A World Heritage Site, this vast and virtually untouched freshwater wetland lies at the heart of Botswana’s arid Kalahari yet supports an abundance of wildlife within a setting of dazzling natural beauty. Protected by the Moremi Game Reserve and numerous private wildlife concessions, the Okavango Delta is home to huge numbers of elephant, buffalo, lion, hippo, giraffe and zebra plus every kind of antelope you can think of.
A predator paradise, the Okavango is a world-famous stronghold for leopard and wild dog as well as many rare and unusual mammal and bird species – if it’s wildlife you want, an Okavango Delta safari will deliver. Yet despite its wild nature, the Okavango Delta is surprisingly accessible and you’ll certainly get to see it close up: go on guided game drives, bush walks, mokoro (canoe) and boat trips during your safari in the Okavango Delta – it’s a destination with Botswana’s widest range of safari activities and features some of Africa’s most luxurious wilderness accommodation.
Okavango Delta accommodation within this natural wonder can be water-focused, land-focused, or combinations of the two. There are both camps and lodges within the game reserves, which allows you to choose the level of luxury that best suits your Okavango Delta safari experience. There are rustic tents and luxurious tents, and the same can be said for the numerous camps. Some have stunning spas, fine food and wine, private decks, family units, en-suite bathrooms, and outdoor showers. This is all wonderfully juxtaposed with a beautiful orange African sunset.
There are many ways to go about your Okavango Delta safari, including guided game drives, walking safaris, boat rides, horseback safaris, and specialised photographic safaris. But some of the best safari experiences allow you to start the day by waking up in comfort and to return to a space of luxury when your long day out is done.
The stunning wildlife in the delta is emphasised by the lack of people living in the wetlands, and where camps can be far from each other, you are offered an unmatched level of seclusion and serenity.
Camp Okavango sits at the heart of the Okavango Delta on Nxaragha Island. Its main lodge features a cocktail bar, sitting area and wildlife reference library, with the dining room leading onto an expansive open-air patio where evenings around the fire can be enjoyed. Other facilities include a secluded bird-viewing hide and sundeck with plunge pool. Accommodating just 24 guests in custom African-style safari tents on raised teak platforms, Camp Okavango offers guests en-suite facilities and private viewing decks. For guests who demand the ultimate in exclusivity, Camp Okavango has the Okavango Suite, a thatched cottage offering complete privacy.
All game-viewing activities are conducted by experienced guides and include exploring the Okavango Delta by mokoro or motorboat and tracking the larger game species on guided nature walks on the many surrounding islands. Botswana is a land-locked country in Southern Africa, and is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world with just more than two million people.
Delta Camp, where you can experience a traditional Okavango safari with your own private guide and enjoy luxurious accommodation in natural and open surroundings. Each room is different in design and décor, adapted to fit around the ancient trees of the island forest, open to the spectacular natural environment, and positioned to capture the best views of the landscape. Overlooking the confluence of the Boro and Metsematsweu channels of the Okavango, Delta Camp’s lounge and dining area is well elevated to command the spectacular vista of swamp and riverine forest that lies before it. A variety of game can usually be seen from the deck, with elephant frequent visitors, and cavorting hippo and basking crocodile common sights. Lion, leopard and Cape Hunting Dogs have all been observed from the deck. Three excellent meals per day ensure that our guests are well prepared for their walks; tea and coffee are available at all times, and the open bar is always open.
Delta Camp offers twice daily walking safaris and mokoro (dug-out canoe) excursions in the Moremi Game Reserve. While visiting you will have your own private guide who will be caring just for you and will be listening to your needs as well as those of the surrounding bush. Whilst at Delta Camp you will have an intimate experience walking in the dynamic eco-systems of the Okavango Delta. While traveling on foot with your private professional guide, you will learn about tracking animals, how they behave and live, as well as helping you to becoming aware of the plants and trees that surround you.
Explorer Camp at Shamwari Private Game Reserve offers a unique walking experience ideal for guests looking for an adventurous and authentic option. Offering the ambiance of a tented bush camp of old safari lore. The camp is located on a plateau set among the only basalt and granite extrusions on Shamwari. A truly magical setting awaits. The camp site provides the true explorer ambiance and tents are placed in fairly close proximity without encroaching on other tents privacy. Wild animals are able to move through the camps at any time and although all safety precautions have been followed in setting up the camp; this remains a reality.
Uniquely, this delta has annual floods during Botswana’s dry season, which allow for wonderful migrations between March and August. The wildlife found here make for a safari worth a thousand photos. There are endangered species like the cheetah, both white and black rhinoceros, the African wild dog, and the lion. There is also a variety of buck over and above the Big 5, giraffes, zebras, hippopotamuses, and more, not to mention many birds and fish. It is protected by the Moremi Game Reserve and other private wildlife concessions.
There are many ways to go about your Okavango Delta safari, including guided game drives, walking safaris, boat rides, horseback safaris, and specialised photographic safaris. Accommodation can be water-focused, land-focused, or combinations of the two. There are both camps and lodges within the game reserves, which allows you to choose the level of luxury that best suits your Okavango Delta safari experience. There are rustic tents and luxurious tents, and the same can be said for the numerous camps. Some have stunning spas, fine food and wine, private decks, family units, en-suite bathrooms, and outdoor showers. This is all wonderfully juxtaposed with a beautiful orange African sunset.
The people of the Okavango Delta have a history that is recorded in archaeological discoveries and rock art. These were hunter-gatherers; but today there are very few people living in the wetlands, as most live in the nearby towns and villages. This emphasises the stunning wildlife in the delta all the more, especially where camps can be far from each other, offering an unmatched level of seclusion and serenity.
