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Ficus burkei Knob-thorn acacias (acacia nigrescens)
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KAYOVA RIVER LODGE
Founded by the Denner Foundation, Kayova River Lodge is situated 113 km east of Rundu. All profits generated by the lodge are invested in the upliftment of the local community. The foundation supplies 25 000 people in the surrounding countryside with water, runs four nursery schools and is in the process of erecting an orphanage for aids orphans at Nyangana. Local people are trained to do almost all the necessary construction work, as well as run the lodge. The Kayova River Lodge has eight well-appointed chalets, each with a view across the river from its own veranda. Situated on a high bank, the lodge also offers beautiful views of the adjacent Angolan flood plains. To the west of the main building is a large riverside camping area, which was under construction in May 2013 and should be completed by now. It is shaded mostly by tall knob-thorn acacias (acacia nigrescens) (178), which will become more prevalent towards the east and into the Caprivi Region. The raised knobs on their trunks and older branches, each knob bearing a sharply curved thorn, make them easy to identify. At Kayova Lodge you will find the first occurrence of the evergreen African mangosteen, (Garcinia livingstonei) (486), recognised by rigid, short lateral branches arising at an acute angle to the main stem, unusually in whorls of three. The stiff, leathery, darkgreen leaves occur in whorls of three or four. The outer flesh of the fruit is edible with a pleasant fruity flavour. Male and female flowers are borne on separate trees. Please note, however, that the variety of species inside the walled area is not too great. www.kayovariverlodge.com
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WWW.TRAVELNEWSNAMIBIA.COM.NA
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RIVER DANCE LODGE
Roughly 30 km west of Divundu, River Dance Lodge is highly recommended for nature lovers and for tree lovers in particular. Accommodation is in five wood-and-glass cabins on raised platforms, tucked away in the riverine forest and totally secluded from each other. Downriver from the main building are four equally stunning grassed campsites under shady trees, each with its own beautifully designed ablution facility. Each site has a direct view of the river. At least 60 different indigenous trees and shrubs have been tagged. For a special botanical treat, book a trip to the two islands in the river. They are completely uninhabited and covered with huge old trees entangled with liana-like climbers and scramblers. The vegetation is only penetrable if you cut a path open with a panga. On one of the islands we found the huge strangler fig (Ficus burkei), gutted by fires but still going strong. A visit here is an excellent opportunity to become acquainted with many woody species, which will become more common as you travel eastwards into the Caprivi. On the way to the lodge I passed a violet tree (Securidaca longipendunculata) with a characteristic pale-grey trunk and unmistakable fruit. The tall, evergreen mobola plum (Parinari curatellifolia) (146) reaches a height of up to 20 metres and has dark-grey corky bark and a spreading crown of dark-green leaves. The leaves are prominently veined below with secondary veins almost parallel. The jackal-berry (Diospyros mespiliformis) (606) has dark foliage that turns yellow before it falls, black-grey rough bark, and leathery, shiny, lanceolate leaves. This species has a disjunct distribution, occurring along the oshanas in the ancient Cuvelai Delta of central northern Namibia, northern Kaokoland, at River Dance, and then again in Eastern Caprivi. www.riverdance.com.na