Chameleon Holidays & Travel for Safaris & Vacations in Africa | Southern Africa | Botswana | Luxury Accommodation In The Okavango Delta

Abu Camp 
Set in a pristine pocket of riverine forest, is situated in a vast private reserve of 180 000 hectares (400 000 acres) in the heart of the Okavango Delta.
An imaginative use of canvas and pole has created a unique style of tent which has been called Afro-Bedouin, high, wide and airy and blending in well with the natural surroundings. Each of the six en-suite accommodation units has its own distinctive furnishings and fittings, many of them antique, imparting an air of opulence amid the bush setting.  Each tent has its own private elevated teak deck sculpted around one of the lofty sycomore figs or jackalberry trees.
Well-lit pathways link the tents with the main lounge and dining area, again high vaulted tenting opening out onto a tiered teak decking surrounding a giant termite mound, one of the characteristic sights of the Okavango Delta.  The lounge is replete with comfortable antique furnishings and boasts an absorbing library of field guides and illustrated volumes on wildlife.  A well-stocked bar provides drinks and cocktails for post-safari sundowners around a camp fire while most of the meals are taken al fresco on the deck.  Nearby a secluded plunge pool enables guests to cool off and relax.
Abu is unique in that it allows guests to interact with the resident elephant herd, meeting each individual and beginning to understand the complex behaviour of the largest land mammal on Earth. Guests are invited to become part of the elephant herd during their stay and may watch them being fed in the evenings, enjoy the frolics of the babies and accompanying them on foot as they move through the bush. These elephant encounters provide magical moments and being with them allows a closer approach to other animals than is able to be achieved when simply walking as an obvious human figure.
Abu also offers morning and afternoon game drives, night drives and nature walks to view the abundance of fauna and flora in the area. During the seasonal floods, guests are invited to take to the waters in the mokoros, the traditional poled craft used in the Delta.

2010 Rates
Single room Full Board pp night: From US$3410
Double room Full Board pp night: From US$2570

Jao Camp
In the central region of the concession, vast open floodplains provide some of the most stunning scenery Botswana has to offer. Jao Camp lies in the southern side of the plains, an area with beautiful islands fringed with riverine forests.  The has nine spacious, beautiful tents, each individually handcrafted. These twin-bedded canvas and thatched rooms are situated beneath a canopy of shady trees and have en-suite facilities, as well as an outdoor shower for the more adventurous. Built on raised decks, each has a private sala for afternoon siestas and offers wonderful views of the surrounding floodplains. In addition to the lounge and dining area, there are two plunge pools and an outdoor boma for dining under the stars, complemented by wines from an excellent wine cellar. Jao Camp also has a salon where a wide range of massage therapies are offered. Mokoros, boat trips, fishing, nature walks, day and night game drives and birding are usually on offer all year round. There are two platform hides in the concession. During an unusually high flood season, game drives begin by boating out to a nearby Hunda Island where the vehicles are waiting, and the drive begins from there. Huge herds of red lechwe can be seen, followed by their primary predator - prides of lion. Other game includes elephant, buffalo, leopard, tsessebe, zebra and wildebeest, hippo and crocodile. Many bird species are resident such as Meyer's Parrot, African Harrier Hawk, Black egret, Coppery-tailed Coucal, Malachite Kingfisher, Hamerkop and Black Crake being some of the avian treasures.

