River Dance Lodge

93% (16 reviews)

Full review Our view Geographics Food & drink Children Wildlife sightings Communications Sustainability Health & safety Activities Extras

River Dance Lodge: Our full report

Opened in 2010, River Dance Lodge is built high in the riverine forest that lines northern Namibia’s Kavango River.

This small, owner-run property has strong community links, with many of the staff hired from local villages. Guests at River Dance are invited to soak up the view, relax on the river and learn more about the Caprivi’s prolific birdlife.

River Dance Lodge has just five wooden cabins, built on cantilevered platforms atop stilts, which makes them feel part of the forest canopy; it also affords excellent views through the foliage to the river and across to Angola.

The design and shape of the rooms and decks are unique to each cabin, but their facilities are similar throughout. Each is tastefully decorated, their muted stony and sandy tones lightened by pastel blankets and cowskin rugs. The beds – twins or a large double – are covered with mosquito nets to keep biting insects at bay. You will also find a chaise longue, built-in storage, an electric fan, a mini-fridge with complimentary drinking water, and a tea and coffee station.

All of the cabins have their own bathrooms, most of them in an adjacent cabin, perhaps down a step or two on a different deck. In each you’ll find a large free-standing bath, a separate shower, his and hers basins and a toilet.

At the front, both the bedrooms and the bathrooms have floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the Kavango River, giving the cabins a light, airy feel. Sliding doors open onto a private viewing deck with a couple of chairs from which you can enjoy the river and attendant birdsong, or read a book.

The two rooms furthest from the main area can be combined via an interlocking door to create a two-bedroom family or honeymoon unit. This comes with two separate bathrooms and its own seating/braai area down by the river, as well as its own parking spot.

The path between the cabins and the main area at River Dance is winding, uneven and, for the lower numbered cabins, quite long. If you think you would struggle with this, we suggest that you request a cabin closest to the main area.

The main area itself is made up of a dining area, reception, bar and lounge. Like the cabins, it is built on stilts and it shares similar views and styling. Outside, on a deck overlooking the river, there are some very comfy sofas around a firepit: the perfect spot to enjoy a sundowner or – weather permitting – breakfast and dinner.

Next to the main area, surrounded by a manicured lawn and the trees of the riverine forest, is a small but delightful pool with a few sunloungers. If you are lucky you might spot the lodge’s semi-tame duiker, which we were told on our last visit, in December 2016, likes to play with the owner’s dog.

Lower down you’ll find a covered viewing deck set with chairs that overlooks the river and the lodge’s pontoon/boat launch. We think that this would make a great birding platform.

Activities at River Dance naturally focus on the river, with its high number of resident and migratory birds. Guests may take part in sundowner and early-morning cruises, as well as fishing trips. You can also experience local culture with a village tour, take an island walk, or drive to Popa Falls (35km) and Babwata National Park (45km), either in your own vehicle or with a guide from the lodge.

Our view

With views of the river, a tranquil setting and excellent birdlife, River Dance is a great spot for birding, fishing or simply taking in the setting. On our last visit we so enjoyed the ambience and food that we wished we could have stayed longer. The only down side seems to be the lack of proximity to the Caprivi’s national parks. That said, as a place to kick back and relax River Dance would be hard to beat.

Tracy Lederer

Namibia expert

Geographics

Location: Caprivi Strip, Namibia
Ideal length of stay: River Dance is perfect for a one-night stop over, but to enjoy the tranquillity two nights would be better.
Directions: River Dance lies about 30km west of Divundu.
Accessible by: Self-drive

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Half Board
Food quality: When we last stayed at River Dance in December 2016, the food was excellent, perhaps the best we had on that trip.

Breakfast was a continental style buffet with a good selection of fresh breads, pastries, fruit, cereals and juices. A cooked breakfast may be ordered on request.

