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OVERVIEW:
Camp Okavango is a water-based camp in the Okavango Delta’s private and scenic Shinde Concession, known for its diverse ecosystems, including woodland, floodplains, and deep-water lagoons and channels. The camp is operated by Desert & Delta Safaris, who manage a portfolio of high-quality camps and lodges across Botswana, from the Okavango Delta and Moremi Game Reserve to Chobe National Park and the Makgadikgadi Pans. As the property offers year-round water experiences, game drives aren’t possible, so we suggest combining a stay here with a land-based Delta camp for the full scope of activities. Accommodation is booked on a full-board basis, including all meals, a selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, all scheduled safari activities, and a laundry service. Camp Okavango is open all year round.
ACCESS & LOCATION:
Camp Okavango is situated on the remote Nxaragha Island within the North Delta’s Shinde Concession, close to Moremi Game Reserve. Access is by light aircraft flight to Nxaraga Airstrip, followed by a 5-minute drive to the camp.
ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT CAMP OKAVANGAO:
The rustic-chic guest accommodation at Camp Okavango consists of 12 tented suites, including a two-bedroom family unit that can accommodate two adults and three children (one in a rollaway bed). Nestled into the tree canopy, tents are raised on platforms above ground level and connected by wooden walkways overlooking the pristine surrounding wilderness. Entering a standard-size unit, you’ll find yourself in a spacious open-plan bedroom and lounge area with hardwood floors decorated with jute rugs. The bedroom contains a double bed or twin beds, headboard lighting, a writing desk and chair, and two wardrobes. The integrated lounge area has comfy seating, a small side table, and a simple tea- and coffee-making facility. Additional in-room amenities include fans (please note that there is no air conditioning), a safe, a flashlight, an umbrella, and an air horn for emergency use. Each room has 220V multi-adaptor plugs for charging photographic equipment. The en-suite facilities comprise a separate flush toilet, twin washbasins, and a walk-in double shower. Stack-away sliding doors open onto a private open-air viewing deck, where you can relax on a sunlounger and marvel at the panoramic Delta views. The family tent has a second en-suite bedroom with private decks and a children’s area with a selection of games and books. Wi-Fi is available in the suites (however, please note that WiFi is via a remote satellite link and constant connectivity is not guaranteed).
The communal buildings at Camp Okavango are accessed from the guest tents via elevated wooden walkways. In classically rustic safari style, the central area includes two semi-open lounges under thatched roofs, each with well-cushioned wicker settees, ambient lighting, and ceiling fans. Guests can enjoy meals at the communal dining table or outside on the viewing deck, lit up with flickering lanterns by night. There’s also a fully stocked self-service bar and a curio shop. Outside, the decks have two fire-pits, where guests congregate during the early mornings or for pre-dinner drinks at sunset. On its own separate deck with floodplain views, the rim-flow swimming pool is flanked by sunloungers and parasols, perfect for cooling off between trips into the concession.
ACTIVITIES AT CAMP OKAVANGO:
Camp Okavango offers a range of water-based activities, but please note that a minimum age requirement is 12 years for mokoro excursions. Additionally, although the camp offers walks, we currently do not recommend them to our travelers.
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Motorboat safaris
– These are conducted by experienced professional guides navigating the meandering, reed-lined waterways. Roam the vast expanses of water from the comfort of a modern motorboat and explore the concession’s maze of lagoons and channels in search of huge hippos, crocodiles, and waterbirds. -
Mokoro excursions
– Exploring Shinde’s waters while riding a mokoro, a dug-out canoe, is highly recommended for safarists hoping to get close to the concession’s water-dwellers. As the mokoro doesn’t have a motor, you can concentrate on the waterways’ sounds and sights. -
Fishing
– Catch-and-release fishing for tigerfish and bream is available most of the year, and all fishing equipment is available at the lodge. Please note that government regulations do not allow fishing during January and February due to breeding purposes. -
Helicopter flights
– With the helicopter’s 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. 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. -
Sleepout deck
– Guests spending three nights or more at Camp Okavango can enjoy a night spent under the stars on the Camp Okavango sleep-out deck. This includes a comfortable bed with a mosquito net, a bathroom, and all the amenities you need for a comfortable back-to-nature experience in the bush. -
Guided bush walks
– The Shinde Concession contains some very scenic islands where the camp operates its walking safaris. However, we do not recommend the walks and advise our travellers against going on them. This is because they currently take place without an armed escort, and it is very possible to come across four of the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo! Desert & Delta is working on getting a licence for the camp’s walking guides to carry a firearm, and once this has been obtained, we’ll review this activity again. For the latest information, please call to speak with a member of the YZ team.
*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.
