Chief's Camp

OVERVIEW:

Sanctuary Chief’s Camp fits neatly into the Botswana super-luxe category with its generously sized up-scale suites and want-for-nothing amenities. As it’s located on Chief’s Island within the Okavango Delta’s infamous Moremi Game Reserve, guests can enjoy some of the best land-based game viewing in the region, alongside sophisticated accommodations, high-quality cuisine, and excellent service. Owned by Sanctuary Retreats, who operate an impressive portfolio within Botswana and several other African safari destinations, Chief’s Camp is a class act ideal for those seeking top comfort levels in a superb location. Rates are full board and include all meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, laundry, two daily shared game drives, and mokoro excursions.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

Sanctuary Chief’s Camp is located on the north-western side of Chief’s Island, within the Okavango Delta’s Moremi Game Reserve. The property has its own airstrip, accessed from Kasane (1hr 30mins), Maun (25 mins), and other Sanctuary Retreats camps, including Stanley’s Camp and Baines’ Camp (15 mins each). It’s approximately 25 minutes by game drive vehicle from the airstrip to the camp.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT CHIEF'S CAMP: 

Guest accommodation at Sanctuary Chief’s Camp comprises ten over-sized, luxurious pavilions raised on wooden walkways on either side of the main lodge and spaced well apart for maximum privacy. Every detail has been thought of to ensure guests want for nothing throughout their stay. Each smartly designed thatched roofed bedroom is kitted out with a king-sized bed and mosquito nets, hardwood floors, a front-facing sitting area with armchairs and storage trunks that double up as coffee tables, a writing desk, a well-stocked tea-and-coffee station, and an ample selection of wines and spirits in the mini-bar. All are equipped with air conditioning, fans, a charging station for multiple international plugs, bug spray, and an electronic safe. The bathrooms are accessed via sliding wood doors and contain a flush toilet, twin washbasins, indoor and outdoor showers, and an indulgent freestanding bath-tub with Africology bathroom products. Outside, via glass doors, extensive decks boast stunning views of the floodplains and feature a plunge pool, outdoor dining areas, and a daybed. Chief Camp’s signature two-bedroom suite, named after Abercrombie & Kent’s CEO Geoffrey Kent, sleeps 4–6 guests and includes a kitchen, an indoor lounge, a bar, a boma with a fire-pit, and a wonderful private deck. Guests also have a private safari vehicle, a private guide, and a waiter and housekeeper.

The communal areas consist of a lounge, a spacious dining room with individual tables, a welcoming bar area where guests congregate before dinner, a library, a fire-pit, and a deck complete with a pizza oven. Special traditional evenings take place each week and are a real treat as guests dine outside in the boma under a starlit sky. The large swimming pool has uninterrupted floodplains views and plenty of shaded seating for cooling off in the hottest part of the day, and there’s a well-equipped gym featuring a treadmill, a stationary bicycle, a rowing machine, weights, and yoga equipment. There is also a spa, which uses Africology products for relaxing wellness treatments. In the orientation room, camp guides provide plenty of useful information and shared knowledge about the Okavango Delta before everyone heads out on game drives. Entertainment is laid out for all ages in a dedicated children’s area complete with a PlayStation, fancy dress, and a foosball table – and young explorers have ample opportunities to learn about nature from guides who love to dig out attention-grabbing facts and quirks about Botswana’s wildlife.

ACTIVITIES AT CHIEF'S CAMP:

Activities here are primarily focused on game drives, which take place during the morning and afternoon, always in the company of a knowledgeable guide.

• Game drives

  – The Okavango Delta is one of the best locations in the world for encountering wildlife in its natural habitat, with plains chock-full of zebra, antelopes, and buffalo, luring all the mighty predators! Several leopard prides are present too, as are hyena and genet. Other regulars include elephant, giraffe, monkey, and baboon, while wild dog make an occasional appearance.

• Birding

  – Keen birders are in for a real treat, as the region is home to hundreds of resident and migrant species, with highlights such as the smart secretary bird, the pink-backed pelican, and the hefty kori bustard.

• Mokoro rides

  – Mokoro excursions are usually possible from May to December, though every year varies depending on the arrival of the flood. Cruising silently along the Okavango Delta’s iconic water channels provides excellent opportunities to see hippo and crocodile, amongst other smaller species. Please note that 12 years is the minimum age for mokoro excursions.

• Helicopter flights

  – For a spectacular bird’s-eye view over the Delta, soar through the skies in a helicopter, admiring the region’s network of plains, lagoons, and islands.

*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.