Our Spa Tips for Sumba Island, Seychelles, Mauritius, Namibia and Miami
On our travels around the world, we have been very privileged to visit some of the most beautiful spas. There are 12 spas that we can highly recommend – all wonderful in their own unique way. However, the ones on our Top 5 list,have a have made a lasting impression, and we will cherish these memories forever. Whether it is the extraordinary Ayurveda spa experience, the spa right in the middle of the African bush or the jeep ride through the majestic scenery to a secluded spa overlooking the ocean – these five have surpassed our expectations by far and provided the perfect opportunity for pure relaxation.
1. NihiOka Spa-Safari, Sumba Island
WOW factor: Unlimited spa treatments in the jungle spa
The luxury spa safari concept of the Nihi Sumba Resort is truly unique! The spa is located on Sumba Island’s wild coast in Indonesia. It is completely secluded, and you get to relax all day long and be spoilt with as many treatments as you could wish for. The spa only accommodates a maximum of six to eight guests at any given time, so you really are undisturbed. Brilliant! (Our review >>)
2. GocheGanas Wellness Village, Namibia
WOW factor: outdoor massage among antelopes and giraffes
The outdoor massage at the GocheGanas Lodge in Namibia was one of our absolute highlights. Who would expect to first get into a jeep when you are picked up in your bathrobe early in the morning! You are massaged on mobile massage tables right in the middle of the African bush with a light breeze and the sound of bypassing antelope and twittering birds – absolutely extraordinary! The other treatments, like pedicures among others, are also highly recommended.
3. MAIA Spa, Seychellen
WOW factor: Balinese massages among gigantic rocks
The MAIA Spa at the MAIA Luxury Resort & Spa has beautifully designed open-air treatment rooms, nestled among the gigantic rocks. All the therapists are from Indonesia and trained in the Balinese massage techniques. At full moon, you can even have a massage on the helipad, the highest vantage point at the resort.
MAIA Signature massage A unique fusion of consistent pressure, long strokes and gentle stretching, blended with a soothing rhythmical flow of delivery to ease muscle tension.
4. Maradiva Spa, Mauritius
WOW factor: best Indian Ayurveda massages in tropical surroundings
Thanks to Dr. Praveen and his brilliant team of therapists, guests can indulge in a true Indian Ayurveda experience at the Maradiva Villas Resort and Spa. The treatments are tailored to each individual’s unique needs and are extraordinary and extremely relaxing. In between treatments you can relax at the wonderful large pool amidst the tropical natural surroundings.
ABHYANGA – Herbal Oil Body Massage The medicated herbal oil application, Abhyangam is not only a massage but also a program where the oil is liberally applied using soft and gentle strokes in the downward direction. The mere soaking of the body in the prescribed oil for the said duration on a regular basis yields wide – ranging benefits such as good appetite, alertness during the day, good sleep at night and reduced stress levels. It removes fatigue and daily aches and pains, gives a glowing skin and most importantly helps to build your immunity.
5. The Spa at The Setai by THÉMAÉ, Miami
WOW factor: Ingenious Asian fusion massage combined with a day at the beach
Every treatment room at The Setai Spa, has two massage tables, the perfect set up for couples! The massage tables can be adjusted in multiple ways to ensure that you are always super comfortable. The therapists applied Balinese massage techniques and worked extensively on our muscle tenseness and smoothly eliminated them.
Special advantage: After the treatments, you get to use The Setai pool and private beach all day long.
60 minute Asian Fusion Massage for two This massage frees the body from all tension by working the muscles and skin with agile, graceful strokes and gentle, comforting movements. The kneading, treading and smoothing movements will leave you feeling relaxed and calm. It works the body with parallel movements, resulting in a feeling of well-being, a rested mind and a relaxed body.
Other spas around the world, we can also highly recommend:
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!
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!
