TitleIntoduction NGUMA ISLAND LODGE consists of large safari tents overlooking the lagoon, each on a raised wooden platform under thatch. Each tent has electricity and en suite facilities in attached reed boma -- flush toilets, hot showers, etc --and is linked by an elevated wooden walkwGETTING THERE ... BY AIR - One can fly Jhb/Maun (R1 775 plus R73 airport tax), with AIR BOTSWANA, and then charter across the delta from Maun with Mack Air -- return charter flight price depends on group size: R555 if five pax, R684 if four pax, R872 if three pax, R1 287 if two pax and R2 535 if only 1 pax. ... OR BY ROAD - One can now drive to within 15 km of Guma on good tar roads (290 km from Maun). Your vehicle is left under guard in the village of Etsa, and the lodge collects you -- by boat in wet years, by 4x4 in dry. If driving, we strongly recommend you make it a two-day drive; do NOT drive in Botswana after dark, too many animals on the roads. We recommend overnight at Nata Lodge, approx 250 km past Francistown and about 10 km before the town of Nata. That leaves you 300 km to Maun, and then 290 km to Etsa. NOTE: Compulsory govt tax of P10 pp pn at main camp, P5 pp at campsite and P5 pp pn for medical Insurance (compulsory for main camp) must be pre-paid in SA.Prices valid as at 15 Apr '98 and are subject to change. ay to the central pub/dining lodge.
Nguma Island Lodge There are eight tents here, all raised up on high wooden decking. Inside you'll find comfortable twin beds made with colourful fabrics, chairs, a small table and a wooden wardrobe behind. At the back of each tent is an en-suite shower, toilet and washbasin. The power at the lodge, and the lighting in the tents, comes from the lodge's own generator and a system of back-up batteries for the lights at night. The main lounge and dining area is a large log cabin, again raised up on decking, which houses a comfortable lounge, a dining room and a well-stocked bar. There's a better collection of local baskets and craftwork here than in most curio shops, and some are for sale in the lodge's own small shop. The tents and main area are all widely spread out and linked by fairly high wooden walkways. This keeps everything above water if levels rise to a high flood. Normally the ground beneath is dry, with cool lawns dotted with date palms. There are plans to install a swimming pool here. There's also a campsite here, slightly separate from the lodge, but under the same cool canopy of trees as the main lodge. Toilets and showers are simple, with wooden-clad showers and toilets, and there are also braai stands and facilities for washing up, though if you arrange it in advance, you can have your meals in the main lodge. Campers here are often serious about their fishing! In the last year or so Guma has become a favourite stop for overland group trips and activities major on mokoro trips, which cost around P130 per mokoro per day. That said, various boat trips, booze cruises and fishing excursions are also possible. Finally, after visiting the lodge and writing this, I've since seen
the lodge referred to as 'Nguma Luxury Lodge' and also as 'Nguma Island
Tented Lodge' – the latter by Audi Camp who promote it as a base
for fly-in mokoro trips.
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