Off the beaten path in Namibia feels so weird to say, because isn’t that what Namibia stands for already? Being the second least densely populated country in the world, it is a great destination to get away from it all. But when you dig deeper you will find some extraordinary places to stay and one of them is the Namushasha River Lodge in the Caprivi Region.
The most Northeastern Region in Namibia recently changed its name from Caprivi to Zambezi and is the gateway to the mighty Zambezi River. To the north it is flanked by Angola, to the south by Botswana. From North to South the Caprivi region is at some point only 32 kilometers wide. Its stunning natural beauty is what the Caprivi region is famous for and without a doubt it is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Namibia.
In this blog you will find a lot of wildlife photos from my boat safaris and game drives. Here are already some to warm you up. I hope you like them.
The most Eastern point in Namibia is all the way at the tip of the Caprivi strip and borders Zambia and Zimbabwe, where the Zambezi River and the Chobe River meet, close to the Victoria Falls.
Over the last years I have extensively traveled Namibia and on my blog you will find a lot of Namibia travel ideas. Read about volunteering in a wildlife conservation area: Oana Namibia in the south, my stay at Fish River Canyon, my experiences hitchhiking in Namibia or my tips buying a local sim card in Namibia.
Below see my vlog from my stay at the Namushasha River Lodge.
How to get to the Namushasha River Lodge
Getting to the Namushasha River Lodge is easy if you have your own car, but if you don’t it is a little adventure. Most people traveling the Caprivi Strip in Namibia rent a car but I reached the Namushasha Lodge by public transport.
From Windhoek there is a direct bus to Katima Molilo on the Zambia border. The bus company is called Oasis and leaves from Windhoek at 6.00 am. A ticket costs NAD $420 ($30) and the drive is about 10 to 12 hours. However you have to get out 1 hour before Katima Molilo at Kongola.
Exactly 11 hours after departure I reached Kongola, which is about 20 kilomteres from Namushasha River Lodge and the Gondwana staff arranged a pick up for me.
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Room 22 - Namushasha River Lodge
Upon check in I had no clue what the view was like from my balcony as it was pitch black. The only thing I could hear was a concert given by the frogs in the river, an absolutely magical way to welcomed.
There were two single beds that made one big double bed sealed by massive mosquito net. The room was pretty spacious and there was a little desk with a kettle, coffee and tea. The bathroom had a spacious shower, bathroom amenities and a bottle of mosquito repellent.
The balcony had two comfortable chairs and a table and the chalet looked out over the river. The vegetation was pretty high to be honest and partially blocked the view. But when standing you can see all the way into Botswana on the other side of the river.
Hippos were constantly chilling in the river in front of the room and it was a great sight.
All windows and doors are sealed with mosquito screens so you can keep the windows open during the night. There was AC, but I never used it. Trust me falling asleep to the sound of nature is amazing, waking up to it is even more heavenly.
Activities Namushasha River Lodge
Although the room is pretty nice and it felt good to be there. When staying in the Namushasha River Lodge nature is the place to be! Therefore I would recommend you booking at least one tour per day.
Boat safari on the Kwando River
Depending on your preference you can either choose to go on a river cruise in the morning or in the afternoon. I opted for the morning boat cruises every morning and it was an incredible way to slowly wake up. Cruising quietly on the river searching for hippos, crocodiles, elephants and birds. Boat safaris cost around USD $30 per person.
It was my first time safari on the water, so I was super excited. The first day I was really lucky and saw a lot of wildlife. The second day was a little less excited and I didn’t get to see much.
Game Drive in Bwabwata National Park
A completely different experience is the game drive in the nearby national park. To get to Bwabwata National Park you also start off from the jetty at the Namushasha River Lodge. A short 10-minute boat ride will bring you to the safari vehicle where you start your game drive.
On my way to the national park I often saw hippos and crocodiles, but that definitely wasn’t the highlight. Game drives in Bwabwata National Park were unexpectedly a huge success. The vegetation was very high in April, just after the rainy season. My expectations weren’t too high, but on the first day I saw a lot of wildlife in big herds: zebras, elephants, impalas and a lot of colorful birds.
On the second day my game drive in the Bwabwata National Park was the cherry on the cake of my fabulous stay at the Namushasha Lodge. According to my guide he did not see a leopard in 2 years, but I was the lucky one to spot this incredible creature.
Check out these safari captions and quotes for more inspiration to travel to Africa.
It wasn’t just a leopard we encountered, he had just made a kill and a lifeless body of an impala was laying next to him. A leopard with a kill! My guide had not seen this in more than 5 years!
If you haven’t yet, I totally recommend you to watch my vlog of the Namushasha River Lodge and I will take you with me game driving and show you the leopard.
Birdwatching and fishing
Personally I skipped the fishing as it is not my thing, but my boat safari guide said it is actually a thrilling experience and there are some cool creatures of the deep to discover. Bird watching I guess is only pretty fun if you have a good zoom lens, however the Namushasha River Lodge can probably provide you with some binoculars when you decide to go on a birdwatching tour.
I never knew I actually liked bird watching until I got a new zoom lens and then suddenly became a fan! Here are some of the photo I shot in and around the lodge and in the Bwabwata National Park.
Namushasha Houseboat Villa
A fully serviced and all-inclusive luxury houseboat in the middle of nowhere is what makes the extraordinary honeymoon suite of the Namushasha River Lodge. I was able to visit this houseboat on one of my morning boat safaris. I didn’t spend the night here, but when visiting I imagined how that would be.
I stayed in the Namushasha Lodge in the month of April on my overland trip in Africa. I started in Cape Town and made my to Windhoek. Then toured Namibia with one of my Traveltomtom Group Trip and made my way to the Namushasha River Lodge in the Caprivi Strip. Then I traveled onwards to Chobe National Park in Botswana and continued to Zambia to see the Victoria Falls. At the time of traveling in May 2021, Zimbabwe was unfortunately closed for tourists due to the corona pandemic.
I hope my tips for visiting the Namushasha River Lodge were helpful. Enjoy your trip to Namibia!