On our trip to Namibia, we were lucky to visit the beautiful Mokuti Etosha Lodge. This luxurious safari lodge is located on a 4,000 hectare nature reserve adjacent to Etosha National Park (the eastern Von Lindequist Gate is a mere 500 metres away) and is surrounded by a small forest of indigenous trees.
Mokuti means ‘in the forest’ in Ovambo. After a hot and dusty drive, we were greeted on arrival with a refreshing drink and a warm Namibian welcome. We then took a golf buggy along winding pathways and across the green oasis to the accommodation, which is spread across the forest and gardens. Squirrels scurry around in the trees and on the pathways, and two large mongoose families also welcome guests as well as keep snakes away.
At the pool bar we relaxed with a refreshing cocktail on the comfortable sofas and watched the mongooses. The huge pool provides refreshment on hot days.
In addition to the 106 rooms in traditional style, the lodge has an exclusive spa, two swimming pools, a separate children’s splash pool, two floodlit tennis courts, a gym, a reptile park, hiking trails, a private airstrip, three restaurants, two bars and a conference room.
We enjoyed our meals in the Tambuti Dining Room in the African boma and al fresco under the big trees. At breakfast the squirrels often came to visit. Some even jump on the tables. We loved this. What a great experience!
The cuisine at Mokuti Lodge consists mainly of typical Namibian dishes with local ingredients, and the selection is huge. As much as you may love to, it would be very difficult to work your way through the whole menu.
As a starter, for example, butternut soup, main courses, such as kudu and beef and desserts like the traditional malva pudding, are on offer. Menu
Rooms
The lodge has 90 standard, 8 luxury and 8 luxury family rooms, each with air conditioning, satellite TV, mini-bar, safe, free wireless internet, tea and coffee station and an en-suite bathroom with shower. The entire lodge was completely renovated in 2008. At the moment, the luxury rooms are being refurbished.
All the rooms are situated in the sprawling, tropical gardens in separate, chalet style, thatched roof buildings with African charm. This ensures that guests still have privacy in this relatively large lodge.
Mokuti Spa
Something else that is great about the lodge, is its small but excellent spa with jacuzzi. It is beautifully designed, the therapists are very kind and it is well worth a visit. It was wonderful to unwind and relax in the middle of our trip. There are a variety of massages and treatments available at affordable prices. The massage in the open thatched pavilion with birds chirping in the background, is highly recommended and the experience was one of the highlights of our trip. Spa Menu
Game Drives in the Etosha National Park
The highlight of our stay was of course the game drives in the Etosha National Park. The Etosha National Park is a 22,200m² wildlife reserve in the north of Namibia, on the northwestern edge of the Kalahari basin. The name Etosha means ‘great white place’ in Himba.
Although Namibia is dominated by barren deserts, the abundance of wildlife in this national park is as diverse as many of Africa’s great parks. It is home to 340 birds and 114 different animal species such as zebras, springbok, eland, oryx, kudu, giraffe, as well as lions, leopards, elephants and rhinos. The biodiversity is truly impressive and spectacular game viewing is guaranteed.
During our private game drives, our guide was always at the right place at the right time. At the waterholes, we observed several large herds of elephants, giraffes, antelopes, rhinos, young lions and many other animals. It was absolutely fascinating to see the elephants walk by so close to the vehicle. During the 4 hour game drive there is more than enough time to watch and take pictures of the animals. You have to remember that these are wild animals in their natural habitat and at times you have to be patient and just wait for the lions to emerge from the bush, for example.
There are so much to experience! Even the black rhino greet each other so lovingly, that it almost looks like they are kissing. Because the lodge is so close to the Etosha National Park, you can stay in the park right up to the last minute and then make your way back, just before sunset. The game rangers really try their best to ensure that guests get to see as many wild animals as possible.
Those that still cannot get enough, can get to know the African bush better on foot or can visit the Ontouka Reptile Park where you can admire all sorts of poisonous and non-poisonous snakes like the black mamba.
