GETTING TO MOKUTI ETOSHA LODGE
My brother and sister-in-law surprised me with a weekend trip to Mokuti Etosha Lodge I love going on game drives and when coupled with luxury lodges and impeccable service, it usually takes very little convincing to go! So we left Windhoek and drove to Mokuti. The best part about this drive to the lodge was that it offered the opportunity to appreciate Namibia’s landscape. Seeing the savanna in all its glory was so captivating because Namibia also has the Namib desert! Seeing the contrasting landscape and stopping by the towns on our way to Mokuti Etosha Lodge was the best way to tour the country! I loved being able to stop at smaller towns and learn about the history of each town was such a delight.
THE LODGE
I’ve been to three safari lodges on the continent in Botswana, Zimbabwe and now Namibia. Mokuti Etosha Lodge is my absolute favorite! Its the service for me! After all those hours on the road, we were greeted by the friendliest receptionist who quickly checked us in and ensured that the porter got us to our respective rooms with little fuss. We were a family of 5: three adults and two children under 4 and it was a breeze to check-in and get details on the property in under 10 minutes!
THE ROOMS
Have you ever walked into a room and automatically felt at peace? That’s what it felt like when I opened my door at Mokuti Etosha Lodge The scent of the room was relaxing, the room was incredibly clean, the water pressure was ughhh – heavenly! I automatically went on vacation mode: rest and relaxation were my only objectives! The lodge is eco friendly and encouraged water conservation and recycling. In-room amenities like the mini fridge, the most fragrant body wash and lotions, complimentary teas and water … were all available in the room.
My brother and his family got a family room, which was so spacious! The little ones had their own section and the size of that bathroom?! Yup, it was exactly what they needed!
THE SAFARI
Y’all this was the highlight of our stay! Mokuti Etosha Lodge is located right next to Etosha National Park which is home to four of the big 5: rhinos, elephants, cheetahs and lions. We booked our game drive the day before and on the morning of the drive, the Mokuti team gave us a courtesy wake up call, which I appreciated as we needed to wake up very early for the drive. I recommend taking the 6:45/7am game drive as we saw so many animals! As we were a family of 5, the lodge allowed us to have our own car, which allowed the kids the freedom to truly express their amazement at what they saw. It also allowed us adults to move freely and get as many shots as possible without inconveniencing any other passengers.
The game drive took us about 4 hours and the tour guides were so informative! We got so much out of this experience! We not only saw some of the big 5 animals, but we also learnt so much about the country and the flora and fauna of the region.
THE SPA
RELAXATION MODE ACTIVATED! Honestly, the spa experience should be at every lodge! Being able to unwind after a long day at a game drive with a massage and some calming sounds should be how we all end our days! Booking time at the spa is a seamless experience at Mokuti Etosha Lodge and I highly recommend it.
RESTAURANTS
The dining experience at Mokuti Etosha Lodge was good. I’m a carnivore and the chefs delivered on all the grilling (braai). Aesthetically all the food looked incredible. However, I was underwhelmed that not everything had my mouth watering. I’m a huge foodie and was expecting so much more flavor and vibrancy but I was a little underwhelmed. All things considered though, the food was filling and the ambiance was so welcoming. The lodge has a Boma – a communal eating space, which was was my favorite eating place at Mokuti! The open fire in the Boma and the decor of the restaurant was just the perfect combination to make guests feel comfortable and ready to enjoy all the meals presented!
BREAKFAST
LUNCH
DINNER
POOLS
Every holiday should include a good afternoon’s worth of pool time! I’m one of those people who didn’t really do many sports but swimming was always the one sport that I participated in. So when on vacation and a pool is available, I spend as much time as possible in it both for fitness and relaxation. Mokuti has three pools! My nieces enjoyed the kiddie pool and my brother and I made use of the adult pool, which had us reminiscing on our childhood … this was so fun!
I absolutely recommend Mokuti Etosha Lodge. If you are ever in Namibia or are planning a trip to Africa, this lodge should definitely be on your list!
