Okavango Delta Dream Trip
Fast forward about 25 years and I finally found myself on a plane to Maun for what was one of my best trips ever. I cannot wait to return
It was February and this particular February Botswana experienced record breaking rainfall. It is not traditionally “flood time” but we experienced flood-like conditions everywhere we went. So much so, that one of the camps had to cancel our booking a week before departure and the airstrip we were supposed to land on to access our first lodge, was completely underwater!
But in Africa, that just adds to the adventure. The lodge simply found space for us at a less water-logged location and instead of driving to our first lodge, we were whisked away VIP style in a helicopter. Did I mention that helicopters are my absolute favourite mode of transport!!
A lot of the lodges cannot be accessed by road in the Delta, so you often get the unique opportunity to experience several short, scenic flights as part of the trip - another highlight for me. Minutes after take-off from Maun, you can start your safari as you peer out your window to see animals traversing the plains below. What a privilege.
We split our 8 night trip between 4 lodges. I’d probably recommend rather spending longer times at fewer lodges. You want to really experience the destination and I’d say a minimum of 3 nights per lodge would be a better fit. In fact, in the current climate, I think spending longer in one destination is the way forward. “Slow safaris” I think will become popular as guests take a deep dive into nature and completely immerse themselves in the experience.
The first 4 nights were spent in the Khwai Concession in the north eastern part of the Delta, alongside the Moremi Game Reserve. It is an extremely game rich area and each day brought just one amazing sighting after the next. The staff and guides at the two lodges where we stayed (Belmond Khwai River Lodge and Machaba Camp) were wonderful and I think trips to Botswana are made extra special just by the quality of people you meet in the camps.
I’ll never forget this one particular sighting. We were the only ones on the vehicle with our guide and we were enjoying watching a young leopard recline in the tree above us and move about trying to catch the last of the morning sunshine. He asked us a few times if we wanted to move on, to which we simply replied there was nowhere else we wanted to be. By the end of the sighting, we had sat with this young leopard for about 90 incredible minutes. When we left, our guide who had been working in the area for 30 years, said it was the longest he had sat with a leopard when he had guests on the vehicle. Don't be in a hurry. These moments are rare and are to be savoured.
The second half of the trip was split between the then Wilderness Xigera Safari Lodge and Sanctuary Retreats Chief’s Camp, which are both more towards the middle of the Okavango Delta's waters.
As of 01 Dec 20, Red Carnation Hotel Collection re-opened the newly re-built Xigera Safari Lodge. A high-end, luxury lodge, it is completely solar powered, plastic-free and promotes true sustainable travel.
The location boasts a combination of deep channels and lush vegetation within a remote area of the productive Moremi Game Reserve. For much of the year this incredible area epitomizes the permanently flooded areas of the Okavango Delta, with palm-filled islands, riverine forests, interwoven channels and expansive floodplains.
Both land and water activities are available here and a trip through the water channels on the traditional mokoro is an absolute highlight.
Last stop was Chief’s Camp on Chief’s Island within the well-known Mombo Concession, known to BaYei locals as “place of plenty”. The land is extremely fertile and as a result it is an exceptionally diverse and game rich area. We were treated to wonderful luxury here along with some special elephant sightings right at our room - they are certainly not shy when in pursuit of their favourite fruits!
Again, these lodges were exceptional in every way and made the trip an extremely memorable one.
There is something magical about the Okavango Delta that can be hard to describe if you have never been.
It is one of Africa’s great sanctuaries, a pristine and rich wilderness area which is home to vast concentrations of wildlife.
This area needs tourism to return to sustain this amazing place.
I urge you to consider planning a visit. I have no doubt you will be mesmerized by it’s beauty, but more importantly you will help contribute to its survival.
