Kunene River Lodge

The scenery is lovely and peaceful, so this could suit someone looking to camp. But the service was disappointing. No one answered when we called, and despite what the website said, there were no tented rooms, only a campsite. We drove about 60 km from Ruacana to the lodge before finding that out, so the visit didn’t go well for us.

We came to the campsite after someone recommended it, and the welcome was friendly. Still, there was no service and no food unless you booked a day ahead. The pool was old, dirty, and unattractive, and the price was high compared with competitors. Wi-Fi came in 150 MB packages. For me, this really isn’t the place to stay in Namibia.

The riverside setting of the campsites is beautiful, but a group of more than 25 people was allowed to party there while we were staying. The rules say no singing or music, yet nobody stepped in. It made the stay much less relaxing than we’d hoped.

The grounds felt like a little paradise in the far north, and the Kunene River was beautiful. Pete took us on a sunset cruise, which was a lovely way to spend an evening. We also visited the nearby Himba village as a family and had a great cultural experience. Pete and Hillary were wonderful hosts when we stayed for two nights just after the Covid-19 lockdown. Our deluxe family room had everything we needed. We’d love to come back and maybe stay at the campsites, which looked incredible.