Taranga Safari Lodge: Our full report
Taranga Safari Lodge is located 35km west of Rundu and Namibia’s Caprivi Strip, or Zambezi Region, on the ...
... banks of the Kavango River. The lodge is nestled amongst the trees of a riverine forest, close to Halili village, and offers views of the river and its floodplains.The lodge offers eight tented rooms, all with excellent views of the Kavango River and across to Angola. As the lodge is so close to the village of Halili, don’t expect to see much wildlife, beside birds. Conversely, you are likely to get a glimpse into the lives of the local people, many of whom fish, swim and wash in the river in front of the lodge.
The rooms are split into two types:
- Six ‘classic luxury’ tents are quite simple in design and décor. They have double or twin beds covered by mosquito nets, as well as a luggage rack, tea and coffee facilities and an electric fan. Through a zip door at the back is an en-suite bathroom, with a shower, single basin, mirror and toilet in an open-plan design. During our stay in June 2017 we found these tents to be relatively comfortable and functional, if a little dark. However, they were fairly rough around the edges, with some holes in the canvas sides, tired soft furnishings, and zipped doors that were a real struggle at times.
The front of each tented room opens on to a covered deck, making the most of the views. A couple of directors' chairs and a table create an ideal spot for a drink or to relax with a book, but
It is worth noting that the furthest tent is around 400m from the main area. This path was fairly badly lit at night, and one of the steps down the bank to our tent was broken, making it a slightly treacherous walk. - Two 'deluxe luxury' tents are set a little further away from the main area than the other tents, so benefit from added seclusion. They are also larger and more luxuriously appointed: the bedroom comes with a four-poster bed, a comfortable seating area, a coffee machine, an electric fan and a mini-fridge.
The open-plan en-suite bathroom is significantly bigger too, and is brighter than that in the standard tents. Here you will find a shower, a separate bath and his and hers basins, while outside is a more spacious deck, with a table and chairs.
To one side of the main area is Taranga's small swimming pool, and at the bottom of the lawn there’s the floating Kingfisher bar. Built on a pontoon on the river and opened by staff on request, it is a lovely spot to enjoy the river at sunset and perhaps to watch the local fishermen poling their mokoros around you.
Activities at Taranga focus primarily on the river, with both sunrise and sunset cruises, and fishing trips also available. This area is good for birders, although large game may be hard to come by. Rather disappointingly, our sunset cruise was cancelled because the guide did not return in time from a trip to the town.
Our view
Taranga works as a convenient stopover for a night at the start of a trip along Namibia's Caprivi Strip (now renamed the Zambezi Region). However, the tents feel in need of attention and although the staff were very friendly, they were slightly lacking in enthusiasm and in authority regarding the lodge’s activities.
Namibia expert
Geographics
- Location
- Caprivi Strip, Namibia
- Ideal length of stay
- 1-2 nights.
- Directions
- Taranga Safari Lodge is situated 35km west of Rundu.
- Accessible by
- Self-drive
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Half Board
- Food quality
- When we stayed at Taranga Safari Lodge in July 2017, the food was fairly average, and the timings for breakfast in particular was a little late.
Breakfast was available only between 8.00am and 10.00am, which we thought was quite late for people wanting to get on the road early. Food was served as a buffet with various cereals, and cooked items kept warm in bain-maries.
Dinner was a three-course set menu and although the waitressing staff were very good we did not think the food was quite on the same level. We started with a vegetable frittata with lettuce and sweet chilli sauce. Our main course was beef stroganoff with rice, carrots, courgettes and beans, and pudding was a strawberry angel delight with a biscuit. - Dining style
- Mixture of group dining and individual tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- Room service isn’t offered.
- Drinks included
- Drinks are not included.
The tap water at Taranga is not suitable for drinking, but bottled water is available.
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Children of all ages are welcome
- Property’s age restrictions
- None
- Special activities & services
- None
- Equipment
- None
- Generally recommended for children
- Although there are no specified age restrictions at Taranga Safari Lodge, we feel that the raised decking and risk of hippo encounters make it unsuitable for young children. Hence we would only recommend it for children aged eight and over.
