From a Drawing in the Sand: How We Built Nambwa Tented Lodge
The late Dusty Rodgers, founder of African Monarch Lodges, had a plan in his mind.
The idea was to build a luxury lodge on the principles of conservation and community – in a secluded place called Nambwa, in the pristine Bwabwata National Park. His vision led to the establishment of a joint venture collection of lodges starting with Nambwa Tented Lodge and later, Kazile Island Lodge.
When his wife, Tinolla – who today owns and runs African Monarch Lodges – asked him to show her the plans for their next Lodge, he replied, “They’re all in my head.”
“He bent down and drew his idea in the sand to show me his vision for Kazile Island Lodge’s tented suites,” recalls Tinolla with a smile.
From that dream came not only two lodges, but a much bigger purpose that Tinolla and our whole team now continue to uphold with passion.
How it all began: the first revenue-sharing agreements in the region
In partnership with the Mayuni Conservancy, the government invited three tenders to develop lodges on concessions in Bwabwata National Park. One tender was for the Nambwa campsite to be upgraded to a lodge for the benefit of the community. Chief Mayuni contacted Dusty and asked him to tender. Dusty won two of the three tenders, Nambwa and Kazile.
Dusty already knew Chief Mayuni. They had met while Dusty was camping in the (then) Caprivi Park in 1995. One day he drove towards Horseshoe Bend with a friend. A vehicle from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism approached from the front, in the passenger seat was Chief Mayuni. Dusty knew the driver, a ranger called Matambo. Both vehicles stopped for a door-to-door chat and the chief invited Dusty to look at his tribal land as an investment opportunity.
According to the story that the chief tells, Nambwa means place of the dog. Nambwa once used to be the home of an acclaimed hunting dog that lived there with its owner long before the site became part of a national park.
The building of Nambwa
Dusty recruited unskilled labour from the conservancy area and construction work started in March 2014. No contractors or architects were involved but Dusty had the basic structure and layout in his mind.
He decided that the elephants should always have right of way and determined the height of Nambwa Tented Lodge when a large herd of elephants walked into camp while he was hanging from a tree.
One evening during the building phase the resident leopard took down a bushbuck grazing around the lodge structures and hauled it into the sausage tree where room no. 4 is now – all while Dusty was cooking his dinner over a fire nearby.
Today, Nambwa is a place of transformation
Built with such passion, Nambwa Tented Lodge has a special magic about it. From the minute you set foot on the wooden walkways, you’ll feel it. It’s proof that dreams come true. And, as such, it’s the perfect setting for our Retreats in the Wild, where guests can immerse themselves in the lodge’s healing energy.
Proudly owner run, African Monarch Lodge’s mission goes beyond exceptional wildlife encounters—we’re dedicated to uplifting the communities that have entrusted us with their land. Learn more about our purpose.
