Kwando River

Summary

Kwando River

Meandering through the spectacular Caprivi Strip in northwest Namibia, the Kwando River rises from the central Angolan highlands forming the boundary between Namibia, Zambia and Angola. The area surrounding the Kwando River is known for its protected game reserves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. It offers excellent game viewing with the perennial waters of the river attracting plentiful wildlife including large herds of elephant, hippos, crocodiles, red lechwe, turtles, zebra, impala, spotted-necked otters and over 400 species of bird. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing stay at one of the many lodges set on the banks of the river and soak up the spectacular views of wild Africa. Popular activities include: game viewing, bird watching, fishing, and camping.

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From price: NZD0Type: Mobile SafariLocation: Namibia

For the Semi Participation safaris, guests are only required to pitch and fold their own tent. All cooking, cleaning and any other camp chores are taken care of by your safari team, made up of an experienced local safari guide and a camp assistant. We provide 2.1m x 2.1m x 1.75m dome tents and a comfortable 5cm high density foam mattress. We mostly camp in areas with no formal ablutions, and therefore build our own bush toilet and shower when camping in these areas. Guests travel in a custom-built safari vehicle. All safari vehicles are specially designed to offer optimum comfort and maximize game viewing and photographic opportunities for the guests.

Each vehicle has been designed to seat 16 guests but takes a maximum of 12 during Semi Participation Camping Safaris, which ensures excellent game viewing and mobility. Entirely removable side windows along with folding windscreen and canvas roofs enhance game viewing opportunities. 220V/2 pin (round) power points are available on the vehicle to recharge cameras along with a small fridge to ensure guests can enjoy cool drinks at all times. On rainy days or if the air is chilly, perspex windows can be slid on both sides of the vehicle, to simultaneously protect perfectly from the weather while allowing a completely unobstructed sight.

From price: NZD0Rooms: 25Type: LodgeSpoken Languages: Afrikaans, EnglishSpecial Interests: Birding, Fishing, Hiking, Indigenous Culture Art, Leisure, Wildlife, WineLocation: Namibia

Namushasha River Lodge celebrates the wonders of the Zambezi water world with accommodation fit for a king. There's a magic, a feeling or a charm that enraptures you in these northern realms. With elephants, hippos, myriad bird species, waterlilies and African bush, a visit to Namushasha provides an enriching adventure into Nature - to the accompaniment of the chiming of reed frogs, bird calls, hippo grunts and the soothing sound of a boat skimming through water. Namushasha's impressive central entrance, designed in true African style with a wooden chandelier and carved animals, leads guests into the attractive lodge set between the trees. The dining room, with its high thatched roof, is open on the sides to the river world, providing a suitable - and airy - welcome to wonderland.

One of the captivating Caprivi lodges, Namushasha River Lodge offers guests a superlative choice of exciting activities: Stroll past the green-lawned campsite to the traditional heritage centre; hop aboard the river boats for early morning or late afternoon river cruises to explore the channels and discover the diverse bird life; or take a trip to the Bwabwata National Park, first by boat along the waterways to later transfer to a game vehicle for an excursion into African bush. At the end of the day, there's nothing that can quite compare to a red Zambezi sunset.

From price: NZD0Rooms: 6Type: CampsiteSpoken Languages: Afrikaans, EnglishSpecial Interests: Birding, Fishing, Flora, Indigenous Culture Art, WildlifeLocation: Namibia

As the evening sky turns into a red glow you sit back, high above the river, enjoying a chilled drink while listening to the deep grunt of hippos – this experience awaits you on the sundowner deck of Namushasha River Lodge on the Kwando River in eastern Caprivi. Situated 24 km south of Kongola on the C 49 (former D 3501), it is the perfect stop-over en route to the Victoria Falls. 16 Camp sites on lawn with own BBQ and ablution block with cold & hot running water.

From price: NZD0Rooms: 8Type: Safari LodgeSpoken Languages: EnglishSpecial Interests: Birding, Star Gazing, WildlifeLocation: Botswana

Lebala Camp fronts onto the Linyanti Wetlands where the perennial and southerly flowing Kwando River disappears into the vast marshes before emerging as the Linyanti River, flowing in a north easterly direction. Lebala means “wide open spaces” in the local Setswana dialect which aptly describes this incredible area.

The eight spacious tents are unique, each built on a raised teak deck and open with expansive views, laid out with maximum comfort and privacy in mind. One of the 8 tents is a family room with 2 bedrooms and a shared bathroom. The tents have an entrance foyer with a reading and writing area, en-suite bathrooms with Victorian claw foot bathtubs, "his and hers" washbasins and flush toilets. The bathrooms lead out to a reed enclosed open-air shower with hot and cold running water on demand. The main lodge is under thatch featuring a bar, dining area and open lounge connected on wooden walkways to a plunge pool on raised decking and the boma area.

At Lebala Camp, the activities concentrate on open vehicle game drives and walking safaris. However, game walks are at the guides' discretion due to the concentrations of elephant. Lebala Camp offers off road and night game drives - night drives being a specialty at Lebala with its high-visibility plains.

The wetlands and flood plains around Lebala offer a wonderful variety of wildlife with excellent sightings of elephant, hippo, lechwe, zebra, giraffe, impala, wildebeest, kudu, tsessebe, roan, sable, buffalo and the ever present predators; wild dog, lion, cheetah and hyena.

Airstrip Transfer Time: 15 minutes

From price: NZD0Rooms: 8Type: Safari LodgeSpoken Languages: EnglishSpecial Interests: Birding, Fishing, Star Gazing, WildlifeLocation: Botswana

Includes: meals, drinks, all game viewing activities & laundry
Excludes: premium imported wines, champagnes & spirits
Activities: day & night drives and seasonal walking at the guides discretion

Lagoon Camp is situated in the Kwando Reserve, a huge private reserve covering 2,300km². Most of its western side is dense mopane forest but along the Kwando River is a band of lush riverine forest, interspersed with open plains. The area attracts superb big game, especially during Botswana's dry season when elephants seem to be everywhere.

Lagoon Camp has 8 comfortably appointed safari style tents overlooking the lagoon. One of the tents serves as a family room. The tents have en-suite facilities, his and hers basins, flush toilet and a spacious inside bath tub and inside & outside showers.

The camp has a plunge pool, lounge, bar, gift shop and dining room with a shady area overlooking both the lagoon and is a favoured spot where elephants come to drink and also have a raised library that overlooks the lagoon.

At Lagoon Camp the activities concentrate around open vehicle game drives. Game walks are on offer but are at the guides' discretion due to the concentrations of elephant. Lagoon Camp offers off road night game drives, offering guests to see the fascinating nocturnal wildlife in the area.

Activities are focused on game drives. During periods of high water levels, water activities may be possible but not guaranteed.

From price: NZD0Rooms: 4Type: Safari LodgeLocation: Namibia

Beautifully set on the banks of the Kwando River Camp Kwando is centred round a large thatched lapa which houses a restaurant and bar. The Camp has two room types, chalets near the reed beds of the river, and larger 'tree houses' built on stilts. Game drives and boat trips are on offer. Come capture the spirit of the African bush while sipping sundowners from the beautiful overhead deck and experience the thrill of the tiger fish and the hauntingly beautiful call of the African fish eagle