The 'natural range' for reedbuck, waterbuck, lechwe and puku in Namibia is limited to the Caprivi. Although there are records of reedbuck in Khaudum and Nyae Nyae, this is the edge of the range and the survival of these populations will largely depend on conserving reedbuck in the Caprivi.

Within the Caprivi (20,000km2), the species are restricted to the floodplains (4,500km2) (Figure 9). These habitats are highly sought after by humans for agriculture and cattle grazing. In 2004 an estimated 3,200km2 of the original floodplain habitats remained.

Only 500km2 of these floodplains are protected in national parks (2½ %) and the area is broken into four isolated parts. The pressure caused by cattle grazing on the remaining 2,700km2 of floodplains outside protected areas is extremely high (Figure 16).

A further factor that is likely to influence the distribution of reedbuck, waterbuck, lechwe and puku within their nominal habitats is the long term cumulative surpluses and deficits in rainfall.