Rakops River Lodge

Rakops River Lodge (formerly known as Sekgwa sa Metsi) is a budget-to-mid-range stopover lodge on the banks of the Boteti River, 10km north of Rakops on the B300 highway. Its principal value to the DMC is location: it sits on the well-used corridor between Maun and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve/Makgadikgadi Pans, close to a CKGR entrance gate, making it a practical overnight break on long self-drive or transfer days rather than a destination in its own right. TripAdvisor rates it 2.8/5 from 32 reviews — noticeably lower than other properties in this collection — with reviews ranging from very positive to seriously critical, so this property should be positioned to clients with clear expectations set rather than promoted as a premium stop.

The lodge's own site lists 6 room categories: Double and Twin rooms, Family Room, Honeymoon Suite, Presidential Room, and the self-catering Moilwa House (multi-bedroom). Older third-party listings describe a mix of 10 small en-suite standard rooms, 6 larger rooms, a 5-bedroom self-catering house and 9 campsites — the operator appears to have since rebranded/repriced its room categories, so current inventory should be reconfirmed directly before quoting. All standard rooms include air-conditioning and a mini-fridge; the property also has a swimming pool, restaurant/bar, and free Wi-Fi.

Activities include 4x4/Land Rover rental, boat rides on the Boteti River, guided horse riding, bicycle rides and fishing — genuinely differentiated as one of the few properties in this collection offering horseback and cycling excursions. Guest feedback flags real operational inconsistencies worth knowing in advance, including billing disputes and inconsistent OTA booking sync — clients booking here should confirm reservations by phone/email rather than relying solely on third-party OTAs.

Rooms: Double/Twin, Family Room, Honeymoon Suite, Presidential Room, self-catering Moilwa House. Facilities: restaurant/bar, swimming pool, free parking, free Wi-Fi. Positioned as a practical waypoint rather than a destination property.