Camp Okavango

Insider’s Review of Camp Okavango

Seen from space – for the angels certainly had a hand in this wondrous wonder – Botswana’s magnificent Okavango Delta is a delicious swirl of emerald magic. Deep in the heart of the world’s largest inland delta, Camp Okavango is the stilts-and-walkways treasure of remote Nxaragha Island. A delightfully ‘other’ luxury safari experience, this water-rich wilderness is a World Heritage escape of stunning wildlife and spirit-lifting surprises. Float silently through papyrus swamps and shallow reed-beds inhabited by magnificent birdlife – either in a traditional dug-out canoe or the comfort of a modern motorboat. Alongside your expert, knowledgeable guide, walking safaris deliver a distinctly intimate reading of rich African flora, fauna and – perhaps most splendidly of all – glorious game. Not to be missed.

Accommodations at Camp Okavango

With its light-filled, open-air design and interconnected walkways, Camp Okavango occupies a special sense of place indeed. Accommodating just 24 guests, spacious luxury suites are built on individual raised wooden platforms beneath the atmospherically verdant Okavango Delta vegetation. There are 11 suites and one family suite with two bedrooms, each fitted with en suite, double shower and – among many charming features – a separate loo with a view. Sliding doors open onto private open-air delta-view decks. Time for a romantic candle-lit dinner? Meander across the wooden walkways toward one of two lounges for a waterside aperitif, or perhaps a cocktail in the library, or a little “African TV” in front of the crackling open-air fire. The glorious infinity swimming pool and thatched deck are perfect for warm days and sultry starry evenings.

A note for families & children.

The Family Suite’s two connected bedrooms and spacious living area is well suited to guests of all ages.

Activities at Camp Okavango

A silky-smooth water journey as old as the mystical waterways themselves, mokoro safari is a must in the Okavango Delta. Over the eons, reliance on these sturdy dugout canoes is little altered – locals still pole and ply the canals to fish, transport and explore the meandering, reed-lined world. So too, a motorboat excursion makes for rewarding viewing alongside our knowledgeable guides and nature abounds on guided bush walks on nearby islands. (To spot a tall imperious kudu surrounded by a troop of bouncing baboons always feels like peeking in on a community theatre dress rehearsal; major parts also played by hippos, elephants, buffalo, giraffe and more…) Birding, fishing and photo-taking opportunities are plentiful and swimming pool and well-stocked library make suitably languorous retreats for sharing stories of another magical delta day’s experience.