North Island Okavango

OVERVIEW:

This exclusive island retreat in the beautiful Sekwana Concession in the north of the Okavango Delta is the latest superb offering from Natural Selection, one of the premier safari companies in Botswana. This semi-private concession is home to fantastic boating almost throughout the year, and the region has only recently evolved as a new safari area.

Pristine wilderness awaits, with many excellent sightings of lion, leopard, and wild dog. It has a wide range of both wet and dry safari activities and superb suites, complete with private sun deck and plunge pool, so lovely you will have to find a good reason to visit the main areas of camp! It really is like having your own little safari island home, overlooking the channels and waterways of the Delta which are a magnet for wildlife and boast some of the finest game-viewing experiences in Africa. It’s also worth noting that Sekwana is home to one of the best ballooning outfits, so if taking to the air is high on your wish list, this is a great place to do it.

ACCESS & LOCATION: 

North Island Okavango is located in the north of the Okavango Delta in the Sekwana Concession, a 1,000 square kilometres semi-private region dotted with small islands and magnificent sausage and leadwood trees, some of the leopards’ favourites in which to hide. Once thought a periphery to the Central Okavango, it has come into its own in recent years and now is very much in the thick of some great action! It’s home to big cats, buffalo, antelope, elephant, and aardvark, to name a few. As well as being away from the main crowds and an untouched wilderness, being in the north of the Delta means the area receives the first waters of the annual flood, giving it plentiful year-round wet safari options.

The camp is accessed by scheduled light aircraft into its own local airstrip, coming either from Maun, or another camp in the Delta or Linyanti. On arrival it’s a short drive to the island, and you’re game driving from the off.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT NORTH ISLAND OKAVANGO: 

Exclusivity and privacy come easy when there are only four enormous tented suites on your own private island in the Sekwana Concession. Set amid ebony, leadwood, mangosteen, and fig trees, all the rooms are beautifully constructed, elegantly furnished, and with views out over the water. The beds are divine, the bathrooms have indoor and outdoor options (including a free-standing bath), and there’s also Wi-Fi and battery-charging facilities. Outside, the decking incorporates your own plunge pool, which means you can happily view game from the comfort of your suite while cooling off in the heat of the day. Eco-friendly, solar-powered cooling systems keep your tent at optimum temperature during the hotter months, and there’s a fireplace for the winter, or if you like to be toasty for those early morning safari starts!

The whole camp sits on raised wooden decking and is linked by interconnecting walkways. The main dining and bar area is comfortably furnished and open-sided, so you can look over the water while tucking into the excellent food prepared by the chef. There’s a great library, an outdoor gym, and spa treatments are available in your suite. The firepit is worth a special mention. It’s brilliantly designed at the end of a pontoon, so you are right at the heart of the action for sundowners, as the bullfrogs start up and fireflies come out.

ACTIVITIES AT NORTH ISLAND OKAVANGO:

The camp has an excellent list of both wet and dry safari activities, guiding you through tracks of pristine wilderness in an area of Botswana famed for its big game interactions. Please note that some activities incur extra charges and some need to be pre-booked.

• Expertly guided game drives

  - The camp offers two game sessions daily, morning and late afternoon. Among the highlights are lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, hyena, and buffalo. You can look out for smaller predators such as jackal, serval, civet, honey badger, aardvark, and the rare wild dog, while the large herbivore collection features giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, and an assortment of antelopes. Birds include the Slaty egret, Pel’s fishing owl, and the African skimmer.

• Boating and fishing

  - The boating safaris here are spectacular. See elephant wading through the waterways, hippos, crocs, and a plethora of birdlife. The Okavango Delta has some of the best boating in Africa. Fishing is also an option, and although it’s not for everyone, plucking a catfish from the Delta can be quite a thrill. Naturally the camp operates a catch-and-release policy (there’s no fishing in January and February due to breeding season).

• Night drives

  - Why not head out at night when all the big predators come alive? It’s always an unforgettable experience, watching what goes on in the dark of the night! You might see porcupines, genets, civets, bush-babies, and occasionally a larger predator with its prey.

• Mokoro Canoes

  - This activity is very much the walking safari of the water! You’ll be able to hear and see much more as you silently glide through the endless water channels of the Delta. There are exciting chances to meet some of the smaller animals, such as frogs and birds, and to get a closer look at the spectacular flora too. The best times are from June to September, when the water is at its highest, and each canoe can accommodate a couple, plus your poler.

• Cultural trips

  - You can also visit a local village and meet some of the people who call this beautiful place home. As well as meeting the locals, which is always a rewarding thing to do, you’ll see first hand the importance of conservation and chat to the people who are making this a sustainable place for the future.

• Hot air balloon rides

  - It’s pretty thrilling to take to the skies and see the herds from above! With the vast Delta below, this is one of the best places in the world to go ballooning. Trips take place in the morning and need to be pre-booked at extra cost. Please chat with one of our specialists about how to include this activity in your safari stay.

• Helicopter flights

  - This is another amazing way of seeing the breadth of the Delta from the sky. A helicopter flight is not quite as peaceful as the balloon ride, but you certainly cover more terrain and stop off at spectacular places for picnics, including the ancient rock art at Tsodilo Hills. Flights come at extra cost and need to be pre-booked.

*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.