Caprivi area/ best value lodge around
#2
Join Date: Aug 2005
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I'd be interested in learning more myself. Are you self driving the Trans-Caprivi highway. I've been looking but have not yet been able to find a car rental for the Livingstone - Windhoek leg. Any ideas appreciated.
#3
We were in Caprivi a couple of weeks ago and stayed at the following 2 hotels
- Outside of Rundu - N'Kwazi Lodge
http://www.namibweb.com/nkwazi.htm
A delightful small lodge run by a couple who are heavily involved in education in the area. There are 14 bungalows with twin beds and ensuite bathrooms (basic and spotless) and a large bar and restaurant area. (there was a swimming pool until it floated away in the 2009 flood!). We were really impressed with the food - much more flavourful than we had had in Namibia to that point.
We took a sunset boat cruise on the river and "landed" in Angola for a photo op - we had booked a school visit but unfortunately could not go due to timing.
It was incredibly reasonable - $500 Namibian Dollars (B&B) for the off season rate - $750 N in on season (for 2 people)
Further down the Caprivi we stayed 2 nights at Mazambala Lodge -
http://www.mazambala.com/index.htm
16 ensuite bungalows (simple/clean)in a beautiful garden setting. The raised restaurant and bar has great views over the river. We took a boat cruise one day in the pouring rain which was actually quite fun. Again, the food was very good and the young staff quite delightful. You park in their secured parking lot and and transported to the island via boat.
boudecca - re driving from Livingstone - I looked into that but it was very complicated (and expensive as you are no doubt learning) You might want to do what we did in reverse. We rented in Windhoek and dropped off in Katima Mullilo (near the Bots border). In Katima we were picked up by a local tour company and driven to Kasane (about 2 hours) - stayed there for 3 days (didn't need a car there) and then were driven to the Zambia Ferry Terminal (I use those words loosely) where our transportation was a private boat for the one minute crossing. On the other side we were picked up and transported to Livingstone (one hour).
Our hotel in Kasane organized it (Garden Lodge) but it clearly is a common thing - you might want to contact the Livingstone operator (Wildside - http://www.wildsidesafaris.com/) to enquire - I'm sure they could organize the whole thing through to Katima.
Having just done it - I would highly recommend not driving the whole way - the ferry alone is unpredictable and could take hours. It was easy and efficient and likely a lot less expensive than renting a car across all those countries. (sorry I don't know exactly how much as the cost was rolled into our Garden Lodge accommodation)
Happy to answer any questions - still working on our trip report but here's a link to the (still growing) Namibia portion of our blog
http://lizandrichardsa.typepad.com/africa/g-namibia/
- Outside of Rundu - N'Kwazi Lodge
http://www.namibweb.com/nkwazi.htm
A delightful small lodge run by a couple who are heavily involved in education in the area. There are 14 bungalows with twin beds and ensuite bathrooms (basic and spotless) and a large bar and restaurant area. (there was a swimming pool until it floated away in the 2009 flood!). We were really impressed with the food - much more flavourful than we had had in Namibia to that point.
We took a sunset boat cruise on the river and "landed" in Angola for a photo op - we had booked a school visit but unfortunately could not go due to timing.
It was incredibly reasonable - $500 Namibian Dollars (B&B) for the off season rate - $750 N in on season (for 2 people)
Further down the Caprivi we stayed 2 nights at Mazambala Lodge -
http://www.mazambala.com/index.htm
16 ensuite bungalows (simple/clean)in a beautiful garden setting. The raised restaurant and bar has great views over the river. We took a boat cruise one day in the pouring rain which was actually quite fun. Again, the food was very good and the young staff quite delightful. You park in their secured parking lot and and transported to the island via boat.
boudecca - re driving from Livingstone - I looked into that but it was very complicated (and expensive as you are no doubt learning) You might want to do what we did in reverse. We rented in Windhoek and dropped off in Katima Mullilo (near the Bots border). In Katima we were picked up by a local tour company and driven to Kasane (about 2 hours) - stayed there for 3 days (didn't need a car there) and then were driven to the Zambia Ferry Terminal (I use those words loosely) where our transportation was a private boat for the one minute crossing. On the other side we were picked up and transported to Livingstone (one hour).
Our hotel in Kasane organized it (Garden Lodge) but it clearly is a common thing - you might want to contact the Livingstone operator (Wildside - http://www.wildsidesafaris.com/) to enquire - I'm sure they could organize the whole thing through to Katima.
Having just done it - I would highly recommend not driving the whole way - the ferry alone is unpredictable and could take hours. It was easy and efficient and likely a lot less expensive than renting a car across all those countries. (sorry I don't know exactly how much as the cost was rolled into our Garden Lodge accommodation)
Happy to answer any questions - still working on our trip report but here's a link to the (still growing) Namibia portion of our blog
http://lizandrichardsa.typepad.com/africa/g-namibia/
#5
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Elizabeth
Your blog is fabulous. Great shots/video. What are you using for a camera? Also, what did you think of Cape Cross Lodge? I was going to stop for lunch and not for the night because of all the negative comments, particularly the one about no heat!! Rooms look nice and the seals captivating. Particularly loved your airflight. Who did you use for the charter?
boudecca
boudecca
Your blog is fabulous. Great shots/video. What are you using for a camera? Also, what did you think of Cape Cross Lodge? I was going to stop for lunch and not for the night because of all the negative comments, particularly the one about no heat!! Rooms look nice and the seals captivating. Particularly loved your airflight. Who did you use for the charter?
boudecca
boudecca
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