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Our Honeymoon-Tip in the north of Namibia!
After a dusty drive, we reached the extremely romantic Hakusembe River Lodge, situated 12 km west of Rundu in the northernmost tip of Namibia. It lies on the banks of the Okavango River, directly across from Angola.
The Hakusembe River Lodge is one of 14 special lodges that is part of the Gondwana Collection. Gondwana is not a normal hotel chain, but consists of good quality lodges combining proximity to beautiful nature and wildlife with comfort and warm Namibian hospitality – Namibia with heart and soul.
Directly upon arrival we were extended a warm welcome by manager Edison that greeted us with a beaming smile and a refreshing drink.
The floating deck right on the river bank, a light breeze and the gentle murmur of the reeds – you feel as if you are at the beach – gorgeous!
From the opposite the river bank you hear the distant happy voices coming from the villages in Angola. Boys riding on their donkeys and locals row by in their canoes. All worldly worries float away and you simply breathe and relax!
Hakusembe means “tranquil setting beside a placid river“.
To cool off, there is a nice pool in a tropical setting.
You can stay in one of 22 thatched chalets with a great view of the river in the beautiful landscaped gardens among the huge trees.
Here you only hear birds chirping, the uniform tapping of the woodpecker and the wind whispering.
The chalets are tastefully decorated with huge beds with mosquito nets, a shower and many loving details.
In the morning there was a thermos flask of freshly brewed coffee on the terrace. A super sweet gesture!
The Honeymoon highlight – a floating chalet
The cosy one bedroom chalet is reserved especially for honeymooners! And what a pity that we were not on honeymoon!
Here you get to stay all alone as newlyweds, right on the banks of the river with a terrace and corner bath. Privacy and romance pure!
Activities
Naturally, most activities take place in the water. Offered are river trips, fishing trips (fishing for tiger fish), water skiing, picnic trips with wildlife and bird watching and cultural trips (African Cultural Experience with UKUMWE) in the nearby villages. You will see hippos, crocodiles, buffalo and over 400 species of birds are listed.
A special highlight for us was the “Sunset Champagne Cruise on the Okavango” with canapés. Absolutely breathtaking to watch the sunset with a drink in hand, totally relaxed in such a tranquil atmosphere.
The food …
…is outstanding! And lunch is also highly recommended! Absolutely delicious!
In the evening, the 3-course menu is served in the cosy restaurant or on the terrace.
Afterwards you can enjoy a delicious Amarula liqueur at the bar. Employees also really have fun here!
Breakfast
One can hardly imagine a more beautiful setting to enjoy a hearty breakfast! An absolute idyll!
In the small shop at reception, you can buy some souvenirs.
Relax and unwind in harmony with nature
We were absolutely enchanted by this lodge and we were really surprised about how nice the lodge really is! The great location, the scenic surroundings and very cheerful staff made our stay simply unforgettable! We really would have liked to stay longer! Absolute feel-good atmosphere! And, to have one’s own secluded floating chalet is an absolute dream for honeymooners! Romantic and wonderfully idyllic!
Transfer: Windhoek Airport is about 770 km away
Altitude: 1095 meters above sea level
Air Temperature: 5 – 35 degrees Celsius.
When to go: May to September. Rainy season is from January to March. The end of April / May is perfect weatherwise.
Price: From 85 EUR per person / night (double room) including Dinner, Bed & Breakfast. Children 0-5 years: free, Children 6-13 years: 50% discount on accommodation and breakfast
Board: Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Special features: Beautiful garden, great location right on the river, unique boat tours, very friendly staff, great atmosphere, chic chalets
Campsite: 4 campsites can host 8 people
Advice: Arrive early, if you stay one night only, so that you can still participate in one of the activities (better to stay more than 1 night). Manager Edison’s is a huge Bayern fan – so whoever has an extra football jersey lying around – he will be thrilled!
Hakusembe River Lodge
Kanzoni, Owamboland
Namibia
Telephone: +264 66 257010
Fax: +264 61 251863
Service Telephone (24 hours): +264 81 129 2424
hakusembe@gondwana-collection.com
www.gondwana-collection.com
www.facebook.com/gondwana.collection.namibia
Certificate of Excellence 2014 TripAdvisor
From here we went on to the Mokuti Etosha Lodge and the Etosha National Park.
Note: During our stay we were partially supported by the Hakusembe River Lodge. The opinions expressed in the article are as always our own – 100 percent!
We are looking forward to your comments!
Monique De Caro
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