Wedding
With its ample accommodation and serene atmosphere, the Mokuti Etosha Lodge is the perfect wedding venue in Namibia. Once you have said your “I dos, you and your wedding guests can party the night away.
Although the lodge is large, you can still host an intimate wedding here. You can celebrate in one of the restaurants or you can have a romantic dinner for two, or if you wish, dinner with the entire wedding party, in the middle of the bush. In any case, you can be certain that everything will be lovingly taken care of. And, if you do have a long guest list, the many rooms are perfect.
Interview mit Assistant General Manager Tanja Bedford
The assistant general manager, Tanja, was kind enough to show us around and told us a bit more about the lodge.
Conclusion
At Mokuti Etosha Lodge we felt right at home and got to experience amazing wildlife encounters both in and outside the lodge. The wildlife encounters here are particularly special. You virtually stay among the wild animals. And although the squirrels are quite tame, you simply do not get to experience feeding them every day.
The lodge is perfect for families, animal and nature lovers, spa enthusiasts, and even for a big wedding. The vast, beautiful grounds, the cosy, open-air bar at the pool, mongoose and squirrels roaming freely and the cheerful, animal-loving staff create an absolutely amazing feel-good atmosphere. As an animal lover you are in paradise here! Everything is so easygoing and relaxed, and the game drives in the Etosha National Park are simply unforgettable and definitely not to be missed! To see and experience so many wild animals all at once, is absolutely spectacular.
Transfer: Windhoek airport is about 530 km away Altitude: 1112 meters above sea level Air temperature: 4 – 38 degrees Celsius When to go: May to September. Rainy season is from January to March. End April / May is perfect weather wise Price: From 180 EUR per night (double room) including dinner, bed and breakfast, children 0-6 years free, 7-15 years 50%. Board: Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Special features: huge pool, free roaming wild animals at the lodge, great food, beautiful landscaped, tropical garden, cosy pool bar, great spa, spectacular game drives in the Etosha National Park Tip: Book your spa treatments before arrival.
Travelling, getting to know the country and its people and making a difference
During our tour of Namibia we got to know this beautiful lodge in the north and also learned a lot about the local people.
The n’Kwazi Lodge & Camping Site opened its doors in 1995 and is located about 20 km east of Rundu, tucked away among the lush riverine vegetation on the banks of the Okavango River. This family-run lodge is not only a comfortable and an affordable stopover when travelling in the Zambezi region, formerly known as the Caprivi Strip, or to Botswana, but the owners Valerie, Pieter and Wynand Peypers also like to promote responsible travelling. They are involved in many development and educational projects that support the local community. We were totally impressed with their great work!
You can stay in one of eighteen environment friendly bungalows or you can overnight in the camping area. Facilities include a restaurant, a bar, a comfortable lounge and a pool.
There also live a few horses at the lodge that guests formerly could ride.
Since the Okavango floods from time to time, the bottom part of the lodge has been raised and the restaurant and bar are now sunk slightly into the ground. Work is already in progress to fulfil a dream of the owners, namely to build the restaurant right on the river on a platform.
The lodge is known for its excellent cuisine! During the evening a delicious buffet is served in the semi-open air restaurant in an intimate and relaxed atmosphere. Local family style food is served in many pots and pans around the open fire. The same applies to the delicious breakfast.
Environment friendly bungalows
The lodge has eighteen trendy bungalows each with its own bathroom, veranda and mosquito net. Thirteen of the bungalows have a clear view of the Okavango River with Angola on the other side. The other five bungalows have beautiful garden views. Electricity is only provided for four hours a day, from 6pm – 10pm. During the remaining hours of the day there are solar lamps available. Wi-Fi, also on solar power, is only available at the bar.
The nights here are quite cool. Since there are no window panes, but only gauze in the large windows, we recommend warm clothes for the nights.
Activities
There are boat, hiking and bird tours on offer as well as tours to the local villages. Traditional dances are performed for 10 or more overnight guests.
