African Monarch Lodges
Authentic Experiences in the Zambezi
Our unquenchable desire to create memorable African experiences takes you on foot, by boat or vehicle, up close and personal with some of the biggest herds of elephants that traverse the largest conservation area in Africa.
Superior standards and unrivalled spaces are equally matched by the detail and attention bestowed on our guests by the staff who are carefully selected from the local communities for their passion for heartfelt personal service. This ensures that all our guests enjoy an extraordinary, unparalleled and true African experience.
Explore our Properties
Nambwa Tented Lodge
Nambwa Tented Lodge
Kazile Island Lodge
Kazile Island Lodge
Nambwa Campsite
Nambwa Campsite
What our Guests Say
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Lovely rooms and great views across the plains for game watching - The drive in can be a challenge so worth contacting in advance for the best route in as signposting is poor and conditions are constantly changing and we did encounter... read more deep sand. Once at the camp the rooms are luxurious and tea or coffee can be delivered with a wake up call. The communal area is great with drinks by the fire and tables laid outside overlooking the game viewing area. Good buffet breakfast. Keenan was a great manager attentive and friendly
2 August 2024Magic! - We highly recommend this lodge to all who are capable driving with a 4w car 😉 Staff very friendly and supportive, we liked the tends and the interior very... read more much. Food was also great. Enjoyed the Game Drives very much. We would definitely stay at this lodge again.
1 August 2024 -
Hoanib River is exceptional! - Great service and guides! We spotted Lions feeding on a Giraffe they had killed. We saw 3 desert adapted elephant bulls. The geology is amazing riding through... read more the canyons and observing the Metamorphic range. The camp is conservation conscious and operated by highly trained locals.
1 July 2024True community focused lodge - The experience in the Caprivi was amazing. African Monarch Lodges; Nambwa Tented Lodge & Kazile island Lodge are the only lodges inside the Bwabwata National Park. What the... read more Rogers family has done here makes a huge differenct to the lives of the people from the surrounding villages. A true sustainable project, giving back to the people. The charm of the staff at the lodge reflect the harmony in which the lodges, tourists, wildlife and local people can all operate in unison.
1 June 2024 -
Just Fantastic - its a special place! the location of the lodge, the decks, the restaurant etc - just extraordinary. we have been in the area numerous times already but never... read more to the lodge. it is pricy but defiantly worth it. quality of food great - beer cold & animals walking past.
2 May 2024A very special lodge - excellent - An amazing experience.
Jan (manager) and his team added so much to our stay. All staff were always smiling, and helpful.
What they achieve in such a remote location... read more is excellent.
The rooms are very well appointed, and privacy is excellent.
We had very good meals during our stay.
Game drives and boat drives were great, with well informed guides.
Can recommend this lodge without hesitation.
1 May 2024 -
Elevated walkways/tents! - What a great place.. all built high above the ground so the wildlife can pass through even elephants! All the staff are excellent so helpful and accommodating, we enjoyed... read more all our meals beautifully presented on the main deck looking over the plains. Had a great boat safari with a very knowledgeable guide saw the rare Sitatunga. The tents are to die for huge luxurious and comfortable!
1 May 2024Peaceful location in the depths of Bwabwata Park - One of many independent lodges that we stayed at during our month-long Namibia holiday and probably the most exceptional in many respects.
Firstly let’s deal with the issue of... read more the road which many people mention. If you have a normal sedan or hatchback you’d best arrange direct with the hotel and they will come and collect you from the park entrance. If you have a Fortuner or a Hilux then engage H4 and enjoy the drive. Yes there is deep sand on some bits of the 14km track, yes the signposting to the lodge is not great. Keep the vehicle momentum going, if it loses traction wiggle the steering wheel until the tyres find grip - we had a Fortuner and no 4x4 sand driving experience and we got there and back without any problem using a mixture of H2 and H4 settings when needed. We also had the Tracks4Africa GPS map downloaded and installed on our Garmin which gave us door-to-door directions even down the sand track in the park; do not rely on Google maps!
