Information
Shametu River Lodge & Campsite is located at the Okavango River, close to the Mahango Game Park and the Popa Falls. The Mahango Game Park It is situated at the country’s eastern border with Botswana in the flood plains of the Okavango River basin, close to the Popa Falls on the river.
The Kavango East has become a destination in its own, a place where you can spend at least a few days and you will not be bored especially if you book at the newly build Shametu River Lodge.
At Shametu River Lodge you will be experiencing the tranquillity of the Kavango River on your doorstep.
Rooms
Tented Chalets
All of the comfort of the Chalets, the Shametu River Lodge Luxury Tents are built on stilts on the banks of the Okavango River offering a spectacular view of the Popa Falls.
The Luxury Tents offers guests beautifully furnished permanent tents which are equipped with an en-suite bathroom, Mosquito Net, Coffee Station and Lounge area.
During the day you can occupy your time with a range of activities from a picnic, fishing trip or sunset cruise. Our quaint coffee shop also offers delicious imported coffee and scrumptious cakes and tarts in the afternoon, baked by our experienced baker.
End of a long day with your feet up on your personal porch enjoying a glass of wine whilst watching the infamous Namibian sun set. At night you can comfortably drift off to sleep in a tented atmosphere with the calming sounds of nature and the Okavango River running in the background.
Chalets
The Shametu River Lodge Luxury Chalets are nestled between lush trees.
Each of the 22 Luxury Chalets are beautifully furnished and offers guests an en-suite bathroom, Mosquito Net, Coffee Station and Lounge area.
During the day you can visit our Restaurant where we offer a delightful variation, from a sunnyside up Breakfast to the best pizza in “town” and off coarse The Shametu Burger.
Fill your days at Shametu River Lodge with a range of activities from a Game Drive to the Two National Parks in the area (only 15min drive away), Tiger Fishing trips, a Sunset Boat Cruise or simply relaxing by the pool over looking the Popa Falls.
End of a long day with your feet up on your personal porch enjoying a glass of wine whilst watching the infamous Namibian sun set. At night you can drift off to sleep with the calming sound of the Okavango River and the Popa Falls in the background.
Camping
The Shametu River Lodge Campsite lends itself to privacy and peaceful surroundings – allowing you to camp in comfort.
If you prefer to camp in a small group, rest assure that you do not need to share ablutions and kitchen facilities with other campers, you can peacefully go about your activities without being hindered by other campers. If you are camping in a group a family-style campsite will be available, allowing you to share ablutions and kitchen facilities to bring the whole family together.
Each campsite has access to electricity and running water, ensuring that you have all the luxuries available at your fingertips when preparing a meal. Our kitchenettes also provide ample shelter during the rainy seasons and extra shade during the harsh summer months.
Activities
Mokoro Trip
Explore the Okavango River on a Mokoro. At Shametu River Lodge we use fiber glass Mokoros. Traditionally mokoros are made from Mushi Mughongo and the Mukuthi Tree which are both indigenous trees in the Caprivi. However in recent years governing bodies have banned the making of mokoros from these trees to protect them from extinction, thus modern Watos’ are made from fiber glass. The fiber glass mokoros are also more stable on the water.
The Mokoro rides are seasonal and can only be done when the water level and wind allow us to do so. For this reason this activity cannot be pre-booked – but only on arrival at the lodge.
Traditionally Mokoros are used as transport on the Okavango River to enable local villagers to fetch reeds from the islands in the river to use to construct their homes; these traditional canoes are also used for fishing and you will see some of them on your trip down the river.
Game Drives
Shametu offers daily game drives departing into the Mahango National Park or the Bwabwata National Park.
Most mammal species are well represented with roan, sable, kudu, impala, reedbuck, Chobe bushbuck, red lechwe, sitatunga (along the rivers), giraffe, zebra, blue wildebeest, large aggregations of elephant at certain times and buffalo. Hippo and crocodile flourish in the rivers and predators include lion, leopard, cheetah, hyaena and African wild dog.
Both rivers provide breeding habitats for wetland birds such as the endangered Wattled Crane and African Skimmer. Other species such as, African Wood
Owl, Western Banded Snake-Eagle, Narina Trogon, Grey-headed Parrot, and Red and Yellow-billed Oxpecker also occur.
A little-known aspect of Bwabwata National Park is the fascinating remains of the SADF occupation in the form of the ruins of bases in the Buffalo and Kwando Core areas and the rusty relics of tanks and blown-out vehicles lying around off the beaten tracks of the park.
Sundowner Boat Cruise
Experience the tranquility of the Kavango River and all the secrets it holds.
Glide gently downstream and watch the hippo frolic in the water while you try to spot the shy crocodile lurking in the reeds. Bird lovers will be entertained by the Fish Eagle and various other bird species current to the season.
The Kavango River is the fourth-longest river system in southern Africa, running south-east ward for 1,600 km. It begins in Angola, where it is known by the Portuguese name Rio Cubango. Further south it forms part of the border between Angola and Namibia, and then flows into Botswana, draining into the Moremi Game Reserve or known as the Okavango Delta. Before it enters Botswana, the river drops four meters, across the full 1.2 km-width of the river, in a series of rapids known as Popa Falls, visible when the river is low, as during the dry season.
Fishing
For the more adventurous traveler, Shametu River Lodge offers amazing fishing activities which will keep you occupied for hours.
Experience a peaceful fishing trip while enjoying the wildlife and nature from a fishing boat floating down the Okavango River.
Our guests can choose if they would like to fish next to the river bank, or go a bit deeper with one of our fishing boats – which can hold up to 3 fishermen.
The Okavango is filled with a range of species, including but not limited to, Tiger Fish, Tilapia, Catfish and so many more.
