Our Okavango Delta mobile camping & lodge safari explores some of Botswana's finest wildlife highlights, experiencing the Khwai Concession and Moremi Game Reserve on foot, by mokoro and vehicle.
After six nights of fully-serviced mobile camping, we conclude with three nights at Mma Dinare Lodge, located on a private 272 square kilometres concession in the south-east of the delta, adjacent to Moremi Game Reserve. With exclusive use of this comfortable nine tent lodge we will be able to settle in and unwind, setting our own programme of activities and enjoying the benefits of being on a private concession. Night drives, mokoro boat trips and walking safaris should all be an option in this exceptionally game rich area of the delta.
Over the course of our 9-night stay in the delta we can expect to encounter a wealth of wildlife. Large herds of elephant, buffalo and antelope species such as impala, lechwe, kudu and red hartebeest will almost certainly be a feature of the trip alongside giraffe and zebra. Inevitably with such a high concentration of prey animals we will encounter a variety of predators and we have an excellent chance of seeing lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena and wild dog. During our stay at Mma Dinare we will also be joined for a time by J.W. (‘Tico’) McNutt, Founder and Director of Botswana Predator Conservation to hear about the invaluable work that his team are undertaking in the area.
Birder or not, one can’t help but marvel at the spectacular range of avian species on display in the delta. Electrifying lilac-breasted rollers adorn acacia trees, cartoon like saddle-billed storks, bizarre openbills and shimmering glossy ibis patrol shallow pools, while secretary birds stalk the grasslands. All under the watchful eye of soaring vultures, bateleurs, tawny and martial eagles.
As darkness falls a new cast of characters takes centre stage as civets, genets, African porcupine, lesser bushbaby and spring hares emerge from their daytime hiding. With luck we may even be fortunate enough to see some of the delta’s smaller cat species including African wild cat and serval, or perhaps even a honey badger, reputedly one of Africa’s most fearless animals.
We also have a dedicated photography departure led by Emma Healey & Neil Aldridge. Contact us to find out more.
Typical Itinerary
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Day 1:
Depart UK
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Day 2:
Arrive Maun & transfer to Khwai Concession
On arrival in Maun in the early afternoon, we meet our local guide and transfer to Khwai Community Concession, one of the most scenic areas of the Okavango. This drive takes approximately 3.5 hours, although this depends entirely on what we see en route as the latter part of journey takes us through some prime wildlife areas.
On arrival at our exclusive wilderness camp, we are greeted by the crew who will be accompanying us for our first six nights in the Delta. After settling into our tents and freshening up, we will enjoy dinner under the stars before retiring for a well-earned rest!
Accommodation: Fully-serviced Mobile Camping, 3-nights
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Days 3-4
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Morning, afternoon & night drives in Khwai Concession
After breakfast we head out on a drive, in search of the region’s famed wildlife. We typically return to camp by mid to late morning, when there is an opportunity to have a shower and rest either before and/or after lunch. As the day warms we are free to relax, snooze, read a book or watch wildlife from camp, before heading out again around 4pm, after afternoon tea, for another wildlife drive.
One of the great advantages of mobile camping is that we are not restricted by a schedule. So, if our guide believes that it is in the interest of the group to stay out longer, we have the flexibility to do this. On occasion we may venture out for the entire day with a packed lunch, which allows us to travel further afield.
We have two full days to enjoy the fabulous wildlife and habitats of the Khwai Concession. Our exact programme will be dictated by the latest sightings, but we can expect to encounter of wealth of mammals and birds.
Night drives will open up a whole new world of opportunity to watch wildlife, as a good proportion of Botswana's mammals are active only after dark. Nocturnal species such as African civet, honey badger, lesser bushbaby, crested porcupine, common genet, white-tailed mongoose, scrub hare and spring hare may all be sighted on our spotlighting drives, with perhaps a chance of spotting something really unusual - such as a serval - if we are fortunate.
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Day 5:
Transfer to Moremi Game Reserve
Today we leave Khwai and drive south through spectacular scenery to Moremi Game Reserve and our next exclusive campsite. This takes most of the day as we stop en route to enjoy whatever mammals and birds we come across, as well as for a picnic lunch. By the time we arrive at the end of the afternoon, the camp crew will have our new wilderness home up and running, with a refreshing cup of tea waiting for us.
The feeling of being truly immersed in the wilderness heightens as the sun sets, and the night air fills with the guttural roars of lions or the slow whoop of a spotted hyena. The audacious honey badger may also pay a nocturnal visit to our camp in its search for food.
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Days 6-7
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Morning & afternoon wildlife drives in Moremi Game Reserve
Moremi is home to a resident herd of several hundred buffalo whose range covers the territories of at least four prides of lion, which are often seen flanking the perpetually moving herds. Breeding herds of elephants move between the water and the mopane woodland where they browse.
It is possible to see wild dog, along with lion, leopard and the occasional cheetah here. Red lechwe, Burchell’s zebra and impala are common, while the rare and shy sitatunga can sometimes be found skulking in the dense papyrus beds. The area’s colourful collection of birdlife is equally prolific, with Arnot's chat, saddle-billed stork, slaty egret, Heuglin’s robin, scarlet-chested sunbird and a variety of woodpeckers, barbets and weavers among the specialities. We can expect to see long-toed and wattled plovers, white-faced whistling duck, African fish eagle, pink-throated longclaw, numerous species of heron and waterbirds, and perhaps western banded snake-eagle.
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Day 8:
Transfer to The Dinare Concession & afternoon game drives
Today we leave Moremi Game Reserve and drive east to Mma Dinare Lodge, our base for the next three nights. Like our other transfers, the drive is essentially an extended safari and depending on sightings we arrive at the camp in plenty of time for lunch.
On arrival we bid farewell to our guides of the past seven days before settling in to our new surrounds ahead of an afternoon drive.
Accommodation: Mma Dinare Lodge, 3-nights
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Days 9-10
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Wildlife based activities
With exclusive use of the camp, we have the luxury of being able to choose our own programme of activities over the course of the next two days and we will try and be as accommodating as possible, so that everybody can choose their activities.
Depending on water levels, which vary every year, there is the option of taking a trip in a mokoro canoe. This is one of the most tranquil ways to explore the delta and gives you a completely different perspective of the landscape. Hippos, crocodiles, elephants and a wealth of water birds are all very possible on such a trip and it complements the drives that we will have undertaken on the trip so far, very well.
Being based on a private concession also allows us to undertake walking safaris which provide an opportunity to take a closer look at the terrain that supports this incredible wealth of life. There is also a chance that we may encounter a variety of mammals on foot and whilst sightings will inevitably be at a distance, the experience is that much more dramatic from being on foot.
Access to the concession also allows us to drive at any time and to go off road if necessary. This greater flexibility will serve to enrich our drives and with luck, provide even better sightings and for those that wish to partake, extended night drives will also be an option.
During our stay at Mma Dinare we will also be joined for a time by J.W. (‘Tico’) McNutt, Founder and Director of Botswana Predator Conservation to hear about the invaluable work that his team are undertaking in the area.
Whilst there are a wide range of activities available, should you wish to simply sit back and enjoy the confines of the lodge, you are very welcome to do so. The lodge is ideally positioned overlooking the Gomoti River which attracts a wide variety of bird and mammal species over the course of the day. It is the perfect place to sit back and read a book, with the occasional glance at the river just in case anything exciting should appear!
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Day 11:
Depart Maun
Sadly this morning we must bid farewell to the team at Mma Dinare and return to Maun where our early afternoon flight to Johannesburg awaits.
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Day 12:
Arrive UK
