(6 chalets & camping) PO Box 115, Shakawe; tel: 675035; fax: 675043
Almost 8km south of the radio mast in Shakawe you'll find a left turn off the tar road. This sandy track will lead you east, crossing the old road up the Panhandle for about 3km to reach Drotsky's Cabins (GPS: DROTSK). You should be able to drive across this in a normal 2WD car, though the sand can be very thick, so some driving skill is needed.

This long-established camp has been run by the delightful Jan and Eileen Drotsky, and their family, who have seen the Shakawe area change from a remote outpost to a thriving little town.

Drotsky's Cabins stands on a high bank, overlooking the river, which is already several kilometres wide. Below is a network of deepwater channels and large beds of papyrus. It's excellent for birdwatching or fishing, though there's little game around except for hippos and crocodiles.

Drotsky's six chalets are set amongst well-watered lawns in a shaded haven under a canopy of thick riverside trees. Colourful shrubs and banana trees have been planted between them, creating the welcoming impression of a green and tropical haven.

Two of the chalets sleep two people, whilst the other three are bigger and built on two levels, and so can sleep four. All are A-frame design with low brick sidewalls supporting a tall, steeply angled thatched roof. These are insect-proofed with mesh on the window and lit by mains electricity. They all have simple furnishings, rugs on the floor, and a tabletop electric fan. Central to the lodge is a bar (which often seems to play host to an eclectic selection of local characters) and a very large dining area, built over the river. Look out for the rather beautiful wooden top to the bar here!

Drotsky's is a very genuine old camp, where hospitality hasn't been learned from a manual. If you are willing to take it on its own terms, then it can be a super lodge, and offer you fascinating insights into the area, its history and its ecosystems.