Kavango Wilderness Project

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Kavango Wilderness Project

The Kavango Wilderness Project is the Wild Bird Trust’s local entity in Namibia, led by a citizen-based board.

It focuses on the conservation and sustainable management of the Kavango River through research, monitoring, education, and community engagement The newly formed Kavango Wilderness Project (KWP) (a Non-Profit Association Incorporated under Section 21) is part of the Wild Bird Trust (WBT) family of organisations which runs conservation projects in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Angola through

the presence of local operating entities. The aim of the KWP is to monitor the State of the Kavango River and to work closely with stakeholders to develop and implement research, threat mitigation or rehabilitation projects in response to that state. In addition, the KWP is the implementing partner for the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project (NGOWP) in Namibia.

15/07/2026

The 2025 Kavango River Transect highlights just how central the river is to the communities that live alongside it. Across the Okavango Basin, the Kavango remains the most intensively used stretch of river surveyed, supporting fishing, farming, livestock, water collection, and the harvesting of natural resources. More than 83% of all vessels recorded across the Okavango Basin during the 2025 surveys were found on the Kavango River.

During the survey, we recorded 10.79 people per kilometre along the Kavango, more than ten times the density observed along the Cubango. While fewer people were recorded than in 2023, high water levels likely changed how people accessed the river, but long-term monitoring continues to show increasing human use.

The Kavango is an ecological corridor and a critical livelihood resource. Understanding how people use the river, and how those patterns change over time, is an essential part of protecting the health of the wider Okavango Basin.

08/07/2026

Somewhere in this bottle of water are traces of nearly everything that has been in this river recently.

Skin cells shed by a tigerfish. DNA fragments from a hippo that basked here this morning. Genetic material from a Nile tilapia, an invasive species that shouldn't be here at all. All of it invisible to the naked eye. All of it readable with the right tools.

This is environmental DNA, or eDNA, and it is changing the way we study river ecosystems. For decades, understanding what lived in a river meant catching what was in it. Now, a single water sample can reveal which species are present, which pathogens are moving through the system, and whether something new and potentially dangerous has arrived.

During the Kavango Transect, our team collects eDNA samples at monitoring sites across the river. The results tell us what's currently in the river but, over time, they also build a picture of what's changing and what could be disappearing.

30/06/2026

The tigerfish is a formidable-looking fish. It has oversized teeth, a short temper, and a reputation for striking fishing lures with enough force to leave your hands ringing. It is also one of the most important species in the Kavango River.

As an apex predator, the tigerfish helps maintain balance in the river ecosystem. It preys on medium-sized fish, preventing their populations from overwhelming smaller species elsewhere in the food web. It shapes where other fish move and how they behave. In the language of ecology, it is a keystone species.

Remove an apex predator from a river system and what follows isn't just one missing species. Populations once kept in check increase, and the balance that supports a healthy river is lost.

Tigerfish in the Kavango face growing pressure from overfishing, habitat loss and degraded spawning grounds. Research suggests that protecting just 10 km of river could safeguard more than half of the tigerfish population for most of the year, highlighting how relatively little it would take to make a meaningful difference.

24/06/2026

The Kavango River is one of the most heavily used stretches of the Okavango Basin.

As part of the National Geographic Okavango Wilderness Project's long-term monitoring of the basin, we travel the length of the Kavango River by wato (traditional dugout canoe) every two years to record changes over time. Over 472 kilometres, we document everything from hippos and crocodiles to fishing activity and water abstraction, while collecting water samples, drone imagery and environmental DNA.

Recent surveys have recorded increasing numbers of watercraft on the river and continued pressure from water abstraction. Sand mining and brick production have expanded along parts of the river, while riverbank habitats continue to show signs of degradation.

Long-term monitoring helps us identify these changes early, creating opportunities to better understand and respond to emerging pressures.

Okavango Wilderness Project
📷 Nga Mutumbwa

19/06/2026

The Grade 7 learners in our Conservation Education Programme spent the week exploring Mahango National Park. For many of them, the excursion offered a chance to explore a part of the Kavango they may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience. Time spent in the park helps them learn more about local ecosystems and build a connection with the natural world.

Learners saw lions, elephants, buffalo, giraffe, sable, roan and an incredible variety of birdlife. There was plenty of learning, laughter and a little friendly competition along the way.

A huge thank you to Rainbow River Lodge, O&L Leisure (Divava Lodge), Ngepi Camp and Ndhovu Safari Lodge for their generous support with transport, and to the guides who shared their knowledge and made the experience even more special for the learners.

13/05/2026

Our teaching assistants recently completed a short course on the indigenous tree, bird and fish species found in the local environment.

Over the three days, they learned how to identify different species, why they matter within local ecosystems, and how to bring that knowledge into the classroom.

The course was very hands-on, with lots of discussion, questions and learning together along the way. It also helped build their confidence in sharing environmental knowledge with learners and encouraging interest in local biodiversity and conservation.

23/04/2026

We spent last Saturday with the Grade 7s from Kamutjonga Secondary School, continuing our Conservation Education sessions.

The morning moved through mammals and reptiles before focusing on crocodiles, one of the key species linked to human wildlife conflict in the area. Games and discussion shaped the session, followed by a visit to the Kamutjonga Inland Fisheries Institute, where Dr Jacobs spoke about the Institute’s work. Learners created crocodile artworks and built playdough models, exploring how their anatomy allows them to remain almost undetected in water.

We ended with a skit and a tug of war between “people” and “crocodiles”. Unplanned, crocodiles won more rounds. It’s a simple way to reinforce an important point: understanding behaviour and limiting contact is key to staying safe.

20/04/2026

Our Conservation Education teaching assistants are taking part in small-group computer literacy sessions as part of their ongoing training.

These are practical skills they’ll need as they move towards running their own classrooms. As their confidence grows, they’ll be able to create their own teaching materials, from simple presentations to resources that support how they teach.

16/04/2026

Two familiar faces have stepped into new roles on the Kavango team.

Maria Makena Mwakaghuyi and Athanasius Tukuyedhekere Muruti join us as General Assistants, supporting conservation education, community engagement, and river monitoring. Both are from Kamutjonga village.

Last year, they worked with us on the Kavango Transect, captaining wato. Maria was the first female captain to complete the full transect.
Welcome to the team!

07/04/2026

Our learners explored the world of macroinvertebrates, the small animals that live in and around our water systems. 🐛💧

From insect larvae to water beetles, these species play an important role in river ecosystems by breaking down organic matter and forming part of the food chain.

They also tell us about the health of the river. Some macroinvertebrates can only survive in clean water, while others can tolerate pollution. By learning to identify them, learners were introduced to how scientists use these species as indicators of water quality.

It was a hands-on lesson that built practical understanding of how river health is measured and why it matters.

Address

74 Kelkiewyn Street
Windhoek
10005

Website

http://www.kavango.org.na/

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