Botswana authorities to visit, so plan accordingly before traveling to the area. The island disappears underwater during the annual flooding that starts around March each year.
The legal decision relied heavily on analyzing water depth, current patterns, and channel features to determine which waterway was truly the main one. This technical approach showed how geography and hydrology shaped modern border settlements.
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