Nkasa Rupara National Park

Officially proclaimed on 1 March 1990 (as Mamili National Park), just days before Namibia gained independence, Nkasa Rupara National Park (also previously known as Nkasa Lupala National Park) is Namibia's largest protected wetland, covering 318 km². The park is dominated by wetlands and is flooded by water from the Kwando River for much of the year. At these times the park becomes like a mini Okavango Delta and up to 80% of it can become inaccessible to vehicles. A recently constructed bridge has improved access to this park.

A range of wetland species occur here in a complex system of channels, reed beeds, lakes and islands including elephant, buffalo, lechwe and reedbuck as well as crocodiles and hippos. Nkasa Lupala serves as a core breeding area for wildlife that can disperse into the neighbouring conservancies: Balyerwa, Wuparo and Dzoti.

Over 450 species of birds have been recorded here, more than anywhere else in Namibia. Notable species include wattled cranes, slaty egret, Stanley's bustard, rosy-throated longclaw, Dickinson's kestrel, Allen's gallinule, lesser jacana, black-winged and red-winged pratincoles, long-toed lapwing, luapula cisticola, coppery-tailed coucal and black coucal.