Start up

I try and put regular updates on our 'facebook' page but not everyone uses that social media, so we will update this blog as well.

This year has seen some major changes here at Mwandi View. Anton and Amelia moved over from Australia as owners to manage and operate the lodge. The restaurant and bar area started operating at the beginning of April to the delight of many clients. Home made bread has become a signature dish on the table with many commenting on it ... all good reviews, thank goodness.

Stage two of Mwandi View commenced at the beginning of the year with construction on a family unit, a second ablution block, 3 extra campsites and 2 bush camps (outside the perimeter of the electric fence. It has been challenging due to lack of experienced labour and supplies - a good part of the supplies had to come from South Africa. At the end of May the electric fence was erected around the whole of Mwandi View and the section down the middle separating stage one and two removed. The first night the fence went up there was a section of about 150m that was not complete so the poor watchman had to warn off the elephant by banging on an empty paint bucket. The previous night the ellies had broken two of the poles so we couldn't have them coming in again as that could have seen a lot of damage to the already erected fence.

Yesterday saw a big milestone reached here at Mwandi View, the family unit (sleeps 4) is finally complete with our first clients staying over last night. The lead up to this has been hard work, but it was all very exciting and everyone put a hand in to make it 'perfect' to management standards.

Last year the western Chobe river, toward Linyanti, dried up for the first time in many years. After the rain season the Zambezi burst its river banks and started flowing into the Chobe river at Kasane. As a result of this the Chobe river filled up on the western site and Vic Falls on the east was very active. We were privileged to witness the life giving effect the swelling Chobe river had to a parched landscape on both the Botswana and Namibian side. The whole place just came to life with birds and wild life.