2010 Rates
Single room Full Board pp night: From US$1250
Double room Full Board pp night: From US$1050

Kwetsani Camp 
In the central region of the concession, vast open floodplains provide some of the most stunning scenery of the region. Kwetsani Camp lies on the same floodplain system as Jao Camp, on the southern side of the plains. This area of the concession has beautiful islands fringed with riverine forests.
Five beautifully furnished 'tree-house' chalets, each with its own en-suite bathroom, provide guests with open, airy accommodation of thatch, wood, glass and canvas. The dining room, lounge and pub area, situated under a cool thatched roof, looks out over an enormous floodplain that is often dotted with lechwe, wildebeest and other plains game. Guests can watch the animals from the pool or the privacy of their rooms.
Kwetsani offers excellent land and water activities dependent on annual flood levels. There are two platform hides in the concession. Guests can view wildlife by mokoro, explore palm-fringed islands on foot, or experience outstanding game drives by day or night. Lion, leopard, wild dog, cheetah, tsessebe and red lechwe are among the major game attractions at Kwetsani, while hippo, sitatunga antelope and crocodile reside in the deeper permanent lily-filled lagoons of the area. Nocturnal animals such as porcupine, aardwolf, serval, large spotted genet and lesser bushbaby can be observed on the night drives (water levels permitting)

2010 Rates
Single room Full Board pp night: From US$800
Double room Full Board pp night: From US$600

Little Mombo
Little Mombo situated on Mombo Island, adjoining the northern tip of Chief's Island within the Moremi Game Reserve in northern Botswana. A raised walkway links it to Mombo Camp, but distance and size combine to create an intimate luxurious camp that looks out over floodplains and  together with Mombo Camp, provides some of the best game viewing in Botswana.
The camp, built under a shady canopy, has three luxurious and spacious rooms under canvas, each with en-suite facilities and an outdoor shower for those who wish to shower closer to Nature. A sala, large veranda and lounge area all provide ample place to relax and enjoy the view. Little Mombo has its own dining room, kitchen, lounge and pool overlooking the open plain in front of camp. Larger groups can also book out some of the rooms in the main camp.
Activities include morning and afternoon game drives in open 4x4 vehicles to view the high concentrations of plains game and all the predators - including the big cats - with lion sightings being particularly good. Guests can also see leopard, large herds of buffalo, cheetah, wild dog, elephant, white rhino, spotted hyaena, southern giraffe, blue wildebeest and Burchell's zebra.

2010 Rates
Single room Full Board pp night: From US$1950
Double room Full Board pp night: From US$1450

Little Vumbara Camp 
Little Vumbara Camp is situated on an island in a private concession in the northern reaches of the Okavango Delta, in the same region as its sister camp, Vumbura Plains. It is a beautiful six-roomed tented camp shaded by the canopy of an ancient Okavango forest. Each tent is large and roomy and has en-suite facilities. A plunge pool and reading area overlook the floodplains and a star deck leads off the dining area.
Surrounded as it is by water and lying close to large rivers, water-based activities are a focus with mokoros traversing the floodplains under the guidance of experienced polers, and motor boats the permanent channels.
Game drives in open Land Rovers allow guests to get close to animals in the savannah areas. Walks (on request) around the islands are an opportunity to enjoy Africa from a different perspective. Game viewing is consistently good all year round with lion, leopard, elephant, sable and buffalo along with extensive plains game providing an excellent all-round wildlife experience in this remote corner of the Delta. Little Vumbura is part of a community participation plan bringing the communities that live around the Okavango Delta into the tourism mainstream.

2010 Rates
Single room Full Board pp night: From US$800
Double room Full Board pp night: From US$600

Mombo Camp 
On the northern tip of Chief's Island within the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta, is built under large shady trees and overlooks an open floodplain more often than not alive with wildlife. This area boasts enormous concentrations of plains game and large predators - lions in particular - providing what is arguably the best big game viewing in Botswana. Accommodation comprises nine spacious tents raised up to two metres off the ground, with breathtaking views over the plains; the sala, long veranda and lounge area all take advantage of such vistas. Bathrooms are en-suite, with indoor and outdoor showers. The main living and dining area is under thatch, there is a boma for delicious dinners under the stars and a plunge pool to relax in on a hot day. Large concentrations of plains game occur in front of the camp and guests may view a variety of animals without even leaving the veranda. One often finds animals wandering past, right under the rooms!
Activities at Mombo Camp mainly comprise morning and afternoon game drives in open 4x4 vehicles. These drives explore the savannah and floodplains and are exciting with prolific sightings of lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, elephant, spotted hyaena, southern giraffe, blue wildebeest, Burchell's zebra and large buffalo herds. Black and white rhino have been reintroduced with outstanding success to the area (albeit most are further away from camp), thanks to the Botswana Rhino Reintroduction Programme.

