Wilderness Chitabe Lediba

OVERVIEW:

Located in the Chitabe Reserve, where the seasonal Gomoti River brings ever-changing wildlife across a mosaic of woodland, wetland, and grassland habitats, Wilderness Chitabe Lediba is an intimate five-tent camp where land-based activities take centre stage. Open year round, it promises excellent game-viewing opportunities, both day and night, led by fantastic wildlife guides. As it’s one of the smallest and most popular camps in the Okavango Delta, we advise guests to book well in advance. Since activities are land based, we also recommend splitting your stay between Wilderness Chitabe Lediba and a wet-season property such as Wilderness Little Vumbura, where boating is available. Rates include accommodation, all meals, all local drinks, twice-daily scheduled camp activities, park fees, and a laundry service. 

ACCESS & LOCATION:

Situated on a forested island within Chitabe Reserve, on 28,000 hectares of private conservation land bordered by Moremi Game Reserve to the north, Wilderness Chitabe Lediba occupies a dry but wildlife-rich location. It’s a 30-minute light aircraft flight from Maun to Chitabe airstrip, followed by a 30-minute game drive transfer.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT WILDERNESS CHITABE LEDIBA:

Wilderness Chitabe Lediba is a small, intimate camp with only five shaded guest tents overlooking an active waterhole. Of these, two are family units consisting of two en-suite bedrooms each. One has an interleading corridor recommended for those with younger children, while the other family unit has an outdoor walkway separating each of the rooms and a shared veranda. The Meru-style canvas tents are raised on wooden decks and approached via walkways that weave through shady woods. Each has a veranda with outdoor seating and features sliding doors that allow the breeze to flow through, as do the mesh-covered windows. The style is smart but understated, featuring double or twin beds with mosquito nets, oversized rugs spread across dark-wood floors, bedside tables with reading lamps, a writing desk, and a comfortable seating area. En-suite facilities include flush toilets, twin washbasins, and walk-in showers. There are also spacious outdoor showers with views of the surrounding landscape. In-room amenities include fans, an electronic safe, generous hanging space, mosquito repellent, and bottled water. Wilderness Chitabe Lediba has Wi-Fi connection, accessed in the guest tents and the main areas.

The lounge, dining area, and bar are housed in a classic timber-and-thatch lodge, incorporating a veranda to make the most of the gorgeous views. This space also contains the camp’s self-service bar, and the library offers some interesting reading material. The communal dining area features one long table, where guests congregate for buffet breakfasts, brunches, lunches, afternoon teas, and three-course dinners. Al-fresco dining takes place around the fire-pit, and barbecue nights are held in the boma, accessed a few steps down from the main deck. Finally, there’s an inviting swimming pool, with a sala and sunloungers. As this is a family-friendly property, thought has gone into creating an educational kids programme, whereby specially trained ‘Bush Buddy’ staff members dream up experiences to suit each child’s interests. This service is included in the rate and available on request prior to arrival for children between the ages of 6 and 12 years. Wilderness Chitabe Lediba is 100 per cent solar powered.

ACTIVITIES AT WILDERNESS CHITABE LEDIBA:

Wilderness Chitabe Lediba offers a range of activities, including excellent game drives, which benefit from the camp’s location at the crossroads between the Kalahari and Okavango habitats. Please note that the availability of guided walks depends on the level of the concession’s floodwaters and/or whether a suitable guide is in camp during your stay.

• Expertly guided game drives

  – These take place every morning and afternoon. The Chitabe Concession is one of the Okavango Delta’s drier areas, with sprawling plains and abundant acacia and mopane woodlands. Resident wildlife includes four of the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo. Safarists can also look out for cheetah, hyena, wild dog, wildebeest, zebra, and a fantastic assortment of antelopes, including the semi-aquatic red lechwe. The area is particularly famous for its healthy population of wild dog.

• Night drives

  – A knowledgeable guide leads spotlit nocturnal adventures. You’ll set off after sundowners searching for noteworthy species, including civet, genet, porcupine, and the elusive pangolin.

• Guided walks

  – These are highly recommended for anyone interested in the smaller species within the concession. Walks are an excellent opportunity to get to know the resident insects, plants, and birdlife. Among the feathery friends you might encounter are the hawk-eagle, scarlet-chested sunbird, and red-billed francolin.

• Helicopter trips

  – The Delta is a place of astonishing beauty and diversity, and soaring over its waters, savanna, woods, and forests is a truly memorable experience. Please note that helicopter safaris incur an additional cost.

*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.