Kazile Island Lodge: Our full report
Kazile Island Lodge is set on the private Kazile Island within Bwabwata National Park, in Namibia’s Zambezi ...
... Region (formerly called the Caprivi Strip). Opened in early 2017, it is set amid mangosteen forest on a private island on the banks of the Kwando River.Kazile Island Lodge is a sister property to the established and more upmarket Nambwa Tented Lodge, and similar in style Nambwa Lagoon Camp. These three are the only lodges situated within Bwabwata National Park.
As Kazile is located on an island it is accessible only by boat. Guests on a self-drive trip can park at the Kazile Campsite, which is just a five-minute boat ride away. From the river, a wooden walkway leads up to the lodge’s main area, which has five tented suites on each side.
Each of these 11 tented rooms is raised above the ground on a wooden platform, and is tastefully decorated with dark wooden floorboards. Lighter, brushed white planks have been used to create a partial partition between the bedroom and the bathroom, as well as a headboard for the two single beds. When we visited in June 2017, we understood that mosquito nets will be fitted around the beds. The bathroom is simple but smart with hot and cold running water, a flushing toilet and a shower cubicle.
Perhaps one of the best things about the tented rooms is the small, private terrace accessed through sliding glass doors opposite the bed. With enough room for a couple of wicker chairs, it affords great views of the Kwando River and the vast floodplains beyond.
Kazile’s main area is made up of a large deck that is also raised on stilts, with sheltered lounge and dining areas and a recessed, lower deck featuring more seating and a firepit. Seating throughout consists of wooden benches adorned with large, white cushions, while tables are scattered with games and a variety of books.
Activities at Kazile are the same as at its sister camps. The focus is on boat cruises and guided game drives into the park – although to access the game-drive vehicles, guests at Kazile first have a short boat cruise. Guided bush walks are also possible, as are visits to Mashi Traditional Village and Craft Market.
Our view
Although Kazile Island Lodge was only newly completed when we visited, we thought that it had quite a homely feel. We can envisage enjoyable evenings spent chatting around the campfire to the background murmurings of the Kwando River. The lodge offers a perfectly comfortable and stylish alternative to its sister camps, in a similar location and with the same activities. If anything, as Kazile is situated on its own private island and accessible only by boat, it feels the more remote of the three.
Namibia expert
Geographics
- Location
- Caprivi Strip, Namibia
- Ideal length of stay
- 2-3 nights
- Directions
- Kazile Island is around 1,114km northeast of Windhoek and around 12km south of Kongola
- Accessible by
- Self-drive
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Half Board
- Food quality
- We did not get a chance to sample the food here on our recent visit in June 2017 but look forward to spending longer here in the future.
- Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- Not available
- Drinks included
- Drinks are not included in the half-board rate except limited bottled water, which is supplied in the rooms.
Special interests
- Birdwatching
- Deep in Namibia's Bwabwata National Park, Kazile Island Lodge sits on a private island in the Kwando River: a must for birders. Scan the surrounding wetland or the towering mangosteen trees from the comfort of your room, or explore on a guided walk, drive or boat trip.
- See ideas for Birdwatching in Namibia
- Cultural experiences
- For a break from exploring the Bwabwata, embark on a cultural visit to a local homestead from Kazile Island Lodge. A local guide will talk to you about the day-to-day life of the residents of the village and about the unchanged traditions of the Mbukushu and Lozi cultures.
- See ideas for Cultural experiences in Namibia
- Walking safaris
- Led by a professional guide a walking safari from Kazile Island Lodge is great opportunity to focus on the small things and see things often missed from a 4WD.
- See ideas for Walking safaris in Namibia
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Kazile welcomes children of all ages.
- Property’s age restrictions
- None
- Special activities & services
- None
- Equipment
- None
- Generally recommended for children
- Kazile is a remote camp with little to amuse children, so we think it would suit older teenagers with a real interest in wildlife and the environment.
- Notes
- The main area as well as the individual tents are raised on stilts, and as elephants, hippos and crocodiles are common in the area, children should be supervised very closely at all times.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Kazile Island Lodge
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Kazile Island Lodge have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
0% success
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0% success
Communications
- Power supply notes
- The generator is turned off for a couple of hours each day, normally in the afternoon, to allow for routine maintenance, and 30 minutes after the last guests have gone to bed. Torches are provided in the rooms.
- Communications
- There is WiFi in the main area
- TV & radio
- None
- Water supply
- Other
- Water supply notes
- Water is pumped from the river and filtered. This is fine for washing but it is not suitable for human consumption. All the chalets have hot and cold running water and flushing toilets
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- The nearest doctor is at Kongola about 12km from the lodge.
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Security measures
- There are no security measures in place but the lodge is very remote and only accessible by boat
- Fire safety
- There are fire extinguishers in each tented room and in the main area.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Cultural excursion
Fishing
Guided walking safari
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Laundry facilities
- Laundry is possible on request
- Money
- There are electronic safes in each tented room.
- Accepted payment on location
- Payment is accepted by Visa and Mastercard as well as in Namibian dollars and South African rand
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