Angola – Kids
Angola
Mayana Mpora Foundation
With the Community Trails project of the Mayana Mpora Foundation, which was launched in 2002, the local communities are supported. They should also benefit from tourism in the region. At the same time you as a traveller, can get to know the locals a little better. With a guide from the lodge one can for example do Village Walks for N$ 50. The proceeds go entirely to the local villages.
Some of the other projects include community dance performances for the guests of the lodge (the proceeds go entirely to the participants), sponsor programs for secondary students, a sewing group, a garden project, the building and maintenance of an orphanage, a nursery school as well as a sports and community centre.
Marcus is a very dedicated staff member, whose whole heart is in the community projects. With the Village Walks, he tries to give visitors glimpses into the lives of the local people.
The locals do not have it easy as poverty and unemployment are huge problems.
Five people will for example live in a small house, sleeping three together in a bed and two in front of the bed on the ground.
Their daily diet is simple and sometimes consists of only one meal. Normally they do not have breakfast. The earth in the Mayana region consists mainly of barren sand, but millet and pumpkin can for example be planted.
The children fish, with worms that they breed themselves, small fish in the river, which are then dried.
Water needs to be fetched on a daily basis from a river that is up to ten kilometres away. It remains the work of the women and younger children and a water container can weigh up to 20 kilos. Therefore Wynand’s current project and labour of love, is to build wells in the local villages.
A nice gift to take a long when visiting one of the local villages is for example, T-shirts, children’s toys, pencils and school supplies.
n’Kwazi-Pre-Primary School
Education is important. Currently there are about fifty three children between the ages of five and six in n’Kwazi Pre-Primary School. They are not only taught knowledge, but also hygiene. Thus, every morning at school, each child can first shower and brush their teeth. This privately run school is entirely funded by voluntary contributions. Info-Flyer
You can help!
In order to continue to carry through with all these projects, the Peypers need support. You can help by participating in any of the various activities in the Mayana area, by volunteering, by visiting n’Kwazi Lodge and of course, by making a donation. For example, 6-18 EUR will pay for a full academic year for a child in one of the fourteen schools. Each and every donation entirely goes directly to one of these projects. Not only financial contributions count. Even children’s toys, Christmas decorations, clothing or sports equipment donations are more than welcome. Info-Flyer
We were able to see for ourselves, what has already been achieved here with donations and a lot of work. Even a little, can help a lot here!
You can also read more on Ingrid Poike’s blog. She is a dedicated pensioner from Chemnitz and has taken care of the Mayana project for many years with all her heart and soul. You can also direct your donations to her. She flies to Namibia twice a year and to help to n’Kwazi. She buys school uniforms, textbooks, dictionaries, school supplies, food and also hosts children’s parties for the kids, all locally. Furthermore, she pays tuition fees for students from the 8th to 12th grade, boarding school fees and examination fees for the 10th and 12th grade students, all from the voluntary financial contributions.
Currently, 5 solar cookers, sponsored by the Rotary Club Stollberg / Erzgebirge, have already been built-in in the Pre-Primary School, in the Mayana Primary School and in the Kayengona Combined School. Thereby cooking is done much faster and no more wood has to be burned.
Spendenkonto
Mayana Mpora Foundation
Bank Windhoek
Branch Rundu, Branch Code 483173, P.O. BOX 1623
Account Nr.: 8000537219
Swift Code: BWLINANXXXX
Verwendungszweck: Pre-School, Students, Orphans or common Mayana Mpora
You can contact Ingrid directly via e-mail for the German account details.
Conclusion
We really enjoyed it here and could have stayed longer! We especially enjoyed the quietness, the exquisite landscape, the nice people, the beautifully laid out lodge and of course, the commitment of the owners and the numerous aid projects, made a deep impression on us. It was great to get to know more about the local people and to be able to contribute something to the improvement of their lives. We also prefer making a donation, when we know where it goes and that it also gets there!
