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The best way to access the best of Botswana’s Classic Lodges & Safari Camps is by air, using light aircraft charters & flying to the bush airstrip that serve each Camp. This means you gain the best use of time & maximize your ‘safari’ experience, rather than spending long, arduous & often uncomfortable hours on overland travel.

These Safari Lodges are located within Botswana’s Private Reserves & provide the ultimate in luxury & comfort, in wilderness environments. The following pages are dedicated to descriptions of theses safari lodges & their geographic locations, followed by itineraries that focus on various logical combinations of lodges in the different ecological and climatic regions of the country.

Best accessed by light aircraft which land at the bush strip a short 10 minutes safari vehicle drive from the Camp, it is situated on the Xakanaxa Lagoon on Chief’s Island & in the eastern side of the Okavango Delta within the Moremi Game Reserve. Here, the life bringing waters of the Okavango meet the Kalahari Desert, vast mopane forests, open grasslands, seasonal floodplains, riverine habitat & lagoon areas have formed magnificent animal & bird sanctuaries.

The main Lodge is a raised large open-air thatched roof structure, in which the dining area, guest lounge, library & cocktail bar are located. The large sundeck affords excellent views of the lagoon & serves also as an intimate dining area for special dinners. Downstairs at ground level, the building provides guests with a curio shop, covered outdoor ‘boma’ & private bathrooms.

The grounds are laid out with beautifully manicured lawns, fish ponds & a guest swimming pool, all sheltered by huge & imposing giant ebony trees at the edge of the lagoon.

Camp Moremi accommodates 22 guests in 12 East African styled safari tents, individually positioned on raised teak deck platforms & spaced 40 – 60m apart, amongst ground cover plants, trees & bushes. Each tent has hard wood framed doors, large zip up bug screened windows, is beautifully furnished with a teak wardrobe, vanity table, bedside pedestals & a traditional Queen sized or twin beds, depending upon guest preferences. On the decking at the lagoon end of each tent, for guests to relax in there are two traditional ‘directors’ canvas backed chairs & an occasional table. Each tent unit provides for a private en-suite bathroom adjacent on a raised platform connected to the tent area , with flush toilet, large vanity & basin & a hot & cold running water shower.

 

Your stay includes all meals, all local brand soft drinks & alcohol ( wines & beers ) two scheduled game drives per day in open air 4 x 4 safari vehicles & powerboat exploration of the nearby Xakanaka Lagoon. This is premium region for elephant, lion, buffalo, zebra & other antelope species. The camp is not fenced & therefore is subject to frequent nocturnal visits by wildlife & predators alike. Guests are escorted by Camp staff to & from their accommodation in the early mornings & certainly in the evenings. This is mandatory for personal safety.

Local electrically generated power is supplied from 0530 until 2330hrs daily & tented accommodation is equipped with 220-240v AC plug for hair dryers & video battery re-chargers.

Payment for personal items, premium brand drinks, curios & souvenir purchases can be made with US cash, Visa, Mastercard & Diners Club, but the camp does NOT accept American Express. No children under 12 years are accepted.

Located 15 minutes by light aircraft, or three hours by powerboat water transfer from Camp Moremi, in the heart of the permanent Okavango Delta assuring a year round water wilderness experience.

Its unashamed luxury blends the Africa of movies & romantic novels in the elegant thatched & Lethaka main lodge buildings. Meals are silver service at dining tables with an expansive open aired patio for evenings sitting out under the stars. A cocktail lounge bar, library, secluded bird watching hide, shaded hammocks & reading benches in & amongst the sprawling lawns & garden vegetation, plus a guest swimming pool, make this a pinnacle for relaxation in the heat of the midday hours.

The camp accommodates 22 guests in 11 luxury East African styled safari tents built on raised teak platforms with en-suite separate bathroom with flush toilet, basin, vanity & hot & cold running water shower. The extra large tents are exquisitely furnished, with teak wardrobe & storage space, vanity, bedside pedestal tables & on the outside deck, two traditional canvas backed ‘directors’ chairs.

