Mapula Lodge

The lodge is a cute group of individual rooms, each private and with lovely views. The staff are amazing, and although the food is European rather than local, it was still very good. Getting up at 5:30 each morning was worth it to see all the amazing animals nearby.

The food was the one good thing here, thanks to a good cook. Otherwise, this lodge is in poor shape and not suitable for overnight visitors. Our room's mosquito net was filthy and full of spiders, so we asked for a replacement. One step on the way to the room was loose and could trip someone. The manager wasn't there; the local host was the only person in charge and tried his best to help. The room's electricity came from a car battery and lasted only two hours, leaving us in pitch darkness, which felt unsafe. There were no fans, and daytime heat was unbearable. We couldn't open the windows because mosquitoes and bugs would get in, and this is a malaria-endemic area. The roads were in terrible condition, making the safari drives painful from constant severe bumps. The place was advertised as good, but in my view all of this makes it a safety hazard.

The lodge has great charm, with rustic, comfortable, well-worn living room furnishings, and being on the water is a lovely change from the rest of Botswana. But a lot is being neglected. The safari jeeps badly need new shocks, and the drives were bumpy and incredibly uncomfortable. Used beer and soda cans had been left in the seat backs, bringing bees around our laps to look for sugar. The supplied water bottles could be labeled with Sharpies, but the ink wiped right off. The food was uninspired and not plentiful, and the alcohol choices were all low-end brands. They served a lovely cake and tea when we arrived, but nobody had brushed off the outdoor seating, which was covered in leaves and bird poop. The experience was very disappointing.

The lodge sits beside a beautiful lagoon, and its peaceful, refreshing atmosphere in the Okavango Delta makes it worth a visit.