2010 Rates
Single room Full Board pp night: From US$1950
Double room Full Board pp night: From US$1450

Seba Camp - FAMILY FRIENDLY  
Designed to blend in with an ancient riverine forest with majestic hardwood trees like the sycamore fig and leadwood, all overlooking a perennial lagoon with its prolific birdlife and resident pods of hippo.
It has five well-appointed and spacious elevated tents, each with en-suite bathroom and a private deck on which to relax and observe the passing wildlife in and around the perennial lagoon. The vibrant décor of each tent celebrates the different tribes of Botswana.
Well-lit paths lead to the communal dining area and a lounge-library replete with reference and pictorial books. There is a secluded swimming pool enabling guests to refresh themselves and relax after a game drive. The dining and bar areas are also set on a raised saligna deck with spectacular views. Gourmet meals are served, usually al fresco, in the dining area: five-star cuisine and superb dinners follow cocktails shared by guests, researchers and guides around a traditional campfire.
Seba Camp incorporates many features which make it welcoming to families with children. The main tent is a family villa with two interleading, en-suite double bedrooms. There is ample space for children, including a built-in 'tree-house' for them. An elevated deck has its own small swimming pool and sandpit.
A number of elephants that were released back into the wild have formed their own herd. The interaction between these and the wild herds in the area provides rich fodder for research teams from Bristol University in the UK. Guests can observe the researchers at work, often in close proximity to the elephant herds. Guides are always happy to drive visitors to see a released elephant and its wild companions when they are in the vicinity of the camp.
Apart from the large elephant population, there is a seasonal abundance of game in the area including giraffe, zebra, impala, wildebeest, tsessebe and lechwe. Lion frequent the greater area and herds of buffalo are occasional visitors too. For bird enthusiasts, some 380 different species are found in the region.
During winter, thanks to the high water levels, Seba is transformed into a water camp, with water-based activities taking precedence, such as mokoro, motorboat excursions and fishing, as well as walks and the usual game drives.

2010 Rates
Single room Full Board pp night: From US$800
Double room Full Board pp night: From US$600

Tubu Tree
Tubu Tree is situated in the area with the most palatable grasses and the largest area of permanently dry land and is surrounded by diverse habitats ranging from dry Kalahari sandveld to mopane and riverine forest on the edge of permanent waterways, ensuring diverse and spectacular game viewing.
The camp is built in traditional style with five tents on raised wooden platforms, allowing great views over the floodplains. Each tent has a private front deck, en-suite bathroom facilities and an outdoor shower. The main dining and lounge areas and pool are also on raised platforms and an outdoor pub area lies under the canopy of a large marula tree.
Wildlife seen here includes elephant, lion, Burchell's zebra, red lechwe, southern giraffe, tsessebe, and blue wildebeest on the floodplains. Kudu, impala, leopard and bushbuck are also seen in the forested areas. The variety of bird life is impressive with dry-land species seen on the large islands and all the wetland birds seen on the floodplains and waterways.
During winter months, the water levels rise and the floodplains become covered with water, permitting water activities; during the flood season (normally May to late September), boating, fishing and mokoro trips are offered. Throughout the year day and night game drives in open 4x4 vehicles, as well as guided walks are available. There are two platform hides in the concession.