Information
Air temperature: 0 – 35 degrees Celsius When to go: May to September. Rainy season is from January to March. The end of April/May is perfect weather wise. Price: From 35 EUR per person / night (double room) including Dinner, Bed & Breakfast 7 EUR at the campsite Board: Dinner, Bed & Breakfast Overall rating: ****** Special features: beautiful scenery, very friendly owners & staff, beautiful bungalows, delicious food, wonderful atmosphere to relax in, great aid projects Tip: The lodge is located in a high-risk malaria area and we highly recommend malarial prophylaxis and the use of mosquito repellent.
A paradise for nature lovers, animal lovers, romantics, honeymooners and large carnivores in the OKONJIMA Nature Reserve
Situated halfway between the capital Windhoek and the Etosha National Park, the OKONJIMAGame Reserve is situated amidst the Omboroko Mountains on the Waterberg Plateau, near Otjiwarongo. OKONJIMA (a Herero name meaning “Place of the baboons”) is not just simply a luxury lodge but also the home of the non-profit organization “AfriCat Foundation & Carnivore Care Center”.
The trip through the reserve is thus already a wonderful experience. Here you can already meet the first wild animals.
The former cattle farm of the Brahman cattle breeding is a family-run business. In 1993 the cattle was sold, the Hanssen’s farm house was rebuilt into a lodge and the cattle farm turned into a nature protection project. Wayne, Donna and Rosalea Hanssen bought the farm from their parents and are now living there.
The unconventional concept of the lodge offers a broad range of options and is in our opinion unique. You can stay in the family-friendly Plains Camp, in the wonderful Chalets in the Luxury Bush Camp, in the luxurious Private Bush Suite, in the Grand African Villa or on the Campsite.
With the “AfriCat-Foundation” family Hanssen has set herself the task to protect and rehabilitate the endangered large carnivores such as cheetahs, leopards and lions. Today the 20.000ha nature reserve is the home of numerous cheetahs, leopards, lions, caracals, wild dogs and hyenas. Since 1993 more than 1,000 big cats have been saved and caretaken by AfriCat, 86% of those have been released back into the wild.
The extraordinary design and the lovingly styled interior of the lodge have been created by the family Hanssen and by Shanna. Everything is being designed, created and produced by the OKONJIMA team or ordered in Windhoek. Terrific!
Interview with Manager Shanna Rae Groenewald
We talked to Shanna, the wonderful manager of Okonjima. She elaborately imparts the visitors her knowledge about the beautiful big cats and the vision of AfriCat and Okonjima in a very passionate way. Apart from this she plans individual and dreamlike bush weddings and loves to photograph them herself.
Private Bush Suite
The Private Bush Suite is really stunning and just perfect for a romantic stay for two or with the family, for the honeymoon or the wedding. You have a lot of privacy and pure luxury here!
In the two luxurious bedrooms there is space for four persons. There is a bedroom with sunrise view and one with sunset view, a living room with chimney, a bathroom with a bath tub, an indoor and an outdoor shower, several terraces, a pool, a fireplace and an own waterhole where you can observe the wild animals.
After arriving at the Bush Suite we were heartily welcomed by Claudia and we were directly visited by giraffes, kudus, impalas and wart hogs.
The special extra: An own cook, an own guide with safari jeep and a maid who practically anticipate your every wish belong to the suite. All activities and meal times are being adjusted to your wishes. Where else can you have such a luxury? Simply magnificent!
Bush-Suite Team: Mike (guide), Claudia (the good soul) & Christopher (cook)
There is sufficient bird food in the villa for feeding the birds.
Especially in the evening it is dreamily romantic with your own fireplace, the chimney in the living-room and the extremely delicious three course menu made by your own cook. We can hardly imagine something more romantic than sitting nearby the fireplace in the evening and observing the animals pass by the water hole.
All drinks are included. The villa has a kitchen with a well stocked fridge and all kinds of wines and soft drinks.
