riverine forest and listen to nature’s orchestra; the slosh of life-giving water, the croaking of frogs, the cries of owls and the throaty chuckles of Mudumu’s hippos.
Crafts: Women in Caprivi using papyrus make Musemes, the Lozi name for reed-floor mats. Each reed is halved lengthwise and dried in the sun to allow the inner pith to shrink, thus making the reed curl inwards, which makes it more durable. The reeds are then sewn together tightly, using string made from the locally grown mafuu (mother-in-law’s tongue) and narakuku plants. Traditionally the Caprivians used these mats to create temporary shelters when they moved to other areas for part of the year to gather food supplies. Up to three or four people would share a mat to sleep on.
The Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA) is also found in the Caprivi region. Spanning over 172,000sq mile KaZa is the world's biggest conservation area. Museums: The Living Museum of the Mafwe is an authentic open-air museum where guests can learn about the traditional culture and original lifestyle of the Mafwe, demonstrated and described with great dedication, with English translations. Most of the programmes are interactive, with the Mafwe enjoying it when the visitors try to weave a traditional net and taste traditional foods. Visitors can spend the night close to the museum in a basic bush camp (soon to be turned into an official campsite) or stay in one of the surrounding accommodation establishments. The museum is independently managed by the Mafwe of Singalamwe and is situated on a beautiful hill with a view on the Kwando River.
The Caprivi is home to many fine potters as it's an area with a lot of clay soils and wood for the ovens. Because the region lies between Botswana, Angola and Zambia, the Caprivian craft-makers are influenced by an active crafts industry in neighboring countries. The community-based Caprivi Art Centre in Katima Mulilo is a marketing outlet for artists and craftspeople throughout the region. The Ngoma Crafts Centre situated on the border with Botswana also sells local crafts. History: Known as Itenga, Caprivi was ruled by the Lozi kings until it became part of the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, today’s Botswana. In 1890, at the Berlin Conference, Germany acquired the territory, named it after the German Chancellor General Count Georg Leo von Caprivi, and added it to German South West Africa. The capital of Caprivi was at Schuckmansburg until about 1933, when it was moved to Katima Mulilo, a name that means ‘put out the fire’. Katima Mulilo has since become a busy tourist centre and gateway to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and the Chobe National Park in Botswana.
In Katima Mulilo the small Sangwali Museum tells the interesting story of the journey of early missionaries in the region and the pre-colonial Kololo invasion. Festivals: The Mashi Crafts Festival takes place in August each year. It provides an opportunity for craftmakers, primarily women, from all over Caprivi to adorn their brightest and finest chetenges and show off their artistry. They compete for prizes and present traditional dances and plays to colleagues and guests.
Adventures Activities: The Caprivi is a birding hotspot and is thus favored by birding enthusiasts. The area is also exciting for 4x4 drivers. Freshwater angling is popular on the Zambezi River. White-river rafting is at its most exciting on the turbulent waters of the Zambezi, while classic hunting safaris are offered in some areas.
This festival reinforces the tradition of basket-making in Kavango and Caprivi. Women still use baskets for harvesting in the mahangu fields. The revival of traditional skills and the acquisition of new skills in marketing and sales has enabled women to create a vibrant and successful craft industry.
River cruises on pontoons, photo safaris, swamp safaris, horseback trails, boating, a trip in a mokoro (dug-out canoe) and game viewing,
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