Once you get there you will realise why it is worth the effort. Set on stilts above the wildlife (unless it’s baboons of course!), the luxury tents are comfortable, airy and spacious with separate shower and toilet cubicles and a gorgeously deep bath. There are no fridges in the rooms though which, if I had one piece of constructive criticism for the management team, would be well worth the effort. We were there when temperatures were hitting 38-40 degrees and the tents were getting so hot that the bottled water was getting warm enough to make a cup of tea! A small mini fridge would help keep them cold, as well as the milk and any other bottles of water you might have bought with you.
Sockets are a little odd (not just here, but in other hotels too). The only noticeable sockets when you walk in the tent are the European round 2-pin ones. If you have the South African round 3 pin adapters don’t panic, just pull your bedside table out and there is a round 3-pin plug right there.
The welcome we received on arrival was warm and friendly and the drinks and towels were ice cold. Rayno and Efran greeted us like friends and took us to our room and explained everything about the hotel, meal times and tours available. The staff here also make the lodge the most friendly and welcoming we have experienced - Rayno, Efran, Mpo, Miranda, Harris, Bivan, Eustace and many more.
There is a small pool which only has a couple of sun loungers, but the best place is either your own veranda or the main area where the restaurant, bar and very ‘African colonial’ shady area is set - this is also where you can get the fast wifi too.
Food was excellent, in the evening with it being a 4 course set menu briefed to you by the chef and breakfast was a part buffet part hot order. Service by the staff was also exceptional and professional and we had excellent rapport with all of the team.
We did the boat cruise and the game drive and both were exceptional in terms of the amount of wildlife and birdlife we saw which included Hammerkop and the locally resident (and incredibly endangered) Wild Dogs.
We didn’t really want to leave and we should have spent more nights here than in some other places, but that’s the chance you take sometimes. We would be back in a heartbeat and will certainly include Nambwa in our next trip to Namibia! Keep up the good work Rayno and team.
1 October 2023 -
Not easy to find lodge in the middle of the nature reserve. Access only via 4WD passage to a hidden clearing where the transfer boat was waiting for us. After... read more a 30-minute boat ride, arrival at the lodge, which is located entirely on 4-6 m high "stilts" and was integrated into a group of trees so as not to impair a given elephant path ....
Perfectly equipped lodge; Bar and terrace with viewing platform and viewpoint on a waterhole - in the middle of the steppe. Luxury tents with open bathtub, separate spacious shower, spacious toilet, dream double bed, own living area and sofa! Heart, what do you want/expect more?
Super attentive, nice, friendly and fast operating staff, who anticipates your every wish. And top food, whether for dinner (really perfect), for breakfast or in the afternoon for "in between".....
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And also the game drives on water or on land, here we got our money's worth. Too bad - our stay was only planned for 2 nights.....
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For this lodge clear 10 out of 10 points; Greetings to Christian and Lisa (management), we had a really great time with you, which I/we will look back on fondly. This lodge is something you should experience.
7 July 2023Nambwa Tented Lodge, southern of Kongola (Caprivi) - a dream came true - Not easy to find lodge in the middle of the nature reserve. Access only via 4WD passage to a hidden clearing where the transfer boat was waiting for us. After... read more a 30-minute boat ride, arrival at the lodge, which is located entirely on 4-6 m high "stilts" and was integrated into a group of trees so as not to impair a given elephant path .
Perfectly equipped lodge; Bar and terrace with viewing platform and viewpoint on a waterhole - in the middle of the steppe. Luxury tents with open bathtub, separate spacious shower, spacious toilet, dream double bed, own living area and sofa! Heart, what do you want/expect more?
Super attentive, nice, friendly and fast operating staff, who anticipates your every wish. And top food, whether for dinner (really perfect), for breakfast or in the afternoon for "in between" ..
.
And also the game drives on water or on land, here we got our money's worth. Too bad - our stay was only planned for 2 nights ..
.
For this lodge clear 10 out of 10 points; Greetings to Christian and Lisa (management), we had a really great time with you, which I/we will look back on fondly. This lodge is something you should experience .