Honeymooners are catered for in an exclusive ‘honeymoon’ cottage ( Jesse’s ) with a fascinating historical background. Built for an eccentric lady in the 1930’s it has a huge lounge, library, living area with stocked mini-bar, enormous bed & a private step-down bathroom with imported Italian tiling, large bath & separate shower & flush toilet. The entire ceiling of this black bathroom is mirrored.

Your stay at Camp Okavango includes all meals, all local brand drinks & alcohol, two scheduled ranger guided game viewing experiences a day by foot or in makoro canoe or powered river craft. The area has abundance of lion, elephant, hippo, leopard & boasts rare & elusive species such as the Sitatunga antelope. For bird watchers, this is paradise. The abundance of indigenous & migratory species who inhabit the wetlands is world renown. All manner of species from waders & water fowl to raptors – fish eagles, bateleur eagles, brown & snake eagles & vultures as well as the rare Pel’s fishing owl, make this a truly special place.

In addition, it is a fisherman’s paradise with excellent tiger fish, pike & bream most times of the year. If traveling between Camp Okavango & Camp Moremi, we strongly recommend a water transfer as it will provide you with a true perspective of wetlands, the myriad of islands, channels & lagoons that are home to the animals, reptiles & bird species that abound.

Locally generated electrical power is supplied between 0530 & 2330hrs daily. Suites are equipped with 240 v plugs for hairdryers & video camera battery recharge.. Personal items & incidentals, curios shop purchases and premium brand drink charges can be paid for by Visa Mastercard and Diners Club but American Express is NOT accepted. Note : No children under 12 years of age are accepted.

Pronounced with a palatal ‘click’ of the tongue for the ‘X’ it translated, means ‘kneel down to drink’. Xugana Lagoon has for literally thousands of years, been the safe haven for the bush people who have gathered & hunted here in this pristine water wilderness. Located in the permanent Delta, it is a world of crystal clear waters, quantities of bream, tiger fish, pike & catfish, fringed by secret wooded islands which provide a haven for magnificent bird species.

Accommodating a maximum of 16 guests in 8 thatched ‘Mesasas’ situated on the shaded fringes of the island & each having a splendid lagoon view. The tastefully decorated mesas as each have en-suite bathroom facilities, ceiling fans, twin or double beds & a private deck. Locally generated 240 v electricity is supplied from dawn to 2300hrs & 12v lighting for bedside reading is available until the generator is turned off at nights.

The main lodge comprises a thatched common area, cocktail bar, lounge & curio shop. Meals, for which this lodge is famous are taken alfresco style outside by the edge of the lagoon, except in those times where rains require the lounge area doubling as a restaurant. The swimming pool is a unique construction allowing guests to swim in the cool clear waters of the lagoon, protected all around & underneath by a heavy metal cage designed specifically to deter ‘fat Albert’, the local crocodile & long-term resident of the lagoon.

Mokoro excursions in dugout canoes built to traditional design or power boating to the many nearby islands where guided walking safaris are conducted, provide the chance for guests to see the many species of animals, big game, antelope, hippo & crocodile who inhabit the region. Bird watching opportunities are outstanding & bream & tiger fishing is rated highly. A peaceful boat ride or mokoro canoe poled silently by your Ranger across the lagoon at sunset, provides a lifetime memory & the professional naturalist guides ensure all guests receive insight of the eco-systems through their vast knowledge & love of this unique area. Access is by way of light aircraft from Maun or Kasane to the airstrip & a short boat transfer.

Your stay at Xugana Island Lodge includes all meals, local branded beverages & alcohol, safari activities by boat, makoro canoe or guided walking. The Lodge accepts Visa, Mastercard or Diners Club for incidental charges ( personal items and premium brand drinks are not included in your stay but can be purchased ) but NOT American Express cards.


Located in an exclusive photographic reserve alongside the Moremi Game Reserve, Chitabe & Chitabe Trails are positioned at different ends of the same island in the Okavango Delta. The reserve is made up of different habitats which include water & marshland, dry acacia & mopane woodland, riverine, open grassland & seasonally flooded plains. Chitabe Camp has both water & land based activities. It is surrounded by ebony, leadwood & sausage trees. Offering eight luxuriously decorated twin bedded East African safari tents, built on raised wooden decks, each tent has en-suite facilities with hot & cold running water, shower & flush toilet.

