Experience Botswana with Thamalakane...

Experience Botswana and Thamalakane River Lodge...

Thamalakane River Lodge is placed on the banks of the Thamalakane River, just 19kms from Maun, and en route to the famous Moremi Game Reserve.

Character en-suite stone chalets, some with private splash pools are positioned in the shade of the riverine forest, overlooking the river.

Chalets, public areas and our swimming pool take advantage of the 180 degree view of the riverbanks lined with fluttering reeds visited by an ever changing array of water fowl and birds. It is a delightful place to come home to after a day spent exploring.

Our widely acclaimed restaurant serves a la carte meals from an ever changing menu. Dusk is spectacular, with the sun setting the river ablaze as is slowly dips behind the trees.

Traveling time from Thamalakane to:

Maun – 15 minutes. (Shopping, cultural experiences.)
Airport – 15 minutes. (Scenic flights over the Delta).
Moremi Game Reserve – 1 hour 30 minutes
Boro Poler Trust – 40 minutes (for mokoro trips on the Delta)
Lake Ngami – 1 hour (for spectacular Bird Watching)
Maun Game Park – 15 minutes (self drive game trails with varied antelope species)

Experience Botswana and Thamalakane River Lodge...

Botswana Safari - Moremi Safari - Thamalakane River lodge

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Accommodation at Thamalakane

Character en-suite stone chalets, some with private splash pools are positioned in the shade of the riverine forest, with patios overlooking the river.All accommodation types feature mosquito nets, ceiling fans, tea and coffee station and 2 bottles of mineral water daily.

2 x King Fisher family units

Consisting of 2 bedrooms sharing one bathroom. One bedroom accommodates 2 adults in either twin or double beds and the other bedroom sleeps 2 children on twin beds. These units’ lounge areas overlook the river. The bathrooms consist of shower, toilet, vanity slab with his and her hand basin.

1 x Lilac Breasted Roller Honeymoon suite

Spacious stone and thatch chalet with four poster bed, private splash pool, bath en suite, his and her basins and outdoor shower – private dining on request. Rooms are well ventilated with a unique “skylight type” wall.

10 x Babbler chalets

Sleeping 2 adults on double or twin beds, 1 child can be accommodated on a mattress on the floor. The spacious chalet interiors have a feature stone wall with an en-suite bathroom consisting of a shower, hand-basin and toilet.Rooms are well ventilated with a unique “skylight type” wall. 3 x Jacana chaletsSpacious stone and thatch en-suite chalets, sleeping 2 adults on double or twin beds, 1 child can be accommodated on a mattress on the floor or on a single bed. Rooms are well ventilated with a unique “skylight type” wall.

2 x Fish Eagle chalets

Spacious stone and thatch en suite chalets with private splash pools. En suite bathrooms consist of shower, toilet, vanity slab with his and her hand basin. Sleeping 2 adults on double or twin beds, 1 child can be accommodated on a mattress on the floor or on a single bed. Rooms are well ventilated with a unique “skylight type” wall.

Experience Botswana and Thamalakane River Lodge...

Botswana Safari - Moremi Safari - Thamalakane River lodge

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Activities from Thamalakane

Thamalakane enjoys a wonderful location which lends itself to relaxation around the pool and on your private patios enjoying the plentiful birds and spectacular sunsets.
Venturing further a-field Thamalakane is an easy 20 minute drive from Maun, with it’s shopping centres and wonderful curio shops as well as the airport.
Moremi Game Reserve is a hour and half drive away offering spectacular game viewing opportunities.

The Delta is on our doorstep – a 45 minute drive will see one at the Boro Poler station where you are able to participate in a traditional Mokoro trip.

Below are some of the activities on offer:

Moremi Day Trip

Travelling time to the Moremi: 1hour 30 minutes

Trips are undertaken in 4×4 game viewing vehicles.

Guests are picked up at the lodge and enjoy a full day in the Moremi Game Reserve.

Meals and soft drinks are included in this day trip.

Lake Ngami Bird Watching

Traveling time to Lake Ngami: 1 hour

Trips are undertaken in 4×4 game viewing vehicles.

Meals and soft drinks are included in this day trip.

Mekoro Trip

Boro Poler Trust – 40 minutes drive. Guests are picked up at the lodge and transferred to Boro Poler station where they embark on a guided walk and a Mokoro adventure. Meals and soft drinks are included in this day trip.
A Mekoro trip will give guests the opportunity to learn more about the Delta, the ecosystem and its functioning – how the delta works, why it floods, the importance of flooding to the ecosystem, the effect of this on all animal life – both disadvantages and advantages, the effect it has on plant life, the various species that need the flood to survive, the special adaptations of certain plants to increased water levels each year, the guide will show you the actual plant, pull it out and explain the mechanisms for survival etc… Also learn more about the cultural aspect and way of life of the tribes, how they survived in this watery wilderness. Hear some fascinating cultural stories on why it floods, the determination of settlements because of floods and the impact on social life. And of course there are the birds, a truly amazing variety of birds are to be seen, on a mokoro you are placed right there in their habitat, you witness nest making, feeding young, mating behaviour and foraging.