- Notes
- The lodge is close to the river and the pool is unfenced, so children will need supervision at all times.
Communications
- Power supply notes
- There is a generator for back up in case of a power failure.
- Communications
- There is free WiFi in the main area, although it was not working on our last visit.
- TV & radio
- None
- Water supply
- Other
- Water supply notes
- Water for showers and washing comes from the river.
Health & safety
- Medical care
- The nearest hospital is in Rundu 35km away. In an emergency, patients would be airlifted to Windhoek or South Africa for treatment.
- Dangerous animals
- Moderate Risk
- Security measures
- The Lodge is fenced and the gate Is locked at night.
- Fire safety
- Fire extinguishers can be found outside each tented room and in the main areas.
Activities
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Fishing
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Money
- Taranga doesn't offer currency exchange but there are banks and ATMs in Rundu.
- Accepted payment on location
- Visa, Mastercard and Maestro cards are accepted here, along with cash in South African rand and Namibian dollars.
Other lodges in Caprivi Strip
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Ndhovu Safari Lodge
Ndhovu is a simple riverside lodge, with tents that are reminiscent of safaris a decade or two ago.
Hakusembe Lodge
Hakusembe River Lodge is a substantial lodge with a superb location on the Kavango River.
Chobe Princesses
The Chobe Princess houseboats offer a memorable way to explore the Chobe and Zambezi Rivers in Namibia's Caprivi. Perfect for a couple or for a group of family or friends.
Lianshulu Lodge
Beside the Kwando River, within Mudumu National Park, Lianshulu is a small safari lodge offering 4WD safaris and river trips – with particularly good birdlife.
Nkasa Lupala
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Nunda River Lodge
NNunda River Lodge overlooks a pretty part of the Kavango River near Popa Falls and the productive Mahango National Park.
Camp Kwando
Near to Mudumu National Park, Camp Kwando is a comfortable and unfussy option with opportunities for game drives, boat safaris and fishing.
Ichingo Chobe Lodge
Safari holiday in Namibia's Caprivi Strip, staying at Ichingo Chobe River Lodge on Impalila Island.
Nambwa Tented Lodge
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River Dance
Build on stilts on the banks of the Kavango River, River Dance Lodge has great views, a relaxed ambience and excellent birdlife.
Zambezi Queen
The Zambezi Queen offers luxurious two- and three-night cruises along the game-rich Chobe River, including game viewing by small boat and 4WD as well as catch-and-release fishing.
Divava Lodge & Spa
The substantial Divava Okavango Lodge & Spa offers plenty of pampering opportunities in an unspoilt riverside setting
Cascade Island Lodge
Cascade Island Lodge, near Kasane in the Caprivi Strip is a very luxurious, high end option for those seeking peace and privacy on the Zambezi River.
Shametu Lodge
Shametu River Lodge has the best views of the Popa Rapids of any private lodge in the Divundu area.
Jackalberry Camp
Jackalberry Camp is uniquely situated in the Nkasa Rupara National Park affording unrivalled access to this little-visited corner of Namibia.
Namushasha Lodge
One of the larger lodges in the Bwabwata National Park, Namushasha is an economic option with an attractive river-side location.
Kazile Island Lodge
On an island in the Kwando River within Bwabwata National Park, the remote Kazile lsland Lodge offers games drives, bush walks and boat cruises.
Serondela
Accessible only by river, Serondela combines the remoteness of Namibia’s Caprivi Strip with access to Botswana’s flagship Chobe National Park.
Chobe Savanna Lodge
Chobe Savanna Lodge stands opposite Chobe National Park, Botswana. Click here to learn more about the area and your options for a safari there.
Chobe Water Villas
Chobe Water Villas is a beautiful and thoughtfully designed lodge, in a great location on the Namibian banks of the Chobe River.
