Mashi River

river, Namibia

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June 30, 2026

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The Mashi River, also known as the Kwando River, is a river in southern Africa. It originates in central Angola and flows southeast, forming a boundary between Angola and Zambia for approximately 140 miles. The river then reaches the northern border of Namibia's Caprivi Strip, where it spreads into the Linyanti Marshes, which include Lake Liambezi. These marshes drain eastward towards the Zambezi River, with both rivers sharing the same floodplain. The Mashi River is one of the permanent rivers in Namibia, alongside the Kunene, Okavango, Zambezi, and Orange rivers. The total length of the Kwando River is 457 miles, and its drainage basin covers 37,366 square miles.12

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Namibia
the Okavango (Cubango), the Mashi (Kwando), and the Zambezi on the northern border and the Orange on the southern. Only the northern frontier—and not all of it—is readily passable. The coastal Namib desert, the treacherous reefs and shoals of the coast (half aptly named the “Skeleton Coast”), the near…
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the Okavango (Cubango), the Mashi (Kwando), and the Zambezi on the northern border and the Orange on the southern. Only the northern frontier—and not all of it—is readily passable. The coastal Namib desert, the treacherous reefs and shoals of the coast (half aptly named the “Skeleton Coast”), the near…
Read More