OVERVIEW:
We’ve always been fans of Kwara. Owned and operated by Kwando Safaris, this year-round permanent lagoon-facing camp provides a great range of activities in a wildlife-rich part of the Okavango Delta, with a strong focus on predator sightings. Bordering Moremi Game Reserve, the range of habitats here is diverse, including woodland, water channels, floodplains, and savanna, with some terrific guiding that maximises the guest experience. Accommodation is booked on a full-board basis, including all meals, a selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, all scheduled activities, and a laundry service. The camp operates a three-night minimum stay. There is a minimum age requirement of 18 years old.
ACCESS & LOCATION:
Kwara Camp overlooks a picturesque lagoon in the 175,000-hectare Southern Kwara Private Concession, which shares a water boundary with Moremi Game Reserve. Access to the camp is by light aircraft flight to Kwara Airstrip (approximately 30 minutes from Maun), followed by a 15-minute game drive transfer.
ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT KWARA:
The accommodation at Kwara consists of nine canvas tents split between two camps: Kwara North (five guest tents plus a pilot’s tent) and Kwara South (four guest tents). Light, airy, and homely, the style is simple yet uncluttered, and each suite includes an indoor lounge with seating arrangement and a writing desk, as well as a private viewing deck with outside seating overlooking the lagoon. All rooms can be configured as doubles with super-king beds or twins with two three-quarter beds. Next to the bed is a USB charging point, and there’s a charging station with international multiplugs in the lounge area. Additional amenities include a mosquito net, a ceiling fan, two yoga mats, a tea-and-coffee area, digital safe, and insect repellent. Hairdryers are available on request. The en-suite bathrooms feature flushing toilets, double vanities, indoor and outdoor showers, and a freestanding ball-and-claw bathtub with views of the floodplains. Closest to the main area, Suite 5 is an accessible tent with ramp entry, all on one level to accommodate wheelchairs. Please note that there are no family tents.
Overlooking the lagoon, Kwara Camp’s under-canvas communal areas consist of open-sided dining, lounge, and bar areas and a welcoming, circular firepit in the sand where guests congregate for breakfast or for pre-dinner drinks at sundown to reminisce on the day’s sightings. With warm lighting, ceiling fans, and comfortable seating, this is an inviting central space to enjoy a coffee or read one of the camp’s reference books between safari activities. There are two swimming pools on wooden decks, each with a sala, a bathroom, a coffee station, and a well-stocked bar. Kwara Camp is 100 per cent solar-powered with back-up generators, and the camp facilitates a digital detox experience, so there is no mobile phone connectivity or Wi-Fi.
ACTIVITIES AT KWARA:
Kwara Camp supports an excellent assortment of land- and water-based activities within the Southern Kwara Private Concession.
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Game drives
– The geography of the Kwara Concession features sprawling grasslands, woodlands, and permanent waterways. Drives from camp provide exhilarating opportunities to cover lots of ground, and guests should look out for lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo. Smaller predators in residence include cheetah, hyena, jackal, and wild dog, and there are plenty of other herbivores, such as hippo, giraffe, zebra, impala, sitatunga, and red lechwe. -
Night drives
– As Kwara is located within a private concession, thrilling night drives are offered, accompanied by a knowledgeable and experienced guide and tracker. This is your chance to encounter a range of fascinating nocturnal species, not least aardvark, aardwolf, porcupine, and, if you’re extra lucky, perhaps even a pangolin! -
Walking safaris
– Explore the concession on foot for close observation of the smaller life forms, including plants, insects, and birds. Slow in pace and accompanied by expert guides, this experience offers a wonderful way to see the small details that aren’t easily spotted from a vehicle. -
Boat cruises
– Double-decker boats optimise the vantage points and allow guests to enjoy the network of waterways and their varied inhabitants. You’ll undoubtedly encounter grunting hippos on your journey, as well as the concession’s sensational birdlife. -
Fishing
– This activity is offered on a seasonal basis (government regulations do not allow fishing during January and February). You can take to the water for fly fishing and traditional spin fishing, with the possibility of catching several tilapia species (including the olive bream or nembwe, red-breasted tilapia, purple-faced largemouth, and three-spotted tilapia), sharp tooth catfish, African pike, and the mighty Tiger fish. -
Mokoro excursions
– Travelling along the Delta’s waterways by mokoro dugout canoe enables safarists to get close to the wildlife and appreciate the sounds and sightings of elephant, hippo, and waterbirds. -
Godikwe Heronry Boat Cruise
– The Godikwe heronry begins to flourish in October/November when it becomes a base for the laying, hatching, and raising of thousands of birds in the Okavango Delta. During these months, bird enthusiasts will be amazed by its population of yellow-billed storks, Marabou storks, sacred ibises, black-crowned night herons, African darters, reed cormorants, and egrets of all sizes. -
Helicopter flights
– With doors off for unrestricted views, a scenic helicopter flight allows guests to explore some of the Delta’s less accessible permanent waterways, palm islands, and lagoons. This is a truly spectacular way to take in the magnificent, unfenced landscapes of the Okavango in the company of knowledgeable pilot guides. Please note that this activity incurs an extra 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.