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Dreaming in the treetops…

Text and Photographs Elzanne Erasmus | Main photo ©Timo De Nijs

The stately animals make their way through the marshes. Slowly but surely they navigate the wet ground underfoot. Among them, barely sticking out above the tall grasses, you can make out the backs of young calves. They weave their way through their mothers’ legs. Hiding from the big world they haven’t quite gotten a grasp on yet. We are treading the off-road track that leads from the entrance gate of Bwabwata National Park to Nambwa Tented Lodge, when a herd of about 50 elephants crosses our path. We wait patiently as they pass, one by one, the sound of twigs and branches crushing underfoot as they make their way to the Kwando River not too far away.

In 2007 the former Caprivi Game Park, proclaimed in 1966, was incorporated into the 6 100 km2 Bwabwata National Park, together with the Kwando – or Golden Triangle – and the Buffalo and Mahango (the former Mahango Game Park) core areas. The park is a sanctuary for 35 large game species – including elephant, buffalo, impala, reedbuck, red lechwe, sitatunga, hippo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, Chobe bushbuck, tsessebe, sable and roan antelope – and numerous small game species. Predators such as lion, leopard, cheetah and African wild dog can also be found in the park. Most of these species congregate along the Okavango and Kwando riverbanks and at the Malombe and Ndwasa pans in the northeast. The Okavango and Kwando rivers and their respective floodplains are important habitats for wetland bird species such as wattled cranes and African skimmers. Over 400 bird species have been recorded here. Crocodiles and hippo flourish in the rivers, so beware. Bwabwata takes its name, which refers to the sound of bubbling water, from a village in the park. It forms part of the 278 132 km2 Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area, the world’s largest conservation area.

Nambwa Tented Lodge, on the Kwando River, is the only lodge inside Bwabwata National Park. The spacious tented suites are connected with walkways raised high enough for elephants to pass underneath, honouring their right of way. Upon arrival at the lodge we were met by managers Juan and Bertha and our guide for the duration of our stay, Beaven. Welcome drinks and excited conversation quickly ensued and we set off to explore this unique location.

Elephants amble through the trees

A lark chants in the background

Baboons sit dreaming in the canopies

A hamerkop flies south

Beaven - Nambwa Ranger

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  • Pompie’s Amazing Birding Safari September 17, 2018
    African Monarch Lodges
  • Caprivi-Streifen Namibias tropisches Paradies March 5, 2018
      Spiegel-online, ab 21. Februar 2018   Wildreich und wild: Wer Elefanten, Löwen und Flusspferde ganz nah erleben will, bereist Namibias nordöstlichen Zipfel. Die Region erlebt zurzeit einen Boom, immer mehr luxuriöse Zeltcamps eröffnen.   Das Boot taumelt und schwankt. Riesige Wellen erfassen seinen Bug. Die Touristen auf dem Oberdeck sind jedoch wenig irritiert, sie […]
    African Monarch Lodges
  • Spectacular nocturnal wildlife sightings June 15, 2016
    Spectacular nocturnal wildlife sightings Nambwa Tented Lodge has been experiencing some spectacular wildlife sightings recently. Here is one of their latest guest experiences: “The cool air washes over our faces as we sit on the back of the game viewer, following the light as it floats over the grass plains on our left, and the dense […]
    NamDan
  • Dreaming in the treetops… May 15, 2016
    Dreaming in the treetops… Text and Photographs Elzanne Erasmus | Main photo ©Timo De Nijs The stately animals make their way through the marshes. Slowly but surely they navigate the wet ground underfoot. Among them, barely sticking out above the tall grasses, you can make out the backs of young calves. They weave their way […]
    NamDan
  • Special Nambwa B’day Surprise April 15, 2016
    A special Nambwa Birthday surprise A couple of weeks ago, the 7th of April to be exact, it was my brother-in-law’s birthday. To celebrate, Nambwa Tented Lodge organised an island breakfast for us which was absolutely amazing. My brother- in-law is from Germany and he had never celebrated his birthday away from home before; so to get such […]
    NamDan

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All our recyclables ready to be re-purposed and re All our recyclables ready to be re-purposed and re-invented at our Sijwa Project. Making a difference.

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Still relaxing at Nambwa Tented Lodge 🛁. Visit Still relaxing at Nambwa Tented Lodge 🛁.

Visit our website to book your Valentine's Getaway:

www.africanmonarchlodges.com

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Saturday, time to relax and enjoy the scenery 🌾 Saturday, time to relax and enjoy the scenery 🌾

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One of the natural treasures to be found on our Wa One of the natural treasures to be found on our Walking Safaris. 
Scadoxus multiflorus

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We love seeing the photos you tag us in! Our hippo We love seeing the photos you tag us in!
Our hippos playing hide and seek, captured by @nikita_rix.

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We can change the world and make it a better place We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in your hands to make a difference. - Nelson Mandela

The women who are part of our Sijwa Project, pounding clay for glass-bead moulds.

We have a collective responsibility toward our planet, and we are so proud of the work we're doing at the Sijwa Project. We are so passionate about it and love sharing it with you!

 #namibia #travel #africa #zambezi #conservation #birding #wildlife #wild #photography #luxury #kaza #namibiawetlands
At Nambwa Tented Lodge, guests can experience the At Nambwa Tented Lodge, guests can experience the wildlife up close, without invading or interfering; the lodge is designed and structured to give even the elephants right of way!

Aren't they just amazing creatures? Elephant herds build strong communication bonds with one another, which enables them to face natural threats, together.

In the video, the elephant calf is a prey-target and the herd successfully chases off the predator, by standing together and forming a circle around the young calf. Elephants are especially protective of the calves in their herd - the mother carries her baby for nearly two years, and they only give birth to one calve at a time.

 #namibia #travel #africa #zambezi #conservation #birding #wildlife #wild #photography #luxury #kaza #namibiawetlands #namibianelephants #elephantherd
Amazing views and special people. There's a partic Amazing views and special people. There's a particular peace that lives along Horseshoe Bend, and we're here for it!

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Who doesn't 'love' a picnic? If you're planning a Who doesn't 'love' a picnic?

If you're planning a special getaway for Valentine's day, come and enjoy a couple of days at one of the African Monarch Lodges, where, among other activities, you can indulge in a freshly prepared organic spread and a bottle of sparkling wine, between the majestic trees on a romantic picnic.

Get planning, link in bio.

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