Namushasha Lodge, Caprivi Central, Namibia

Tuesday 16 March

Lockdown Day 355

A few hours travel east is Namushasha Lodge in the Bwabwata NP. We chose the "camping2go" self catering safari tents, preferring a braai and our own cooking for a change.

The lodge is located on the Kwando River and we chose to go fishing again, ensuring our own boat. Neil caught a 1 kilo Tiger, not quite as big as last one but fun nevertheless.

This area is as beautiful as the Okavango Delta and the bird life is phenomenal. Our bird list for the trip is up to 180. 

As you can see from the date, I have been doing these Lockdown blogs for almost a year now. Reading back over the last year's posts is quite insightful. We really have had a good time despite being locked down and I'm pleased to have managed this daily record keeping feat. There's a lot to be grateful for despite a few wobblies along the way. I'll probably continue writing more often rather than the 3 to 4 posts a month on the blog in the early days. I started blogging 13 years ago when we retired and it's got a lot easier over the years with phone cameras, very accessible social media and data coverage almost everywhere.

Nundu Lodge, Western Caprivi, Namibia

Sunday 14 and Monday 15 March

Lockdown Day 353 and 354

Nundu Lodge is a delightful, family- run spot on the Okavango River near the village of Divundi. The chalets and campsites are in the bird-rich, riverine forest. We spent the first afternoon on our verandah watching a pod of hippos in the river and enjoyed sunset from the deck.

  The meals are above the average lodge faire that we've had this past 10 days and this lodge is by far the best value for money so far. There special rate is just R590pp/on DBB. 

On Monday we did a trip to nearby Mahango National Park. We saw so much game including a Sable antelope, Lechwe and lots of buffalo.

We spent 3 hours in the car sitting under a tree logged on and waiting for a chance to buy tickets to RWC 2023 in France. Just as we got back to the lodge, I got in. Very poor WiFi at the lodge but after 4  hours, a lot of stress and maybe a bit of luck, we have tickets. France 2023 here we come!

Hakusembe Lodge, Rundu on the Okavongo River, Namibia

Friday 12 and Saturday 13 March

Lockdown Day 351 and 352

It's a 6 hour drive from Etosha to Rundu via Tsumeb and Grootfontein but we are entertained by our podcasts as we drive. Hakusembe Lodge is set on the riverbank overlooking Angola on the opposite side. We enjoyed the view from the deck and our chalet verandah.

We did a sunset boat cruise on the river.

On Saturday afternoon we hired the fishing boat with skipper Bernard who knows the river well.

At first things were rather quiet but suddenly after a few missed takes, Neil caught the biggest tigerfish of his life. 5.2kg. Luckily Bernard was alongside to get it into the net. After wlqeighing it and the obligatory photos it was released back into the river.

It was another glorious and relaxing evening on the river after that and a wonderful evening on the deck.

Onguma Lodge, Etosha East, Namibia

Thursday 11 March

Lockdown Day 350

We headed out east from Halali to Namutomi in Etosha. Once again we were stuck with how green everything is and how much water is about. We saw so much game, so many giraffe and a really new born zebra just getting onto it's feet.

The road through the eastern edge of the pan was covered in water with so many birds about.

NamutoNi Camp was really deserted. Onguma Bush Camp is just outside the Etosha gate and is a wonderful alternative to staying at Namutoni. The lodge is beautiful but small and low- key and one of our favourites so far. We are so privileged to be staying at so many great lodges. Occupancy is very low and we are enjoying the exclusivity. I just wish we were sharing it with friends too.

Halali Camp, Etosha, Namibia

Tuesday 9 March to Wednesday 10 March

Lockdown Day 348 and 349

Halali Camp is a big camp in central Etosha. It's a popular stopover for package tourists so it's really deserted now. I would recommend the camping here but there aren't self catering chalets and we're getting tired of steak and chips or chicken and chips from a mediocre restaurant. That said, it's very well priced at the moment, just ZAR 750 ( USD50) pp/pn including DBB. 

It's very green and wet around Halali; we even had rain, so the game is a bit scattered.

We have seen lots of rhino though, black and white and good sightings of elephants. Our bird list grows steadily too. It's good to sit by the pool and spot birds in the trees around the camp.

Okaukeujo Camp-Etosha NP-Namibia

Sunday 7 March and Monday 8 March

Lockdown Day 346 and 347

After breakfast we headed east towards Okaukeujo, the main camp in Etosha. The game was so plentiful and at every waterhole we saw thousands of Abdim's Storks. One of the advantages of being here in summer is spotting the migratory birds.

We saw some lions and a flock of vultures maurading around a zebra carcass.

Okaukeujo has a wonderful, floodlit waterhole right at the camp. It's usually impossible to get a booking for one of the waterfront chalets here but we got the prime W1. During the day the waterhole is teeming with zebra and springbok and each night we saw black rhino.

On game drives it is so good to see the park so green. We had a surprise visit from Sue and Chris. We worked out via Facebook that were in the same camp on the same night, which is all the more remarkable considering there are so few tourists in Namibia. You can drive for hours without passing another car. 

If you're planning a trip, NWR (Namibia Wildlife Resorts) don't have much in the way of self catering accommodation. The family chalets may have an outdoor braai and most rooms have a fridge and a kettle. You'll probably be going to the restaurant most of the time. They do have discounted DBB rates at the moment though.