Thamalakane River Lodge

Travel Date: December 31, 2024

Arrived at the beautiful lodge to friendly smiles and service. Top class rooms and one of the most beautiful sunsets I have seen. Lunch, dinner and breakfast was perfectly prepared. I'll definitely return and recommend to friends and family.

Travel Date: August 31, 2024

We stayed in a Babbler Chalet with a view of the river. There were cattle across the river and one hippopotamus who wandered in and out of the river. Beautiful birds and frogs sang us to sleep and awake. Nice, comfortable bed. Food was fine. Staff was very friendly and...

We stayed in a Babbler Chalet with a view of the river. There were cattle across the river and one hippopotamus who wandered in and out of the river. Beautiful birds and frogs sang us to sleep and awake. Nice, comfortable bed. Food was fine. Staff was very friendly and helpful. This was a nice place to stay for visits to Maun and Elephant Havens. Our guide, Happy, made sure we had a great visit with the elephants.

Travel Date: August 31, 2024

We had a lovely one night stay before our tour began. The staff were very welcoming and helpful. The rooms were spacious, clean and comfortable with the Wifi working well. The property is well looked after and was very peaceful. We did enjoy a dinner and breakfast which were very...

We had a lovely one night stay before our tour began. The staff were very welcoming and helpful. The rooms were spacious, clean and comfortable with the Wifi working well. The property is well looked after and was very peaceful. We did enjoy a dinner and breakfast which were very tasty and with large servings. Would recommended!

Travel Date: July 31, 2024

Very friendly staff, all of them, no exception! Helpfull and professional attitude at the reception. Lodge is beautiful with a nice bed and little terrace at the front. The restaurant has a taart buffet and a beautiful view on the river(bed); also in the day season. A lot of animal...

Very friendly staff, all of them, no exception! Helpfull and professional attitude at the reception. Lodge is beautiful with a nice bed and little terrace at the front. The restaurant has a taart buffet and a beautiful view on the river(bed); also in the day season. A lot of animal noices during the evening and night and no music or television makes it a real African experience.

Travel Date: January 31, 2024

Firstly this is a nice property. The chalets are pleasant if a little tight and dark. The staff (Kelly was a great host) were also great and very friendly. However the main issue is that it is very expensive for what you get. We had stayed in other lodges in...

Firstly this is a nice property. The chalets are pleasant if a little tight and dark. The staff (Kelly was a great host) were also great and very friendly. However the main issue is that it is very expensive for what you get. We had stayed in other lodges in Botswana and we realised that when compared with other properties and their offerings (including the extent of the breakfasts), this is an expensive stay. When we were there, the pool was also under refurbishment and we could not use it.

Travel Date: October 31, 2023

Spacious lodge on the riverside with resident hippos and plenty of birdlife. Rooms clean and authentic with ensuite facilities. Fan for cooling with balcony overlooking river. Food and service excellent, pool refreshing but a bit small with just 8 sun loungers. A thoroughly enjoyable stay.

Travel Date: September 30, 2023

We stayed 1 night here as a layover ahead of our trip into the Okavango Delta. We had read very nothingy things about Maun so ensured we just had the one night there. On arrival here though, we said how it would have been nice to have had a couple...

We stayed 1 night here as a layover ahead of our trip into the Okavango Delta. We had read very nothingy things about Maun so ensured we just had the one night there. On arrival here though, we said how it would have been nice to have had a couple of nights! The lodge is on the riverside and we had a lovely view of the river from our bedroom and from the restaurant. Sound of hippos and the sunset were a beautiful start to our Botswana trip. The rooms are really nicely presented, have the amenities required and we’re comfortable. There’s no aircon, but this should be expected if you’re spending time in Botswana lodges - they all strive to be eco, and aircon is not eco! It’s set outside of the ‘town’ and is quiet, slightly better signage along the sandy track would be ideal for self driving as we tried to pull into private property initially, but then again, if you’re self-driving any of Africa you’ll come to expect a few wrong turns, and this one was very easily rectified! Food was tasty and plentiful, we enjoyed a couple of alcoholic bevvies which weren’t overly priced. All in all, very happy with our stay. I knocked 1 star off as I felt it was a little more expensive when comparing to alternative similar properties, but we would stay again despite this.

Travel Date: September 30, 2023

Lodge was super quaint, food good and view of river amazing … hippos right in front of your lodge … was amazing. The staff did a song and dance after the meal at dinner which was fun … all seemed genuinely happy to be there and were all very helpful....

Lodge was super quaint, food good and view of river amazing … hippos right in front of your lodge … was amazing. The staff did a song and dance after the meal at dinner which was fun … all seemed genuinely happy to be there and were all very helpful. Solid lodge, don’t hesitate to book

Travel Date: October 31, 2023

We absolutely loved our stay here. Our riverview lodge was gorgeous and really appreciated the kettle. The patio was a great place for spotting wildlife, we saw three hippos! The buffet at the restaurant and the staff were lovely. Kelly on reception was great and so was the general manager....

We absolutely loved our stay here. Our riverview lodge was gorgeous and really appreciated the kettle. The patio was a great place for spotting wildlife, we saw three hippos! The buffet at the restaurant and the staff were lovely. Kelly on reception was great and so was the general manager. So friendly and helpful. The only con was the lack of Aircon, which we appreciate is hard in the natural lodges, but the fan didn't make for a comfortable night's sleep. We also struggled on the sandy drive in our little car.

Travel Date: August 31, 2022

We had a comfortable stay. The food was tasty, but we were not aware that the dinner was not included in or booking. The location is well and close to the airport. We managed to do some birding in the morning. Pleasant overnight stay location.

Travel Date: July 31, 2023

Upton arrival we were first informed the lodge was actually fully booked, despite us having the reservation confirmation from booking.com. After few min we were told something would be arranged. We paid (for a double chalet) and went for a drink to wait for it to be ready. At nightfall...

Upton arrival we were first informed the lodge was actually fully booked, despite us having the reservation confirmation from booking.com. After few min we were told something would be arranged. We paid (for a double chalet) and went for a drink to wait for it to be ready. At nightfall we were brought to a room that looked nothing like advertised. Not on booking.com, not on Tripadvisor and not on their website. Not a chalet, but a simple room in a cement building. Basic furniture, bare cement floor (very cold in this season). See pictures. Whilst the other chalets looked quite charming, this block of rooms was clearly added later and seemed to be also used for guides and staff. We however paid full price and were not informed prior to checking in. No apologies or explanation from the managers. They just told us to drop an email to the GM. Furthermore the food was just not what you would except in this price range. Buffet style, tasteless, overcooked. Finally, the lodge is on the river and they advertise sunset river cruises and mokoro trips; however it is apparently a seasonal river. It is now almost dry and those who had booked these activities were left empty handed. Seasonal rivers are actually quite common in this part of the world, however again this is NOT mentioned on the website of the hotel. For us, the whole experience was a good example of misleading advertising, and of some of the failings of these review system for places that tend to be booked by tour operators.