On our last visit, we didn’t have lunch here, but the sample menu that we saw featured savoury pancakes, toasted ham-and-cheese sandwiches and chicken schnitzel, all served with salad.

Dinner was a set menu with a starter of Cape smoked salmon served with cream cheese and a cheese soufflé. This was followed by beef steak with a mushroom sauce, gem squash, green beans and baby roast potatoes. Our meal was rounded off with mini toffee apples in a caramel sauce.
Dining style: Individual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service: Room Service is not available.
Drinks included: Drinks are not included, with the exception of the complimentary bottled water.

Tap water is filtered but comes from the river and is unsuitable for human consumption. Bottled drinking water is provided in the fridge in your room.

Children

Attitude towards children: The lodge welcomes children of all ages.
Property’s age restrictions: There are no age restrictions.
Special activities & services: None
Equipment: Children's beds and cots can be provided on request
Generally recommended for children: River Dance Lodge has an adult feel and we do not consider it suitable for young children.
Notes: The buildings at River Dance are set up on stilts, there is an unfenced pool and the pathways are uneven, so young children would require supervision at all times.

Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from River Dance

Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at River Dance 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.

Hippo

90% success

Buffalo

13% success

Sable antelope

13% success

Elephant

11% success

Giraffe

11% success

Aardvark

0% success

Cheetah

0% success

Eland

0% success

Leopard

0% success

Lion

0% success

Pangolin

0% success

Roan antelope

0% success

Sitatunga

0% success

Spotted Hyena

0% success

Wild dog

0% success

Wildebeest

0% success

Zebra

0% success

Communications

Power supply notes: There are electrical failures here, especially when it rains so there is a back-up generator.
Communications: There is free WiFi in the main area and cell reception throughout.
TV & radio: None
Water supply: Other
Water supply notes: All rooms have hot and cold running water, flush toilets and plumbed showers.

Sustainability

Authentic stay with locally-sourced products

River Dance Lodge has one clear goal: sustainability in every aspect of tourism. Closeness with the local Hambukushu people reveals community engagement as one of its guiding principles. The team at River Dance Lodge is particularly well-known for celebrating all things local, with some of the most evident aspects being the sourcing of local building materials and local food.

Each of the 8 private log cabins which make up River Dance is built using hardwood from the nearby Mobyo Community Forest. Similarly, guests staying at River Dance Lodge will are provided with ‘Namlinen’, handmade linen, and environmentally friendly toiletries including the organic ‘Desert Secrets Namibia’ range of products.

Meat served at the lodge’s restaurant comes from a fourth generation cattle farm in North Namibia, and fish is caught off the Namibian Atlantic Coast. Additionally, the lodge founded the Cattle Road Safety programme in an effort to protect the livelihood of local farmers. River Dance also supports subsistence farming when purchasing reeds, baskets, wild fruits, honey and a whole host of ingredients for the kitchen.

What ultimately provides an immersive experience in the Namibian way of life is interacting with locals at the lodge. Over half of the staff employed is from the nearby Hambukush village, and their welcoming nature makes it easy for tourists to chat with the locals or even learn some words in Timbukushu.

See more great sustainability projects in Namibia

Health & safety

Medical care: The nearest doctor is in Divundu (30km away), and there is a hospital in Rundu, some 185km away.
Dangerous animals: Moderate Risk
Security measures: The lodge has a lockable gate that is manned during the day and locked at night. The owners also sleep on site.
Fire safety: Fire extinguishers are provided in each of the rooms and in the main areas.

Activities

4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Cultural excursion
Fishing
Guided walking safari

Extras

Disabled access: In Place
Laundry facilities: Laundry is available at an additional charge for guests staying at least two nights. Underwear will not be washed.
Money: There are no safes in the rooms, but you can leave valuables with the manager for storage in the office safe.
Accepted payment on location: Payments may be made using Visa, Mastercard or Amex. Alternatively US dollars, Namibian dollars and South African rand are accepted for cash payment.