2010 Rates
Single room Full Board pp night: From US$800
Double room Full Board pp night: From US$600

Villa Okavango
Villa Okavango has been designed to offer a family or a maximum of two couples the experience of enjoying a luxurious home in a wilderness setting. The villa is set amid a grove of ancient trees, and an elevated teak deck houses the spacious living area best described as Afro-Bedouin - spacious and airy. There are two large en-suite bedrooms, one with a magnificent four-poster bed and the other with two sumptuous 'sleigh' beds.
The dining and lounge areas are furnished in a colonial-baronial style. Antiques abound throughout and there is an informative and absorbing library of natural history books. The villa has its own staff, and a resident chef will prepare excellent meals as and when they are required, adding to the exclusive atmosphere. A resident butler is also on hand. The outdoor area is also designed for total relaxation; from the tranquil swimming pool to the high, expansive deck allowing guests to view the tranquil lagoon and the surrounding landscape with its prolific birdlife and passing wildlife.
A resident guide is on hand with an open, comfortable 4x4 to conduct morning and evening game viewing drives. During the wet season, guests can enjoy the numerous waterways by mokoro, the traditional poled craft used as transport by the local people.

Rates on Request

Vumbura Plains 
Vumbura Plains is a luxury camp situated in a private concession in the extreme north of the Delta. The concession, which is leased from the neighbouring community, includes a wide variety of habitats, diverse wildlife and an enormous traversing area of 60 000 hectares (130 000 acres).
The camp comprises two separate seven-roomed satellite camps, each with its own raised dining, lounge and bar area tucked beneath a canopy of cool, shady, indigenous trees and with a magnificent vista across the floodplains. A star-gazing deck with comfortable cushions protrudes into the floodplain, a place to gaze upwards, or a convivial camp fire setting.
What makes the Vumbura concession so unique is its position on the extreme north of the Okavango. This position encompasses such a wide variety of habitats and species that it has representatives of just about every animal that occurs in the Okavango biome.
Vumbura Plains offers both land and water activities, principally nature viewing in varied habitats in open 4x4 vehicles, nature walks, mokoro trips and boat excursions. Whilst exploring the spectacular ecology of this area, one can enjoy close-up viewing of lion, leopard, elephant, cheetah and buffalo along with all the plains game. Birding is fabulous here with immense species diversity and mind-boggling numbers. The Vumbura area is possibly the only area in the Okavango where one can see red lechwe (an animal that inhabits the fringes of the waterways) and sable antelope (an animal that prefers the dry countryside) on the same game drive.

2010 Rates
Single room Full Board pp night: From US$1250
Double room Full Board pp night: From US$1050

Xigera Camp (pronounced Keejera)
This camp dwells on an island in the heart of the Delta in Moremi Game Reserve. Xigera is set in what is truly a wetland paradise, surrounded as it is by deep channels and lush riverine vegetation.
The camp consists of ten luxuriously furnished tented rooms each with en-suite facilities and an outdoor shower. Raised on wooden platforms and walkways, each tent offers superb views of the seasonal floodplain and lagoon and a feel of living in the midst of a riverine forest. Meals and evening drinks are enjoyed in the lounge, pub and dining area overlooking a permanently flowing channel or under the stars in a traditional African boma. For those hot days there is a small plunge pool in which to cool off.
Guests are sometimes treated to close-up views of lion or leopard using the footbridge connecting Xigera's island to the next! The camp "newspaper" (a sand pit built into the bridge to capture paw prints) is "read" each morning and provides information on unseen nightly visitors to camp.
Permanent water year-round allows an unparalleled variety of activities such as mokoro trips, game drives and motorboat outings; being the only camp in the area ensures total privacy.
A mokoro ride is mandatory at this camp. On this traditional dug-out canoe, the only sounds are the rustling of the wind through the reeds, the lapping of the water against the boat, and the call of the African Fish-Eagle. The blue of the sky is mirrored in the water, broken only by large round water lily leaves and their stunning purple and white flowers. When water levels permit, game drives are an attraction. During drier years, drives are available throughout the year, but if there has been a very high flood, drives take place only from late September to April. Xigera is a delight for birdwatchers, with Pel's Fishing-Owl, African Skimmer, Slaty Egret, Wattled Crane and a host of raptors, other waterbirds and colourful kingfishers to be seen. An abundance of wildlife includes red lechwe, lion, spotted hyaena, and leopard and the highest density of the rare sitatunga antelope in the Delta.

