Here’s your opportunity to sleep in a basic hut that historically would have been used by an Owambo chief or one of his wives – high on novelty, if a little short on comfort. Nakambale lies on the outskirts of Olukonda village, 20km south of Ondangwa on the D3629.

What a Marriott hotel is doing out here in Ondangwa is anyone's guess, but whatever the reason, this plush business hotel features bright rooms decorated with tasteful artwork as well as modern furnishings. The attached Chatters restaurant serves decent European-inspired cuisine, and there’s also a small espresso shop and takeaway in the lobby.

Simple but nicely turned out en-suite rooms make this appealing guesthouse an excellent base in the area. There's also a rather noisy restaurant.

If you get stuck here for the night, Oshandira Lodge, next to the airstrip, offers simple but spacious rooms that surround a landscaped pool and a thatched open-air restaurant serving local staples. The rooms are fine for the night, but that's about it.

The Oshakati Country Lodge is a favourite of visiting government dignitaries and businesspeople. It’s your best bet if you’re a slave to modern comforts.

Also known as Otjipahuriro, this community-run campsite sits alongside the river and has a good measure of shade and privacy. There are also braai (barbecue) pits, hot showers and environmentally friendly pit toilets. Local community members can organise trips to Ruacana Falls or nearby Himba villages for a small fee.

This upmarket lodge appeals to travellers of all budgets by offering manicured campsites and rustic A-frame huts alongside its polished rooms. An attractive oasis in the middle of Ruacana, the Eha Lodge is highlighted by its lush gardens and refreshing plunge pool. It can also arrange excursions to local Himba villages and Ruacana Falls.

On the banks of the Okavango, about 20km from Rundu’s town centre, this is a tranquil and good-value riverside retreat where relaxation is a by-product of the owners' laid-back approach. The entire property blends naturally into the surrounding riverine forest, while the rooms are beautifully laid out, with personal touches; there’s a great campsite, although it’s sometimes overrun by safari trucks. The lodge represents incredibly good value, with no surcharge for singles and a justifiably famous buffet dinner for N$260 at night.

The lodge’s owners, Valerie and Weynand Peyper, are active in promoting responsible travel and work closely with the local community. They also have many other ongoing projects, including supporting orphans in the area. Guests can visit local villages (N$50 for a village walk).

Sarasunga River Lodge is situated in a secluded riverine clearing 4km from the town centre. It has attractive thatched chalets that surround a landscaped pool, and a decent-sized grassed camping area with basic amenities and beautiful sunsets. There is also a bar-restaurant on-site. The river excursions don't always happen and they aim more for the local conference market than tourists, but it's still a good place.

An old place that has been around for a while, Tambuti leaks faded grandeur from its stone walls and flagstone floors. Less than a kilometre from town, it feels like a forgotten resort, which gives it an allure all of its own. Rooms are large, and come with a big free-standing bathtub, mosquito nets and small verandas. The lodge also arranges boat trips on the Okavango River.

Now part of the well-regarded Gondwana Collection chain, this secluded hideaway sits amid lush riverside gardens, and comprises luxury chalets (one of which is floating) decked out in safari prints, wood floors and locally crafted furniture. Activities centre on the river with birdwatching, croc spotting and rather lovely sundowner cruises. It lies 17km down the Nkurenkuru Rd, then 2km north to the riverbank.

With just six tented chalets (two deluxe, four luxury), Taranga is a relatively new and intimate addition to the Kavango accommodation scene. Most rooms have free-standing bathtubs, four-poster beds, wooden floors and plenty of space. It's around 35km west of Runu, past Kapako and just off the B10 on the riverbank.

Khaudum Camp is somewhat akin to the Kalahari in miniature, but this is true wilderness camping – shade can be meagre and facilities are nonexistent. The sunsets here are the stuff of legend.

‘Cigarette’ camp, in the south of the park, inhabits a shady grove of terminalia trees, though full appreciation of this place requires sensitivity to its subtle charms, namely isolation and silence. This is true wilderness camping with no facilities whatsoever.

One of Namibia’s top backpacker lodges that appeals beyond the budget market, Ngepi makes a great base for the area. Crash for the night in a bush hut or tree hut, or pitch a tent on grass right by the river’s edge and let the sounds of hippos splashing about ease you into a restful sleep; we love the outdoor bathtubs.

Laze about in lovely green, shady common areas during the day and find a chat partner at the happening bar in the evening. There’s also a wide range of inexpensive excursions, including Mahango wildlife drives (N$420, three hours), canoe trips, booze cruises and mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) trips in the Okavango Panhandle. Or try a local village walk. The camp is 4km off the main road, though the sandy access can prove difficult without a high-clearance vehicle. Phone the lodge if you need a lift from Divundu.

