Rainbow River Lodge

The sunset boat cruise on the Okavango River was beautiful and well worth recommending. It gave us a memorable look at the area's natural beauty and calm. The lodge has potential, but the upkeep needs serious attention. The restaurant seating area hadn't been cleaned and the chairs were dirty. The wooden deck also needs work: while we were quietly having a drink, a rotten railing plank fell right beside us in strong winds. Luckily, nobody was hurt. Rainbow River Lodge sits in a beautiful spot along the Okavango River. It was very hot when we arrived, and we were taken to a room in the newer lodges. Air conditioning couldn't be used all day because maintenance was underway and the electricity had been turned off for the repairs. There was no refrigerator or safe in the room, both of which would have been useful in the heat and remote location. The lodge advertises itself as a luxury destination, but it doesn't meet that standard yet. Management seems occupied with too many projects, including starting a banana plantation, while maintenance appears to have been neglected. Better upkeep and attention to detail could make this place shine.

A good value stopover for a visit to the Zambezi strip, close to Mahangu and Bwabwata national parks. The service was great, the rooms were clean and the campsites very nice. Highly recommended.

We booked a family room with two separate en suite rooms and a connecting door, which worked really well for the kids. The air conditioning worked well, and the views were awesome. Our hosts were great and kindly arranged packed breakfasts for our early start. We also had a lovely afternoon boat ride on the river. We'll definitely stay again.

The managers seemed more interested in drinking and entertaining their friends or whoever was there than dealing with anything else. It was a disgrace. There was no proper receiving area, and nobody to tell us where to go or what to do. The wooden deck over the river was in such poor condition that we had to move tables to avoid getting wet in the rain, and the deck itself felt dangerous. Our room had no overhanging roof and no drainage on the stoop.