One cannot awake in a more pleasant manner. And if you want to, you can sleep with open walls, the way we used to do. We loved it! It got a bit chilly in the night but therefore there were enough warm blankets to cover yourself with. For this view and this sunrise we loved getting up early to see animals or to make an exciting game drive.
Grand African Villa
The villa for families or groups is bigger than the Bush Suite but just as stylish though. Over 10 persons can stay here. The family villa is the only one which is situated in the middle of the reserve. It may happen that the large carnivores walk by your place.
Luxury Bush Camp
The Bush Camp consists of eight unique chalets with thatched roofs in African style and a wedding suite. This was being renovated and extended. Pictures will follow soon.
Plains Camp
In 2014 the former Main Camp, that used to be the farm house, was extended and the old barn was transformed into the main sector of the Plains Camp.
This family-friendly camp consists of 6 to 10 comfortable en-suite double rooms with garden view and 10 new, spacious rooms with mountain or bush view. The lapa design mirrors with its elaborate details the story of the farm. And super personal: There are pictures of all employees and family members on the walls! There is also a cozy lounge area, a restaurant, a souvenir shop and the pool of the camp – this was formerly the farm’s water cistern.
Activities
Africat Foundation and Carnivore Care Center, game driving by day and by night, leopard and cheetah tracking (by tracking devices), hiking with and without a guide, Bushman Trail, photography, birding, observing nocturnal animals, and so on.
Tracking cheetahs and leopards with the passionate guides is a truly unique experience! Thanks to direction-finding transmitters you can get really close to the animals and above all, you can find them. Our guide Mike was really awesome and he was engaged with his heart and soul for the matter. You could feel his deep love for the animals and it was all a huge fun with him!
The following species belong to the carnivores: leopard, cheetah, caracal, small-spotted and large-spotted genets, spotted hyenas, wild dogs, aardwolves, bat-eared foxes, ratels, zorillas, slender, zebra and dwarf mangooses, red meerkats …
But you can also find other animal species: antelopes (kudu, orxy, eland, impala, red hartebeest, steinbock, blue wildebeest, springbok, duiker, Kirk’s dik-dik, porcupine, warthog, pangolin, giraffe, aardvark, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, Burchell’s zebra, cape baboon, dassie, spring, bush and Jameson’s red rock hare, dassie rat, real ground squirrel, dormice, bats, turtles,… and more than 250 bird species.
AfriCat Foundation
True to the motto „Conservation through Education“ AfriCat dedicates itself to the protection and preservation of the carnivores in Namibia.
Carnivores are an important part of the ecosystem and also an important economic factor for the tourism. By informing and educating the local farmers and cattle drovers the foundation asks for more understanding, in order to weaken the conflict between man and carnivores – understanding prevents destruction! An awesome and absolutely impressive project!
OKONJIMA supports R.E.S.T. (Rare and Endangered Species Trust) and the Perivoli-Okonjima Country School because children are the future in a more sympathetic cohabitation of man and animals.
Further information from the passionate and truly engaged manager Shanna:
Do you want to help? Such a foundation is very costly. With a donation you can help the AfriCat Foundation with its great work. For 240,- EUR per year you can for example adopt a cheetah. Adopt a carnivore here!
We love Okonjima!
We are still highly impressed by our stay in this unbelievable and fascinating dream lodge. The stylish and cozy atmosphere, the extraordinary design, the passion and heartiness of the staff and the love for the beautiful carnivores and other animals struck you in an unspeakable way. We have met here only people who inspired us, who work devotedly and who want to achieve very much.
Perfect for:
Nature and animal lovers There is no better place in Namibia where you can observe cheetahs and leopards. We were overwhelmed by the number of wild animals that you can observe from the next nearness.
Romantics & honeymooners There is hardly anything more romantic than the Bush Suite with its fireplace, the chimney and the great view. The wonderful atmosphere, the heartiness and the feeling of being pampered the whole day by the team are the absolutely perfect frame for a dreamlike and romantic time for two. Awakening in the morning with open tent walls and the incredibly beautiful sunrise is an absolute dream!
