Nambwa Lodge
Camp 3

The Zambezi Region (Caprivi Strip)

In the morning we drove three hours to our next lodge.  The first two hours we were on a newly paved road and could travel 120 kilometers per hour.  Then we entered the Bwabwata National Park in the Kwando Core Area on deep and rutted sandy roads where we were afraid we might get bogged down in the sand.  The road is deep sand all of the way.  We got stuck in the sand one time but we put the Land Rover Defender in low range 4 wheel drive and locked the differential and we were able to drive out.  We drove for another hour while spotting Kudu, Impala, and other animals along the way for the 15 kilometers to the Nambwa Lodge.  This is a luxury lodge built on stilts above the savannah.

Acacia tree

 

Selfie with our trusty defender named Chuma

 

Lodge at Nambwa.  All huts are built on stilts, and the animals can walk under the walkways.

 

 

Our tented room with mosquito netting around the bed

Impala

Always greeted with a wet wash cloth to refresh yourself

 

Tented lodge

Scott

That evening we went on a fun evening safari with Mareesa, a 19-year-old South African girl who is an intern guide at this lodge.  We spotted Lechwa, Tsebee, and Sable, all beautiful big antelope.  We also saw the African Fish Eagle and Hippos near the horseshoe bend in the Kwando River.  We saw Giraffe, Impala and Zebra grazing together.  We also saw a fully-grown trophy Kudu crossing the road in front of our safari vehicle.

Greater Male Kudu

 

Stork

 

Steenbok

Lots of Giraffe

 

Beautiful Zebras

 

Buffalo

 

Fish Eagle

 

Wart hogs

Hornbill

 

Helmeted Guinea Fowl

 

Everywhere you look, there are animals

 

Sable

 

 

We had sundowners at the Horseshoe Bend in the Kwando River and drove back to the lodge in the dark spotting Hippo out of the water and grazing on grass.

 

Sundowner time

Baboons

 

Sunsets are amazing

The next morning we went on a 2-hour walking safari with Donovan starting at 6:30 in the morning.  We saw fresh tracks from Hyena, Wild Dog, Hippo and Elephant.

Walking Safari

 

Barb with Donovan, our guide

Walking safari.  The rifle is for our protection in case we encounter dangerous animals.

Wart hog den.  They go into their home backwards.

We found a newly shed cobra snake skin

That night we went on a boat safari down the Kwando River spotting lots of Hippo and Elephant, Fish Eagle and antelope.

Barb on the evening boat ride.  We saw hippo, antelope, crocodile and birds.

 

Herron

 

 

Pod of Hippos

 

Scott

 

We found this antelope, but we are unsure of what it is.

Baby Crocodile

 

Herron

 

Egret

Bee Eater

 

Hippo yawning

 

Strike

Beautiful sunset from the river

Driving through all the sand and seeing elephants and kudu and birds all on your own is awesome!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scott is having a blast driving Chuma