A separate thatched main lodge with dining room, pub & lounge area is linked to the en-suite tents by wooden walkway decking.

Both Chitabe & Chitabe Trails camps specialize in land based safari activities – no water based activities are offered. Two daily game drives in 4 x 4 safari vehicles as well as nature walks accompanied by a professional guide are the attractions. The area has an abundance of elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard & cheetah. Night drives are also rewarding & you often see civit, serval, genet, pangolin, porcupine & aardwolf in this area.

Chitabe Trails, which runs as an entirely separate entity, offers five spacious East African safari en-suite tented units, but these are built at ground level as opposed to being raised on a platform. Pathways connect each tented unit to the main lodge where an under canvas dining room, pub & lounge, overlook the waterway in front of camp. Game drive activities are identical to those provided at Chitabe Camp, as is the location for safari activities. This camp is ideal for smaller groups who want exclusivity or individuals who prefer small elite locations.

Your stay includes all meals, soft drinks & local brand alcoholic beverages, plus the two safari activities, one morning, one afternoon – evening per day.. A non-smoking policy on all safari vehicles, at meal times and in the guest areas in camp is pursued. Smoking ‘breaks ’while on game drives will however keep any smokers happy.

From each guests stay, Chitabe & Chitabe Trails camps make a donation to the Wild Dog Research Fund. This protected & endangered species of free range predators are an essential part of the wilderness. This project was featured in the May 1999 National Geographic magazine.

Note : Children under 8 years of age are not accepted

Situated in the 62000 hectare Jao Reserve this is a true water camp & offers mokoro canoe & professionally guided walking safaris year round. From October to March as the floodwaters recede, 4 x 4 game drives are conducted & in addition, night drives. All the big game is here in the area & it is one of the most densely populated wetlands areas for sitatunga & red lechwe antelopes. Elephant, lion, leopard & buffalo are prevalent. And amongst the favourite bird species, Pels fishing owl, slated egret, wattled crane, fish eagle & bateleur eagle are plentiful.

The camp has 5 small meru-styled tents, each positioned on a raised wooden deck with twin beds, private bathroom, with shower & flush toilet. The main dining area is on a top floor between two huge sycamore fig trees. Downstairs the pub, lounge & open fire for after dinner drinks.
The camp is perfect for families with children over 8 years of age & it is able to be blocked off for groups of five persons or more with no surcharge. Your stay includes all meals, safari activities, beverages & local brand alcoholic drinks.

This is one of the most remote of the Okavango camps, located in the furthermost northern reaches of the Delta in a private reserve. It is built on an island shaded by ebony, fig & garcinia trees surrounded by a plain that floods seasonally – usually from mid-may to October depending on the amount of rains in Angola & Central Africa which flow down into the Okavango. It is small, intimate & accommodates 12 guests in 6 large east African tents. Each room has en-suite bathroom facilities, with shower & flush toilet. All tents are on raised wooden platforms overlooking the floodplain. The dining room & pub are raised on a wooden deck, under large riverine trees with a small plunge pool for cooling off during the hot midday temperatures.

Because Duba Plains has access to large islands, floodplain & marsh areas, the safari activities are varied. Focus depends on how much water there is in the area. Guests therefore can choose from 4x4 game drives or mokoro canoe excursions & professionally guided walking safaris.

Large herds of nomadic buffalo are followed by prides of lion continuously here. Red lechwe & Sable antelope plus a myriad of savannah game dot the landscape & elephant feed on the islands marsh reeds. Hippo concentrations are to be seen in the deeper channels & an amazing variety of birds are to be found year round, more-so however from October on as the migratory species return to mate & nest. Duba Plains real treat for guests is it remoteness & exclusivity, which when coupled to the game & birding experiences makes this a favorite repeat guest request.

Duba Plains is accessible by conventional sedan vehicle, light aircraft transfer from Maun or Kasane or scheduled Air Namibia flights from Windhoek or Victoria Falls to Mulilo where transfers to the lodge are provided.