Maun

Traveling time to Maun: 15 minutes

Almost all tourists entering the Okavango do so through Maun, situated at the gateway to the Delta and Moremi Game Reserve. Maun is the tourism capital of Botswana and the administrative centre of Ngamiland. It is also the headquarters of countless safari and air-charter operations whose signs and offices dot almost every intersection, particularly towards the airport.

Since the town’s establishment in 1915 as the tribal capital of the Batawana people, Maun has had a rough and ready reputation as a hard-living ‘Wild West’ town servicing the local cattle ranching and hunting operations. But with the growth of the tourism industry and the completion of the tar road from Nata in the early 1990s, Maun has developed rapidly, losing much of its old frontier town character. It is now home to over 30,000 people.

Regular supplies of almost everything can be bought in Maun, and the town boasts several good shopping centers, filling stations, as well as car and four-wheel-drive vehicle hire. The Maun Airport, which was officially opened in 1996 after extensive renovations, is – if one counts the light aircraft charters to the various Delta camps – one of the busiest airports in Southern Africa.

Maun History

The name Maun is derived from the San word “maung”, which means “the place of short reeds”. The village began in 1915 as the capital for the Tawana people. The capital was moved from Toteng after glorious victory over Ndebele King Lobengula.

This metropolis is now spread out along the wide banks of the timeless Thamalakane River where red lechwe can still be seen grazing next to local donkeys, goats and cattle.

Areas of interest in and around Maun include the small Maun Game Reserve which covers just 8km2 of woodland. It follows the Thamalakane riverbank upstream from the Best Western Riley’s Hotel and includes the original “Place of Reeds” from which the Town takes its name. The reserve is open every day and is traversed by numerous walking Trails. Various cultural tours can be arranged, where one would have the opportunity of learning more about the customs of the locals.

Experience Botswana and Thamalakane River Lodge...

Botswana Safari - Moremi Safari - Thamalakane River lodge

Nata & the Makgadikgadi Pans

The Nata Lodge An oasis set among the Mokolwane palms on the edge of the pans. It is ideally situated close to the entrance to the Nata Sanctuary and is just off the main road, 10 km from Nata village. This is the junction to the Okavango, Chobe and Francistown areas. Experience the Makgadikgadi Adventure with Nata Lodge Botswana Safari - Nata Lodge - Makgadikgadi Safari The Chalets All chalets have custom designed ceiling fans and in room safes. Of the 20 chalets, 8 chalets are set on a raised platform that overlooks the old Didibakwe river and are built on the northern boundary of the lodge under the dappled shade of the Ilala Palm trees. Of these 8 chalets there are 2 Luxury Chalets on offer. These boast majestic outdoor showers and ball and claw feature baths. 12 A-framed stoned thatch chalets are set on the southern boundary of the lodge. These unique chalets have semi open bathrooms and stoned verandas. The Safari Tents 10 luxury safari tents are built on raised wooden platforms which are nestled under the lodges many Marula trees. These unique tents feature en suite bathrooms and all amenities offered in any of the lodge’s chalets. The Camp Site The campsite surroundings offer peace and tranquillity with backdrop being that of the Botswana night sky. The lodge’s campsite is able to accommodate 150 pax and the ablution area’s are stylish with semi open showers offering hot and cold water for that true African feeling. The campsite, however, does not have electricity points. Facilities • Restaurant • Swimming Pool • Gift Shop • Bar/lounge area Activities The shady tree canopy surrounding the lodge is a hive of activity, with a bird feeding area and active water feature providing the bird watcher with the opportunity of viewing a variety of species from the comfort of either the pool deck, open bar or restaurant. The Helmeted Guineafowl, Crested Francolin, Yellow Hornbill, Pied and Arrowmarked Babblers, Glossy Starling, Meyers Parrot and Paradise Whydah are just some of the species you will encounter during your stay at the lodge. Sunset When the sun sets and the birds retire to their nests, it's the turn of the large family of nocturnal bush babies to entertain you at their feeding table. Your evening meals can be enjoyed at the 'à la carte' restaurant with a typical braai (barbecue) buffet every Saturday night in the boma area. Bird Watching For keen bird watchers and naturalists, Nata Lodge offers open vehicle, three hour excursions into the Nata Sanctuary. Mammal species in the sanctuary include antelope such as kudu and springbok, as well as springhares, jackals, foxes and monkeys. However the main attraction is the abundance of bird life. Around 165 bird species, including king-fishers, eagles, ostriches, pelicans, spoonbills and both greater and lesser flamingos, have been recorded Makgadikgadi Salt Pans This area incorporates a multitude of salt pans and vast grass plains dotted by palm islands and forms the Great Makgadikagidi which comprise the largest area of salt pans in the world covering some 37 000 sq km in overall extent. It is the last vestiges of Africa’s largest inland sea and exudes an atmosphere of antiquity and mystery. The Nata Sanctuary The Nata River delta feeds the Sua Pan in the Nata sanctuary and forms the breeding ground for a host of water birds including pelicans and flamingo in their thousands, transforming the shore line into a pink haze blending into the western sky. Nata Lodge offers guided tours in open safari vehicles into the sanctuary, not to be missed. Experience this Makgadikgadi Adventure with Nata Lodge Botswana Safari - Nata Lodge - Makgadikgadi Safari

Pictures from Kwalape, the Chobe Safari Camp