Reviews of Susuwe Island Lodge
(95%) From 15 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Susuwe Island Lodge review
Unless you have a 4x4 you will need to rely on their pick up service. We had an exciting drive following their vehicle through deep sand and shallow rivers to reach our destination.
A charming island setting, based around against tree. We enjoyed the view from the raised viewing platforms, and the trees attracted a variety of interesting birds to view at close quarters. The rooms had fascinating individual carvings.
Both the river trip and game drives were excellent. Amazing bird life along the river, and leopard and buffalo herd on the drive.
Manager efficient but probably in the wrong place - he wanted the bright lights!
Susuwe Island Lodge review
We would have liked the staff to engage more with their guests, and felt on one night were we being ecouraged to stay in our room so the staff could get an early night. However, game drives were fantastic as was the room and location.
Read more about the whole safariAbsolutely Delightful
45 min game drive from the main road, then 1 minute boat ride round the bend of the river to the lodge. Funny little boat like a floating pontoon with dining chairs. This is also what they use for birding boat trips, usually in the morning and game drives in the afternoon.
Lodge is very comfortable, spacious bedroom and bathroom (weren't expecting a bath so that was a pleasant surprise, especially as it was a bath with a view, and the shower had a view too), shady deck with loungers, peaceful view into reeds and papyrus. Cabin stayed cool in the heat of the day but didn't get too cold overnight, and the mosquito net had been thoughtfully designed with space to stand by the bed and a shelf within the net for bits and pieces. The food was simple but tasty especially the home made bread.
We were pleased that it is private tables here rather than communal dining, which we dislike, and we were asked what time we would like lunch and dinner rather than being told what time it was being served, which I think was a personal touch. Saw many herds of elephants in particular, and also 2 wild dogs.
Susuwe Island Lodge review
This Lodge is a class act. Great management, great individual style - and great elephants!
You need to know that Susuwe and the whole of this part of the Caprivi Strip is on South African (not Windhoek) time. We kept our pick up waiting for an hour because we weren't aware of this!
The Lodge has wonderful staff. The rooms are comfortable and full of individual details. We were lucky to have the manager, Peter, as our guide. He is from Zimbabwe and has truly deep knowledge and a calmness that is rare and valuable. We saw literally hundreds of elephants and wide; range of antelope and birds. And of course there is the river! The food was very good; the peacefulness of the tree house viewing platform was good and the staff enabled guests to go at their own individual pace.
Died and gone to heavan
After a very long 6 hour drive not being able to find the camp was a bit stressful to say the least but when you actually find the pick up and arrive you will find an absolute gem of a camp waiting for you.
The road to the camp is only accessiable by 4x4 but being greeted by a family on elephant and beautiful water scenerary is worth the drive. The lodge itself is fantastic and the rooms perfect on your own island hidaway.
The staff were great, the food excellent and the activities great as you can split it between the water and the dry woodland areas.
We stayed 2 nights but a third night would have been better. Seeing Sitatunga is always special
Susuwe Island Lodge review
Another boring drive to get here, despite the signs warning of 80 kph elephants! However we do know now that elephants do appear on the road although not at that speed! We were met on time (Caprivi time, that is; you should make clients aware of this unofficial arrangement that watches should be put forward an hour at Divundu– we met EA clients who were an hour late at their pick-up due to not knowing about it) and smoothly transferred to the lodge on its island by the fantastic Phourie. We were a bit concerned about leaving the car at Kongola, but in the event it was perfectly safe as the police post is manned 24/7.
Everything about the lodge was excellent, professional and friendly. This is a high quality operation. Rooms are huge – we were in no 5 (the warthog room). Loved the carved doors which pivoted in the centre. Very comfortable with fluffy pillows and duvets, hot showers and a bath already drawn for you when you return from the afternoon activity. Daily laundry service was excellent and included in the price.
Food was generally very good, though every main course arrived accompanied by an army of peppers. We spent several meals with Campbell, one of the owners, who was very informative about the building and future of the lodge and great company when he came on a game drive with us.
This is the only place we have been where, not only is a choice of wine for sundowners offered at the lodge, but Phourie invites you to taste it on your sundowner in the middle of the park- surreal!! Wonder what he'd have done if we didn't like it??
Activities are based in Bwabwata NP and on the Kwando river – it's a large park but animals are skittish due to previous poaching. However, we saw roan, sable, eland (rare in this park), lots of eles, kudus and impalas, lion and leopard tracks (not the animals but it was fun tracking them). An excellent evening boat trip on which we saw sitatunga as well as loads of hippos. Excellent for birds. Phourie was an excellent and very informative guide. We had been led to believe there was overlap with Mudumu NP but when we enquired about the possibility of a drive in this park the cost was prohibitive.
We recommend staying at least 2 nights to take advantage of the activities available. Four might have been one too many.
Didn't live up to its advertising
Our experience may have been affected by visiting this place when substitute managers who clearly had limited knowledge of Susuwe were in charge, and when the chef was on holiday and, judging by the quality of the food, had left the kitchen maid in charge of the kitchen.
We were surprised to be presented with a drinks bill at the end of our visit, and they should perhaps clarify what they mean by 'all drinks included' as they clearly aren't.
Game drives and guiding were very good, and the arrival at Susuwe by boat is lovely.
Great hospitality at stylish Susuwe
Suzuwe is a small lodge with perfect service from very nice people. Our ranger Beaven taught us a lot and even found wild dogs for us! And he and some colleagues helped us change a flat tyre on our departure.
It was the most beautifully designed lodge on our trip: real African style down to the last detail. Very large chalets - although the beds were a bit short for the taller people in our party.
The only slight disappointment was the food - beautifully served, but not always cooked properly - or perhaps it was prepared too far in advance. The other problem was the tea - which consistently tasted of coffee! (perhaps they should just use separate containers for the hot water)
Leopard spotting at Susuwe
We loved the space and decor of our suite and the wonderful carved artwork on the door and around the lodge - all very luxurious.It was quite blissful to be able to spread ourselves out and unpack everything!
Our guide Beavan was very good on all aspects of natural history and also the history of the area and we had the best leopard sighting we've ever had. In the morning we did a boat trip on the Kwando river and in the afternoon land safaris in the Bwabwata National Park.
We stayed for 2 nights and that was perfect.
The food was of a very high standard and beautifully presented. One small suggestion - a salad option at lunch would be appreciated as two hot meals a day with no exercise was getting to be a little too much for me at this stage of the holiday.
We have always believed that acting responsibly is the only way to approach tourism and we're one of
the few companies to hold AITO's original coveted 5-star status for responsible tourism. It's a lead
that others are now following.