Cradled between the Okavango River to the east & the mighty Zambezi to the west, Lianshulu Bush Lodge nestles beneath the canopy of jackalberry & mangosteen trees on the banks of the meandering Khwando River. Here in the heartlands of the Mudumu National Park, dry & sweltering Mopane woodland meets the allure of fragile Kwando wetland ecosystem - a forgotten land largely untouched by the influence of man. Lianshulu Bush Lodge sits in a private concession within the Muduma National Park .

The lodge accommodates up to 16 guests in 6 double chalets & 2 honeymoon suites. Chalets are constructed of reeds, wood, brick & thatch. All chalets have private bathroom facilities. Generous spacing between each chalet ensures complete privacy. 240 v electric power is generated on-site & available from dawn until 2300hrs when the generator is switched off.

The main Lodge is thatched with a dining area, lounge & bar area which opens onto a spacious wooden deck with uninterrupted views of the flood plains of the Kwando River.

Safari activities are conducted in open 4 x 4 safari vehicles, professionally guided nature walking excursions, boating excursions, sunset cruises & night-drives. Exceptional bird watching & excellent photographic opportunities are to be had here. April – October is temperate & cooler which coincides with the dry season, drawing game & birds from miles around like magnets. December to March afternoon rains & brief thunderstorms see the land transformed into lush greens. The humidity & heat rise during these months accordingly.

Your stay includes accommodation & all meals, all local brand drinks & alcoholic beverages, safari activities, park entrance fees & limited laundry service. For personal item purchases & premium brand drinks, payments can be made by Visa, Mastercard or Diners Club, but the Lodge does NOT accept American Express. In addition the Lodge policy is not catering to children under 12 years of age.

The Linyanti Reserve consists of 125000 hectares of prime wildlife country, bordered by the Linyanti River & to the east, Chobe National Park. Two thirds of the Savuti Channel is located inside the reserve. This area is habitat of elephant who frequent in large herds in the winter months & is made famous for it prides of lions. Of the other big game, leopard, cheetah and Afrcian wild dog are common as are hyena, aardwolf, serval & genet. A wide range of antelope species abound : sable, roan, waterbuck, eland along with giraffe, wildebeest, zebras, red lechwe, warthog & buffalo.

Bird watching is considered excellent & October provides an influx of migratory species who arrive to mate, breed & nest.

Accommodation is built on raised decks overlooking the huge lagoon. Raised tented rooms, each under thatched roofs, double or twin beds with en-suite facilities, hot & cold running water, flush toilet & shower.

Safari Activities are conducted in 4 x 4 vehicles morning & afternoon- evening & as well guests can take short guided nature walks. The camps pontoon allows guests to view hippos at close range a& there are a number of especially constructed ‘hides’ in the area for both animal & bird watching in solitude & complete safety. Your stay includes accommodation, all meals, local brand drinks & alcoholic beverages, & daily safari activities.

Located in the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve bordering the western boundary of the Chobe National Park in 125000 hectares of unspoiled wilderness. Characterised by open grassland, riverine forest, mixed terminalia woodland & the dry Savute Channel, it is an area most noted for large elephant populations which reach enormous density during winter, a wide range of antelope species including kudu, sable, roan, eland along with buffalo, giraffe & zebra. All of the major predators are present ; lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, African wild dog – all of these species are often spotted.

One of the features of Kings Pool Camp is the noise of animals & birds. Few camps have such a chorus of pre-dawn birds, followed by a continuation of hippo grunts, baboon barks & screeching of velvet monkeys, elephant trumpeting & the lions, who frequently wander through camp roaring during the night.

Accommodation is in 10 raised decking tented rooms, each well appointed with private bathrooms. The bathroom has a tiled shower, flush toilet & hand basin with hot & cold running water. There are also outside showers for those guests who like to get close to nature. The main lodge has a pub, dining area under thatch & an open aired ‘kgotla’ for dining out under the stars. There is a guest swimming pool & a viewing ‘hide’.

Safari activities are conducted in open 4 x 4 vehicles with morning, afternoon & night drives & in addition, guided walking. The lodge has a double deck boat which cruises the Linyanti River offering both game & bird watching. Here too, a number of excellently located ‘hides’ for guests use.

