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ST NO:212056255 Kasika Conservancy

Kasika conservancy got its name from a small tree; kasika  means a small mangosteen tree. Kasika conservancy was initiated in 1998 with the help of the Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation (IRDNC). The conservancy got its recognized and registration with the Ministry of Tourism and Environment in December 2005. The main vision of the conservancy is to improve and help with the lives of the community members that reside within the area and the nation at large.

Kasika conservancy is situated in the North-Easten part of Namibian (Caprivi Region) in Southern Africa. It is close to Chobe River which borders Botswana and Namibia, Zambezi River which borders Zambia and Namibia. It covers the total area of about 147 square kilometers with the population of approximately 1500. The conservancy has the total annual rainfall of over 600mm. Flood plains exists between Chobe and Zambezi River, with water visible through out the year.

Kasika conservancy accommodates a variety of wild animals such as Elephants, Buffalos, Crocodiles, Hippos, Sitatungas, lechwes, variety of birds and their interesting lives and a variety of Fish, such as Tiger fish, Catfish, and many more Talipia fish species.

Kasika conservancy made a joint-venture tourism agreement with King’s Den Lodge and Chobe Savannah Lodge. A variety of tourism activities such as bird viewing, fishing trips, hunting (trophy hunting and own-use hunting), and boat cruising and mukoro trips are available. Mukoro is a traditional wood made boat which is made from a big tree, which is chiseled to make an open space which can accommodate a capacity of two or more people. Hunting activities are normally carried out on boat and on foot in rare cases hunting is done while in car. Fishing trips is also optional either on modern boat (Speed boat) or traditional boat (Mukoro). Bird viewing can be conducted in different ways like in boat, car and foot.

Kasika conservancy also introduces its visitors to traditional dances, traditional healers (Sangoma) who perform and show visitors some of the crucial traditions and remedies. The community members conduct a variety of craft work which is sold to tourists and visitors, they also incorporate village tours which is done on foot with the guidance of well trained and experienced tour guiders.

The strangest character about Kasika conservancy is its persistence. During April to July the area is normally flooded, submerged under water; eighty percent of the conserved animals migrate to higher grounds in the neighboring Botswana’s Chobe National Park. The people also relocate to higher grounds outside the conservancy due to flood. During August to March the animals migrate again from Chobe National Park to Kasika Conservancy, the people will also relocate back to their destinations.

Kasika conservancy stands in a dispute of either to deregister it or upgrade it. This is because some community members believes that ,the eighty percent of the so called conserved animals belong to Chobe National Park of Botswana, and that kasika conservancy is one of their seasonal grazing area, the maximum benefit is for Botswana. However kasika conservancy currently is operational with all its activities in full force despite the conflicts.

The research has shown that in the past thirty year’s kasika area was one of the densely populated areas with animals in Namibia. The history had never repeated itself since most of the animals disappeared due to community behaviors and attitudes towards the animals. Kasika conservancy is working hard to let the history repeat itself by conserving the current animals before they stand greater chances of extinct.[and university projects/polytechnic of Namibia].

ST NO:212056255