Gondwana Hakusembe River Lodge

Our room had been painted with creosote recently so we couldn’t sleep there the smell was so bad… they found us another one probably a guides room but was perfectly fine! A very good spread for dinner and breakfast… after all it’s just a stopover en route to better places.

This was our first stop enroute from Etosha across into the Caprivi and the first of three Gondwana Collection hotels of the trip. We arrived after a good 4.5hr drive from eastern Etosha via Grootfontein and were particularly tired from the journey on what was a very hot day. Check in was a bit strange. We weren’t greeted in a personal manner at all, just handed a welcome drink and given a quick introduction to the hotel along with a French couple who had also just arrived and were looking equally frazzled. We were also told the wifi wasn’t working (which about an hour later it was). Initially the lady couldn’t find my booking so I had produce all my paperwork showing full payment for the stay. We were then taken to the room by the porters who were, as always, very helpful with all our luggage. Nobody showed us around the room though and we were just left there. Breakfast was OK with cold selections laid out and a good selection of yogurts and cereals. Eggs are cooked to order and the usual other hot stuff is in the hot lockers. Dinner is never included at Gondwana properties and they seem to price them all very similar - the buffet here was 483NAD$ per person which is OK if you are going to load your plates to bulging and go back for many courses, which we did see people doing. But we don’t eat like that and so we felt it was a little over-priced compared to other buffets we had had in other parts of Namibia. The wine and beer prices were also the most expensive we had come across on our trip, even compared to those lodges near Etosha. Thankfully you are only about a 15min drive from Rundu so a quick pop to the shops is possible, although there is no fridge in the room. There is no turndown service and in fact, the way they had laid the sheets and blankets on the bed, you have to make your own on the first night! I thought I was just turning the sheet down to hop in only to discover they had simply laid it folded up across the bed. Fabian was the best guy in the restaurant, very helpful and friendly and a good sense of humour. Our house-keeping lady was also very good especially on our last day when my husband was suffering from serious tummy troubles. On the last day the manager was exceptionally helpful with regard to my husband’s tummy issues - he provided us with rehydrates, a full bottle of water and called ahead to our next stop (another Gondwana hotel) to let them know. The sunset cruise was absolutely fantastic with drinks and nibbles included and was a lovely end to the day. We were due to do the bird watching trip the following morning but hubby’s upset tummy meant we had to cancel last minute, but that was done without any problem. We stayed for 3 nights and in hindsight should have only done a maximum of 2; it is a handy location to stop enroute into the Caprivi, but it is not a ‘destination’

This was our first stop enroute from Etosha across into the Caprivi and the first of three Gondwana Collection hotels of the trip. We arrived after a good 4.5hr drive from eastern Etosha via Grootfontein and were particularly tired from the journey on what was a very hot day. Check in was a bit strange. We weren’t greeted in a personal manner at all, just handed a welcome drink and given a quick introduction to the hotel along with a French couple who had also just arrived and were looking equally frazzled. We were also told the wifi wasn’t working (which about an hour later it was). Initially the lady couldn’t find my booking so I had produce all my paperwork showing full payment for the stay. We were then taken to the room by the porters who were, as always, very helpful with all our luggage. Nobody showed us around the room though and we were just left there. Breakfast was OK with cold selections laid out and a good selection of yogurts and cereals. Eggs are cooked to order and the usual other hot stuff is in the hot lockers. Dinner is never included at Gondwana properties and they seem to price them all very similar - the buffet here was 483NAD$ per person which is OK if you are going to load your plates to bulging and go back for many courses, which we did see people doing. But we don’t eat like that and so we felt it was a little over-priced compared to other buffets we had had in other locations. The wine and beer prices were also the most expensive we had come across on our trip, even compared to those lodges near Etosha. Thankfully you are only about a 15min drive from Rundu so a quick pop to the shops is possible. There is no turndown service and in fact, the way they had laid the sheets and blankets on the bed, you have to make your own! I thought I was just turning the sheet down to hop in only to discover they had simply laid it folded up across the bed. Fabian was the best guy in the restaurant, very helpful and friendly and a good sense of humour. Our house-keeping lady was also very good especially on our last day when my husband was suffering from serious tummy troubles. The sunset cruise was absolutely fantastic with drinks and nibbles included and was a lovely end to the day. We were due to do the bird watching trip the following morning but hubby’s upset tummy meant we had to cancel last minute, but that was done without any problem. We stayed for 3 nights and we should have only done a maximum of 2; it is a handy location to stop enroute into the Caprivi, but it is not a ‘destination’

Lodge van de Gondwane Collection: Goed gelegen aan de rivier - de huisjes hebben goed uitzicht. Restaurant (buffet) was in orde (wel iets groter en drukker). We deden een sunset river cruise - ontspannend en relaxend maar niet echt veel te zien .....

2nd round trip through Namibia; on the way to the Okavango (Cubango), west of Rundu. Great lodge located directly at the water of the Okavango. Individual houses (suites) to the left and right of the main building, in which breakfast, dinner or even a small lunch is served. Some suites are also located directly at the river, with a small terrace in the entrance area - so the sundowner can be enjoyed in all togetherness. Rooms furnished with attention to detail, very functional, very clean - feel good guaranteed. Service nimble, attentive and also trained. Food is of very good quality, especially the lunch snacks (for little money). Dinner is from the buffet, here everyone finds something to appease the rumbling stomach. In summary: I can definitely recommend this accommodation. Service and performance fit absolutely. A stay of 2 days is actually a must....

A beautiful place right by the river. The sound of nature in the morning makes everything so much better. The boat cruise was amazing and so calming. The food was so good, with the soup being the highlight (it was cold) 😆

The only place to stay around Rundu! Always a welcoming place with the best guest team from the welcome to the farewell. Definition of true Namibian hospitality can be experienced in Hakusembe River Lodge. The river cruise at sunset is a must, though with this visit the river water level was too low for an excursion. Definitely remains on our stop-over list en route through the Kavango to Zambezi.

A good place to stop if doing the long drive from Etosha along the Caprivi. Large rooms in a pleasant setting, with a lovely riverside viewing deck / restaurant area. Staff and food functional rather than great, but river cruise along Angola border on the Okavango very pleasant.

Easy to reach lodge just outside Rundu. Beautifully located on the river that’s is also the border with Angola. The lodges are situated amongst a path that could sometimes demands quite a walk to reach your bed. Nice, okay interior. So far this is not a 3 star review right…the reason for this lies in the food. Dear management, on a level like you sell on your website one does not expect self service canteen-like food.