In the heart of the Chobe National Park lies a dynamic wilderness, a sweeping expanse of savannah brooded over by seven rocky outcrops that guard this relic marsh & dry channel that once was its lifeline. Mysterious wet & dry cycles mould this landscape & dictate the nature of its wild inhabitants. This is Savute & for the moment, the channel is dry.

Savute Safari Lodge peers out from ancient camelthorn trees on the edge of the channel. Lounge, cocktail bar & library are covered by thatch & the timber building has an upstairs viewing deck for unrivaled sunset & star gazing. Candle lit dinners on winter nights when guests are draw inside are complemented in summer or when evenings are warmer with outside dining under the African night stars. A swimming pool, shady viewing deck & campfire area complete the layout.

Accommodation is in 12 tastefully furnished twin bedded luxury wood & thatch safari suites. Spacious interiors & glass sliding doors set this Lodge apart from standard East African tented accommodation and locations Your stay includes accommodation, all meals, local brand drinks & alcoholic beverages, daily safari activities park entry fees & laundry service.

Safari activities are conducted in 4 x 4 open vehicles in both the Savute area & within the Chobe National Park. Guests also can visit the ancient Sans rock paintings at Gubatsa Hills.
Large herds of elephant, lion, leopard, hyena, giraffe, zebra & many antelope species populate this region, along with an eco-system that provides for excellent bird watching.

Access is by way of light aircraft transfer from Maun or Kasane, followed by a short vehicle ride 5km from the local airstrip to the Lodge.

A brand new Lodge located on the banks of the Chobe River in Namibia, overlooking the Chobe National Park. Constructed of brick, wood & thatch, guest facilities include lounge, open fireplace & bar with a 180 degree panoramic viewing deck over the flood plains. It also has an open air swimming pool & sun deck.

The 12 Safari Chalets are made of exquisite thatch, each with twin or double beds, en-suite bathroom, over head fans & air-conditioning. All units are fitted with mini-bars & have a private terrace. The lodge accepts children of all ages, the only caveat being children under 8 years are excluded from safari activities.

Early morning & afternoon- evening safari game drives in open air 4 x 4 vehicles are complemented by sunset cruises on the Chobe River or personally guided cruises on smaller craft. Fishing & nature walks are also provided. This region abounds in big game, elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, hippo, crocodile, all manner of antelope & herd grazers, plus amazing bird life.

Your stay includes accommodation, all meals, local brand drinks & alcoholic beverages, safari activities, park entrance fees & laundry service.

Chobe Savannah lodge is accessible by boat transfer from Botswana & seasonally is accessible by 4 x 4 from the Namibian side. Air Botswana operates three times weekly from Johannesburg to Kasane & transfers to the Lodge from Kasane airport in Botswana, or a combination transfer from Victoria Falls - first by road & then by boat- can also be arranged.

For incidental charges of premium brand drinks, personal items of curio shop purchases, the Lodge accepts Visa, Mastercard & Diners Club, but NOT American Express.

This truly is one of Africa’s finest locations, overlooking the placid Chobe River from its balconies & walkways. Herds of elephant, buffalo & antelope abound, as do all the major predators looking for an easy meal. As the only permanent lodge within the Chobe National Park, Chobe Game Lodge shares its 11700 square kilometers with over 35000 elephants who make this area their home range.

Offering 46 rooms designed with graceful Moorish archways, high ceilings, tiled floors & an atmosphere of calm & tranquility, each has air-conditioning, double or twin beds & en-suite bathrooms. Your stay includes accommodation, all meals, unlimited safari & game drive activities, park entrance fees & laundry service. Beverages (except tea & coffee) are NOT included. Safari activities in open 4 x 4 vehicles, game viewing by boat, sunset cruise & canoe excursions are all available to guests. The Lodge accepts children of all ages, however, those under 8 years of age are not allowed to participate in safari activities & game drives. Wildlife videos & slide lectures are available for children & adults education & entertainment.

The Chobe Game Lodge is 90 km due west from Victoria Falls by road or, by light aircraft to Kasane airport, from where a transfer is able to be arranged.


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