The Okavango Delta is a maze of channels, islands, lakes, lagoons and forests. This spectacular environment supports a kingdom of large carnivores, great herds of elephant and spectacular birdlife. The area is so flat that termite mounds are the highest landforms, and the gradually sloping ground has few rocks or even stones.

The Okavango Delta consists of 3 main components.

• The Panhandle.
• Permanent swamp.
• Seasonal swamp.

Camp Okavango is situated in the permanent swamp, and more specifically on the remote 3km² Nxaragha Island. Thus, it is assured of year round water, and is therefore the perfect base to explore the Okavango Delta. It provides a perpetual watery, wilderness experience and excursions by mokoro silently cruising the waterways, are a great way to encounter the elusive sitatunga antelope, as well as the many animal and bird species that inhabit the Okavango. Animal sounds, especially birdsong, are everywhere. Access to Camp Okavango is by fly-in from Maun or Kasane airports and transfer by boat. The camp cannot be reached by road.

The main thatched lodge features a dining room, cocktail bar, lounge and wildlife reference library. Leading off from the dining room is an open-air patio, ideal for exchanging 'the one that got away' adventure stories around an open fire. Another outside area is kitted out with comfortable armchairs near a mangosteen tree, a favourite relaxation zone, along with a treetop bird-viewing hide.

The plunge pool in the garden has a number of wooden armchairs, lounge chairs, umbrella and ample tree shade to escape the hot afternoon sunshine. The curio shop sells locally-made baskets, carved miniature mokoro's, jewellery, branded T-shirts and books.

Camp Okavango has 3 chefs with years of experience in hospitality and tourism. Special meals such as Atkins and gluten and sugar free diets, can be catered for. A breakfast of cereal, yoghurt, toast, muffin, coffee and tea is served at 06h00. Brunch is served on return from the morning activities (around 11h00) and the buffet consists of made to order eggs, bacon, pork sausage, spinach, green and Waldorf salads, macaroni and cheese, cheese selections and fruit salad. Tuna and tomato bruschetta are available for afternoon tea around 16h00.

Dinner is served following the evening activities. It includes chilled cucumber soup, lamb stew, hake, roast potatoes, warm carrots, warm sweet peas, green salad, cheese platter selections and cheesecake with strawberry filling for dessert.

Accommodation at Camp Okavango is in:

• 11 intimate and exclusive Meru-style safari tents. These rooms are individually sited on raised platforms. They are set on teak floors inside a wide zippered tent. En-suite facilities, twin beds, night tables, a desk and armless chair, dresser and private viewing decks are standard. The furniture is made of teak and yellowwood. Outside the zippered entrance, is a small open deck with two director's chairs and a table.
• Okavango Suite: The ultimate romantic getaway has to be the 'Okavango Suite' a thatched cottage offering complete privacy – the ideal destination for newly-weds or special anniversaries. The 75m² honeymoon suite was designed to be the African home of a wealthy American woman over 25 years ago. A remarkable amount of time and effort was put in to build it, especially since almost everything had to be brought in by boat.
  • A few steps lead to the broad glass door entrance. Teak floors support yellow stink wood and teak furniture. Apart from one white wall in the living area, nearly every other wall is covered with wood. Mirrored tiles emphasize the back wall of the bedroom, and a small wall behind the dining area.
  • The living area is furnished with a cloth sofa, patterned armchair and matching large foot stool and a wood coffee table, complemented with 3 handsome bird-themed watercolours. To the right on the living area, is a small dining table and wet bar. To the left, a wide partly-open shelf separates the bedroom from the rest of the suite. A nostalgic looking double bed, complete with mosquito net, night table and lamp, small stool and green cloth armchair complete the fittings. Oriental style throw-rugs decorate the living area and either side of the bed. The 2 fans give a tropical feel to the rooms and the wood shutters keep the insects out.

The camp runs on generators. At night when they are switched off, the only light in your tent and suite is a battery operated bedside lamp.

Expect to see kudu, red lechwe, elephant, hippopotamus, bush squirrel, warthog, vervet monkey, Nile crocodiles and long and painted reed frogs.

Birdlife is plentiful around Camp Okavango and includes Black-collared barbet, blue-cheeked, carmine and white-fronted bee-eaters, red-eyed bulbul, black-backed cisticola, reed cormorant, darter, red-eyed dove, bateleur eagle, paradise flycatchers, red-billed francolin, helmeted guinea-fowl, purple heron, red-billed wood hoopoe, African jacana, malachite, pied and woodland kingfishers, black korhaan, grey lourie, Angola pita, blacksmith plover, secretary bird, long-tailed shrike, grey-headed sparrow and red-shouldered widow.

All game-viewing activities at Camp Okavango are conducted by experienced professional guides and are mainly water-based.

Okavango Delta Lodges | Botswana

Boat trips

Explore the Okavango by cruising the channels and waterways by mokoro, (a dug-out canoe) and motorboat.

Guided nature walks

There are various islands in the area that allow for the opportunity to track some of the larger species that inhabit this water wilderness, including the red lechwe. Your guide will lead you first by boat through papyrus channels and then on foot through open fields. Watch and wonder as giraffe feed hungrily on acacia leaves, only a few feet away. Stand undetected near a large heard of buffalo, as they munch and walk through the plain towards water!

Bird-watching:Opportunities

are outstanding by boat.

No children under 12 years of age are permitted at Camp Okavango.

Children under 16 years of age may not participate in walking and canoeing activities.