Nambwa Tented Lodge

The Lodge is made up of no fewer than ten luxurious tents, each of which are nestled high in the majestic Jackalberry, Sausage and Knobthorn trees that occupy the edge of the reserve. A gorgeous walkway connects these elegant tented suites, where you will enjoy exquisite comfort, thoughtful amenities and plenty of space. They are tastefully decorated with natural colours that blend in with the surrounding forest, evoking a sense of serenity. You can watch the sky go through its incredible illuminations of purple hues, bright blues and deep oranges from the privacy of your own large open-air deck, reminding you of where you are and giving you a new burst of energy for the adventures ahead.

• Tented Luxury Suite built 4 metres above the ground on wooden platforms
• En-suite bathroom with shower, bath tub, double hand basins and a private toilet
• Fans in all tents
• 220V plug points for charging equipment (only when the generator is running)
• Hairdryer and toiletries
• Large cupboard
• Mosquito & Insect Repellant
• Flashlights on each bedside table
• Umbrellas for the rainy season
• Outside viewing deck
• Private Lounge
• Mosquito Nets
• Protection against insects
• Safe for valuables
• Tea/Coffee station with hot water and home made biscuits personally delivered to your tent in the morning on request
• Bottled water

Food is provided onsite by a talented group of chefs and servers. Eaten in an “open sky dining” area, enjoy tasty meals throughout the day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Fresh coffee and tea can be delivered to your tent on request, to be savoured on your private deck. Guests should make the lodge aware of special dietary needs they may have when they make their reservations. Most requirements can be accommodated, with the exceptions of Kosher and Halal meals.

The Kwando River is home to a vast array of wildlife, including hippos, birds and even crocodiles. Observe this life from a safe distance on a gentle boat cruise down the river, passing flood plains and papyrus islands along the way. Your time on the water will be an amazing and informative experience, so be sure not to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see these animals in their natural habitat.

It simply would not be an African plains holiday without a game drive to see Africa’s famous wildlife. Cats, elephants, wildebeest, zebras…they’re all here and waiting for you, your eyes and your camera. There are opportunities along the way to stop and observe the animals as you sip your morning tea or coffee, or enjoy a light afternoon snack. With a surprise around every corner, you will not failed to be enamoured by the incredible life on display in the Bwabwata National Park.

Led by experienced guides who know this area like the back of their hand, “Walking Safaris” are an amazing way to experience the bush in a more personal way. The guides will educate you on the world that surrounds you, sharing their ancestral repertoire of medicinal uses of the flora and their anecdotes of their wild childhood in this area.

Being on your own two feet makes this an experience like no other, connecting and grounding you to the Earth and its wonders. However, you will be in a truly natural environment with lion, buffalo, elephants, leopard and other wildlife roaming these plains freely, so for health and safety reasons, guests under the age of 12 are unfortunately discouraged from joining in with this activity.

The Kwando holds a few secret nooks and crannies which are accessible by traditional Mokoro boats. The Mokoro is a canoe-style boat often made from ebony trees, and it’s a fantastic way to get close to the waters’ wildlife.

You may be visiting Africa to see the famous wildlife, but some people have lived alongside it for centuries. Take some time away from the animals to spend some with the local villagers, getting to know their cultures, traditions and how they use the land. They also have a craft market from which you can buy handmade crafts, produced carefully by the villagers, as a memento of your time in Africa.

The Sijwa Project, run by African Monarch Lodges, is their big sustainability project. Understanding the responsibility they have to take care of the local people and environment, Sijwa is their way of making sure they do this to the best of their ability.

Initiatives include:

• Re-purposing and re-inventing all recyclable waste from the African Monarch Lodges, and from the local community, into exquisite saleable craft and art
• Running an organic permaculture nursery that supplies food ti local people and lodge guests (cancelling the air and road miles lodge food usually travels). The soil is enhanced by composted food-waste and super-strength worm juice – not to mention the boost given by the occasional dollop of elephant dung!

It’s more than just its goals, though. It’s a cultural village, an artisanal skills training centre, a free-range egg scheme and an indigenous tree nursery for visitors to buy and plant a tree to offset their carbon footprint, looked after by a local ‘tree guardian’ to protect is against peckish antelope. The Sijwa Project was launched in November 2018 by its ambitious founders, Dusty and Tinolla Rodgers. It encourages guests to walk through the permaculture plants, recycling workshops where waste such as plastic, glass and cans are turned into beautiful artefacts for sale.

The Sijwa Project aims to empower the local community by creating jobs, preserving traditional knowledge, teaching new skills and conserving the natural environment through a variety of innovative initiatives. The highest rate of unemployment in Namibia was found in the Zambezi Region, so Sijwa carefully structured a project that will address these problems with a holistic approach. They aim to employ 60 community members (who then support up to 12 others in their village), even more if funding allows, and educate close to 182 scholars from the local high school through the Junior Ranger School and Junior Sewing School. 12% of all revenue generated at the project will be paid to the Mayuni Conservancy monthly.

In 2013, African Monarch Lodges established a traditional village, specifically for the benefit of the Conservancy. AML helps fund the project and encourages guests to visit the village in order to boost income for the Conservancy and, in return, share the fascinating cultural history with guests.

African Monarch Lodges provides ongoing support to the Mafwe Traditional Authority. Recent examples of support include the drilling of a hole for water, buying and laying water piping to their buildings, providing water holding tanks, providing their community hall with chairs and tables, funding local inaugurations, anniversaries, celebrations and more. Currently, AML is building traditional structures for shelter when there are functions and gatherings.

As partners, AML and the Mayuni Community Trust together strive to achieve the correct balance between ecological requirements, the efficient operation of sustainable tourism establishments and local community development. To achieve this, African Monarch Lodges has included the Conservancies in which it invests into its project on:

• Revenue sharing models based on a percentage of turnover generated
• Skills development and training – hands on site training
• A shareholding in the establishments developed in these areas

Through community involvement and partnership with NGOs, government and local artisans, AML hopes to provide a creative environment via a cultural centre at Kubunyana Island as a complement to the conservancy system. This centre will offer a place of opportunity for adults and youth at risk of working, offering:

• Creative options in the fields of arts and crafts
• The promotion of cultural products including performances and exhibitions
• Elevate local culture and diversify the local economy
• Increase future employment expectations for youth while raising awareness of local issues