Excellent campsites just across the Kwando River from the Kwando Core Area of Bwabwata National Park. Sites have private shower and toilet, there's a kitchen and covered dining area, and elephants are known to wander through camp. There are also some simple safari-style tents on the site.

This simple campsite overlooks a channel of the Kwando River and is an excellent base for excursions in the area; fishing trips can be arranged here. Three of the sites sit right on the water, and all have electricity and an ablutions block with flush toilets and hot water. The turn-off to the campsite is 8.6km south of Kongola along the C49, from where it's 1.3km to camp.

There are also plans for self-catering cabins.

This very welcoming lodge has an appealing aesthetic comprising stone buildings with thatched roofs and wooden decks on the river’s edge. It’s really well set up, with relaxing common areas overlooking the water where you can catch the breeze. The campsites are excellent, with sites 6 and 7 the best; all have power, braai (barbecue) plates and bins.

Safari tents are also on the riverbank, with a small table and chair on the deck out the front to enjoy the water views. Chalets are set up in a similar way to the safari tents but are roomier and have bigger bathrooms – but if it’s the views you’re after, go for a safari tent. Rates are often reduced if they’re not busy.

Nambwa, 14km south of Kongola, is one of the very few places to stay in the park itself. It combines an excellent campsite with a luxury lodge, replete with elevated walkways, stunning interiors (tree trunks and antique chandeliers, anyone?) and glorious views out over the flood plains. Some of Bwabwata's best wildlife areas are close by, and the lodge overlooks a water hole that's especially popular with animals late in the dry season.

Elephants are perhaps the most frequent visitors. To reach the lodge, follow the 4WD track south along the western bank of the Kwando River. Transfers can be arranged from Kongola and elsewhere.

Part of the upmarket Gondwana Collection chain, Namashashe sits just across the river from Bwabwata National Park with all the wildlife possibilities that brings. It's also particularly good for birdlife and hippos, and the whole property takes full advantage of the Kwando River frontage. The large and lovely rooms have slate-tiled floors, which cool things down nicely when the weather starts to become uncomfortably hot.

This gorgeous property has luxury thatch-and-canvas chalets that each overlook the Kwando River in all its glory. Elephants and abundant birdlife are frequent visitors, while the soaring ceilings, prolific use of wood and four-poster beds are all stunning. There's also a grassy and shady campsite.

Although it lacks the riverside location of other properties in the area, this oasis behind the Engen petrol station has a good range of accommodation, from simple rooms with fans to small but comfortable air-con cabins. The lovely bar-restaurant dishes up a range of unexpected options – including calamari, snails and kingklip – as well as steak and chicken standbys.

Rustic en-suite chalet accommodation with mosquito nets, ceiling fans provide a lovely sense of being close to nature, but it's the houseboats that are the real novelty here. These aren't luxury houseboats, but the fun value is extremely high and it's certainly a wonderful experience to spend a night actually on the Zambezi... As you'd expect in this part of the world, the birdwatching is a highlight.

This diverse lodge offers options to suit travellers of all budgets, from rustic cabins with shared bathrooms to luxurious chalets facing the Zambezi River. It also offers a decent variety of activities, including boating, fishing and wildlife drives in the various Caprivi parks. The lodge is 5km from town along Ngoma Rd.

This stunning riverside lodge is perched on the banks of the Zambezi and features a floating bar where you can watch the crocs and hippos below. The campsite is amid a flowery garden, while accommodation is in well-equipped modern rooms that open up to small verandas and ample views.

The most famous spot on the island, Chobe Savannah Lodge is one of Desert & Delta's flagship properties and is renowned for its panoramic views of the wildlife-rich Puku Flats. Each stylishly decorated room has a private veranda from where you can spot animals without ever having to change out of your pyjamas.

Right by the water and rich in birdsong, Inchingo has an exclusive, alluring feel to it. Air-conditioned safari tents (from where you can hear the Chobe River flowing by) have wood floors, plenty of space and catch refreshing riverine breezes. Great food, stellar birdwatching and plenty of big-game wildlife nearby make for a wonderful place to spend some time; minimum two-night stay.

Overlooking the impressive Mombova rapids, Kaza Safari Lodge (formerly Impalila Island Lodge) is a stylish retreat of eight luxury chalets built of wood on elevated decks at the water’s edge. The centrepiece of the lodge is a pair of ancient baobab trees, which tower majestically over the grounds.