2010 Rates
Single room Full Board pp night: From US$800
Double room Full Board pp night: From US$600

Xakanaxa Camp (pronounced Ka-Kan-A-Ka)
Accommodating only 24 guests, in twelve classic safari tents on raised platforms set on the banks of the Khwai River, each with a private viewing deck overlooking the Xakanaxa Lagoon. The tents are tastefully furnished with twin or double beds and en-suite facilities with shower, hand basin and toilet. A water sprinkler system aids cooling in the midday heat. The Camp is in the heart of the Moremi Game Reserve – renowned for its beauty and diversity.

Boat trips and game drives are conducted by a team of professional guides – and guests have every chance of seeing a good diversity of species which include plains game (such as lechwe, impala, wildebeest), along with the predators (lion, leopard, wild dog, spotted hyena). The area is also excellent for birding, particularly in the summer months from November to March, as the migrants come in their thousands to breed.

The stylish main buildings extend into the Khwai River and are set on raised platforms to maximize the views over the surrounding lagoons and islands. Built from local timber, reed and thatch they comprise an elegant lounge containing a small but comprehensive library, dining room, sundeck, plunge pool, and sala with day bed, as well as a fire-deck set under giant Jackalberry trees.

The reception lounge has facilities for charging videos, cameras and batteries. The camp operates on generator power but at night all lighting is supplied by gas and paraffin lanterns – adding to the overall ambience.

The kitchen is renowned for its traditional safari fare served with a Pan-African touch, all accompanied by some excellent South African wines. Meals are generally taken around the dining room table where discussion of the day’s exciting experiences can be lengthy. The Camp also caters for guests who prefer private dining.

2010 Rates
Single room Full Board pp night: From US$1000(low season)
Double room Full Board pp night: From US$600(low season)

Single room Full Board pp night: From US$1250 (high season)
Double room Full Board pp night: From US$850 (high season)
 

Lebala Camp 
Hidden in the Southern portion of the extensive Kwando wilderness of 232 000 ha. (550 000 acres) is Lebala Camp.  Kwando Lebala Camp comprises 16 beds in 8 luxuriously spacious tents, on Zimbabwe teak decks.  Each tent is surrounded by spectacular shade cloth walls, with a variety of curtains and shades so you can decide on how much light you let in or not.  Sliding doors and a spacious bedroom area, bathroom including a Victorian claw bathtub, double basins, outside double showers, separate toilet and fans.

Lebala is the Tswana word for wide-open plains, and each tent has extensive views over expansive tracts of African plains and wetlands, that comprise part of the Kwando-Linyanti flood plain system.  This system is an intricate labyrinth of waterways, reed beds, islands, floodplains, bush, scrub and trees.  To those in the know - somewhat Okavango like but something different too.   

Excellent general game abounds on the broad plains, creating spectacular scenery, adorned with herds of plains game and the ever-attendant predators.  Lebala offers regular and reliable sightings of elephant, lion, wild dog, leopard, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, tsessebe, kudu, lechwe, impala, wildebeest and waterbuck in stunning settings.  Lebala is famous for elephant sightings as is neighbouring Lagoon camp, 2 hours drive north.  In fact the Kwando concession is home to more elephant than the entire country of South Africa. 

Lebala complements the Kwando Lagoon experience by offering a spectacularly different setting, scenery and experience from that offered by Lagoon.  Our guests staying at both camps have enjoyed game drives, including night drives, in vastly different settings and enjoyed fishing and boat cruises on the Kwando River from the shady Lagoon Camp.  Therefore we feel that the ideal Kwando experience will involve stays at all our camps.

2010 Rates
Single/double room Full Board pp night: From US$650 (low season)

Single room Full Board pp night: From US$1200 (high season)
Double room Full Board pp night: From US$950 (high season)