Wedding
Manager Shanna organizes a customized dream (bush) wedding for the couple. There are not too many weddings being held here. Big weddings just once a year. A legally recognized ceremony is pretty effortful in Namibia, but it is possible. Easier is a symbolic ceremony. But if you wish, Shanna takes care of the paperwork. We would also like to get married here again! This vastness, the wild animals and the nice people can make this day nothing but perfect.
Okonjima Brochure
AfriCat Flyer
Air temperature: -1 – 40 degrees Water temperature:12 – 14 degrees Best travel period: May – September (rainy period January to March),End of April and May is the best weather. Best time for safaris: September-October (end of the dry period) Price: from 175 – 380 EUR/night for a double room in Plains Camp, from 535 EUR/night for a Bush Camp Chalet, from 915 EUR/night for the Private Bush Suite including full board, guide, cook and maid. Catering: self-catering on the Campsite, for all other half board, full board or dinner, Bed & Breakfast incl. soft drinks and wines Total ranking: ****** Specialties: Absolutely unique design and concept, wonderful nature, innumerable wild animals, romantic and relaxing atmosphere, super friendly staff, super interesting game drives with leopard and cheetah tracking, great animal preservation project.
Okonjima is situated in a malaria-free and ebola-free area!
PO Box 793, Otjiwarongo, Namibia
info@okonjimalodge.com
The World Travel Award for 2004 The Amarula Africa Award 2003 The Silver Otter Award 2002 – UK, 2nd place The WWF Green Trust Award 2000 The Genesis Award 1997 – Discovery Channel, BBC
Note: Many thanks to OKONJIMA for upgrading us into the Private Bush Suite. The views expressed in this article are, as always – our own! To 100%!
We are looking forward to your comments and we hope you feel now inspired to visit the Lodge or to support AfriCat with their precious work!
The Zambezi region (former Caprivi Strip) is one of the most fascinating places in Namibia. The tropical and wild Africa! Here it can happen that an elephant comes across the way! Unfortunately we have not met any but instead we have seen cattles and zebras.
The lodge is situated at about 480 km from Rundu, 75 km from Kongola and 130 km from Katima Mulilo. From Kongola you drive about 75 km on C46 in the direction of Sangwali. Up to this point the tarred roads are well constructed. Sangwali is still a very authentic African village with thatched round houses.
From the village you drive another 10 km to the lodge. This route is the pure adventure! 4×4 is a prerequisite! But please believe us, if you do not have a 4×4 car, it is better to have someone pick you up in Sangwali.
The Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge has a remote location on the isle Lupala on the riverside of one of the four channels of the Kwando Linyanti River System and is the only lodge that is situated in the very middle of the Linyanti Swamps and less than 300 m from the Nkasa Lupala National Park (former Mamili National Park). The islands Lupala and Nkasa have also lent their names to the lodge.
This unique Namibian marshland paradise is in the eastern part of the Zambezi region. You partly feel like being in the Okavango Delta.
For adventure seekers and people looking for a unique experience in the wilderness this lodge is an absolute Must.
The Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge is a joint venture between the managers of the lodge, the Italian family Micheletti and the Wuparo Conservancy. This joint venture is part of the successful and award-winning „Namibian Conservancy Program”.
The Wuparo Conservancy was founded under an ecotourism project by the Namibian environmental programme by the Mayeyi Traditional Authority with private participation of the family Micheletti. Together they aim at protecting the nature and fostering the well-being of the people in that region. A part of the revenues of the lodge are being transferred to the Wuparo Conservancy.
95 % of the employees of the lodge come from the community. Once 9 employees have now become 23. By this for sure the life in the villages is also improving. Within the frame of the non-governmental organization IRDNC (Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation) the inhabitants of the region ensure the wildlife protection. They intend to prevent poaching and illegal hunts.
