SOUTH WEST AFRICA

SOUTH WEST AFRICA / SUIDWES-AFRIKA - ZUIDWEST-AFRIKA. 

Map of area of Caprivi Strip.
Last stamp in a set of 4, issued on 06.11.1986.
Face value: 30 cents of South-African rand.
Printing: Offset lithography.

Catalogues
- Michel No. 599.
- Scott No. 577.
. StampWorld No. 598.
- Yvert et Tellier No. 556.

The Caprivi Strip is a geographical overhang in the northeast corner of Namibia. It is surrounded by Botswana to the south and Angola and Zambia to the north. Namibia, Botswana and Zambia meet at a single point at the eastern end of the Strip, which is also 100 m from Zimbabwe. The territory was acquired by then German South-West Africa to provide access to the Zambezi River and consequently a route to the German East African coast (its German name is Caprivizipfel). Within Namibia, the Strip is administratively divided between the Kavango East and Zambezi regions. It is crossed by the Kavango River. The Kwando River is part of its border with Botswana and the Zambezi River is part of its border with Zambia. The width of the strip varies from about 32 km (20 mi) to 105 km (65 mi). Its largest settlement is Katima Mulilo, located at the point where the Zambezi River reaches the Strip. Caprivi was named after the German Chancellor Leo von Caprivi, who negotiated the acquisition of the land in 1890 through an exchange with the Great Britain.