1 July 2023 -
Wonderful stay. - Staying here was the absolute highlight of my trip to Namibia. Located in the lesser-known Bwabwata NP, this camp was the perfect spot for both adventure and relaxation. ... read more Even going from my room to the common area was an adventure, passing along an elevated walkway where animals can be and were seen down on the ground going about their business. Game drives in the reserve were outstanding as were boat excursions along the Kwando river. The room was spacious and comfortable. Food was delicious and plentiful. Would love to stay here again!
3 June 2023Wonderful stay. - Staying here was the absolute highlight of my trip to Namibia. Located in the lesser-known Bwabwata NP, this camp was the perfect spot for both adventure and relaxation. ... read more Even going from my room to the common area was an adventure, passing along an elevated walkway where animals can be and were seen down on the ground going about their business. Game drives in the reserve were outstanding as were boat excursions along the Kwando river. The room was spacious and comfortable. Food was delicious and plentiful. Would love to stay here again!
1 June 2023 -
Nambwa Campsite Caprivi - Spent two nights at new campsite next to Longlagoon. Very clean, hot water, 220v power and comfortable setup at camp. Unbelievable friendly staff and manager Christiaan and wife Lisa will... read more go beyond the extra mile to assist and make one’s stay at Nambwa Campsite special.
26 May 2023Nambwa Campsite Caprivi - Spent two nights at new campsite next to Longlagoon. Very clean, hot water, 220v power and comfortable setup at camp. Unbelievable friendly staff and manager Christiaan and wife Lisa will... read more go beyond the extra mile to assist and make one’s stay at Nambwa Campsite special.
1 May 2023 -
Excellent lodge - Superb stay in luxury tents surrounded by wildlife. We loved our stay here. You could lie in bed and hear elephants and hippos! We were on an all inclusive package.... read more The communal areas were lovely places. We also enjoyed spending a little bit of time chilling in the pool area. The staff are wonderfully welcoming and attentive. Our guide Eustace was excellent. Really enjoyed the variety of land and boat safaris. Would recommend being picked up at the park entrance and leaving your car there. We did this and it was like having a safari on our way to the lodge without having to worry about finding the right track! So glad we did
30 March 2023Simply magical & stunning - A truly magical place. Stunning location with fabulous rooms and views. Abundant wildlife, especially elephant, antelope and hippos. Fish eagles and other birds galore. Cats elusive, but about.
Staff were... read more great; and the guide Eustace, a local, was fabulous. A very special location. Two small suggestions where others have excelled are: 1. Improve the food quality and choice - do benchmark Onguma tented. Perfectly adequate, but some small choice would be fabulous. 2. Do start the Nambwa experience at the tar road. I’d suggest all pick ups start there so the safari begins on the high ours did. I hope we can return one day.
27 March 2023
The Sijwa Project
An island of change
A holistic balance between conservation, community, culture and commerce exists at The Sijwa Project.
Our Partners
Our Story
African Monarch Lodges, home to Nambwa Tented Lodge and Kazile Island Lodge inside Bwabwata National Park in Namibia’s Zambezi Region, is the cumulative product of the passion and dedication of its founders, Dusty and Tinolla.
Where to Find Us
How to Get There
- Daily airline flights from Johannesburg & Cape Town to Vic Falls (Zimbabwe), Livingstone (Zambia), Kasane (Botswana)
- 3 Flights a week from Windhoek to Katima (Sunday, Wednesday and Friday)
- We can arrange road transfers from Katima, Kasane, Vic Falls or Livingstone
- Vic Falls/Livingstone to our lodge’s Boat Station – 3.5 to 4 hours
- Kasane to our lodge’s Boat Station – 2.5 to 3 hours
- Katima to our lodge’s Boat Station – 1.5 hours
- Our lodges are located 1150 km from Windhoek
- Ideal overnight stops enroute are Rundu (440km from our lodges) or Bagani on the Okavango River (200km from our lodges)
- Our lodges are only accessible with a 4×4 vehicle.
- Various boat cruise or game drive transfer options are available from the main entrance to our lodges
- Vehicles can also be parked safely at Kazile Boat Station and from here boat transfers can be booked to either
- Nambwa or Kazile
Boat transfers to Nambwa from Kazile Boat Station will take approximately 35 minutes - Boat transfers from Kazile are complimentary and will take approximately 5-10 minutes