The managers of the lodge, the brothers Simone, Alessandro and Ruggero Micheletti want to offer their guests since July 2011 a special wilderness adventure and unique experiences and at the same time to ensure also a reasonable and ecofriendly tourism management. The three of them are real visionaries with passion, sensitivity and love for nature, animals and humans. Absolutely impressive! Further information >>
Interview mit manager Alessandro Micheletti
We talked to manager Alessandro. In this video he tells us about his vision and the wonderful lodge. A great man with great opinions!
Gentle Tourism
The whole lodge was built according to the ecologic perspective and is fully energy autonomous. The energy is being generated by solar radiation and also the water is being heated by the sun. Warm water is only available in the evening and light comes from solar or LED lamps. Also the paths betweens tents and the main building stayed natural.
The main area of the lodge was built in an ecofriendly and sustainable way (no concrete) on wood platforms. This main area consists of a dining area, a lounge and a bar. Here you can finish out the day with a sundowner. There is also a little pool here for freshing up.
From the wonderful wood terraces with fireplace and viewing deck you have a breath-taking view on the laguna where there are often elephants. In September and October you can see here over 200 elephants! We were there in May and to that time all of them had already migrated to Botswana. But nevertheless it is just wonderful here, especially the pure wilderness!
In the evening you can enjoy here the slightly Italian inspired food at the family table. Who wants to, can sit here with all other guests (including the manager and his son) and review the high points of the day. A really great thing which made our visit here even more interesting and personal. Especially beautiful is the fire that is burning in the evenings.
The main area and the tents fit in perfectly with the natural surroundings. By this the lodge is a prime example for sustainable building and sensible sustainable tourism, not only in that region, but for whole Namibia.
Glamping
The 10 simple but though luxurious tents are built with steel, canvas and wood on stilts. There are 8 luxury tents, a honeymooner’s tent and a family tent. They all have glass doors, a little deck for fantastic animal viewing and an own bathroom. Glamping (Glamourous Camping) in the wilderness!
The tent for the honeymooners has a wonderful open air bath tub.
Be a guest of the wild animals
For the animals there are no limitations or fences. They can walk freely from the national park to the lodge. And also to Botswana, Namibia, Angola and Sambia of course. So there are numerous exciting encounters with the wild animals. Therefore a guide has to bring you to your tent after dinner.
You can observe here elephants, hippos, a huge buffalo cattle, two lion prides, hyenas, antelopes, kudus, … and up to 400 bird species.
Game Drives and more
Depending to the season there are different activities, for example game drives in the Nkasa Lupala National Park, hikes, boat tours and village tours. Then you can see with a little luck lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, antelopes, duikers, gnus, hippos and warthogs. Night game drives are being made during the dry winter months.
A combination of game drive and boats tour is also great. The drive through the swamps, savannah and grass landscapes and the huge Kwando Linyanti river system takes including lunch about 5 hours. The drive with our guide Gini was super interesting!
We love Nkasa Lupala!
For adventurers, romantics, animal and nature lovers this lodge is just perfect. The nature is breath-takingly beautiful and here is a very special atmosphere. The remote position of the lodge gives the feeling of being in the wilderness. And if you are there at the right time of the year (September/October) you can see the elephants from the decks. Also for the honeymoon or for a romantic bush wedding this is a very special place! We enjoyed here a lot the atmosphere, the people, the nature and the animals! This place will always stay in our memories an in our hearts!
Air temperature:-1 – 40 degrees Best travel period: May – September (rainy period January to March),end of April and May is the best weather. Best time for safaris and elephant watching: September-October (end of the dry period) Price: from 136 EUR per night incl. dinner, Bed & Breakfast Total ranking: ******
Specialties: Sustainable tourism with a heart and passion for animals, nature and humans, breath-taking landscape, animals can walk around through the lodge,very personal and warm-hearted atmosphere, great tents, great food Our tip: We recommend you malaria prophylaxis and enough mosquito repellents because the lodge is situated in malaria high risk area.
