When we assist travellers in touring Africa and also when we put together our safari tour packages one place we insist on is the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Having spent the better part of my life in Botswana and still spend time there quite often each year I have been fortunate enough to experience this magical place many times. Despite the numerous times I have been there, each visit is remarkably unique. It is an experience I can easily relive over and over.

So what is this incredible place you may be wondering. The Okavango Delta in Botswana is a unique inland wetland in southern Africa. Located in the Kalahari Desert. The Okavango River flows into the delta, creating a lush oasis teeming with wildlife. The entire delta is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

One of the best ways to experience this diverse ecosystem in the comfort of ultra luxury is by staying at one of the exclusive luxury lodges available. The Okavango Explorers Camp is one such place.

Owned and operated by Great Plains Conservation, Okavango Explorers Camp offers an intimate safari experience deep in the heart of the Okavango. The camp consists of luxury tents set on elevated decks with views of the surrounding floodplains offering guests the promise of privacy and exclusivity.

Okavango Explorers Camp is an Explorer Collection safari camp located in the southwest of Botswana’s private Selinda Reserve. At the intersection of the upper Okavango Delta water system and the famed Selinda Spillway, the camp’s location is a unique combination of two iconic ecosystems.

The 130,000-hectare Selinda Reserve in northern Botswana is a prime predator and elephant habitat. This location has been handpicked for its access to some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in the region, along the southernmost section of Selinda Spillway. Lion, leopard and wild dogs hunt these parts regularly. There are good densities of giraffe, buffalo and now rare antelope like roan, sable and eland. At the peak of the dry season in late September, the Selinda Reserve has been documented to be home to over 9,000 elephants concentrated along this river system. For lovers of elephants, this is the place to be in the dry season. There is phenomenal birdlife in this area too.

The camp exudes a spirit of the romance of yesteryear whilst ensuring that adventure and discovery are an essential part of the journey.

The safari experiences include wildlife viewing drives, "Mokoro" rides (canoeing) and walking. 

 

CAMP FEATURES

Okavango Explorers Camp can accommodate a maximum of 12 adults in 6 tents.

Total Number of Bedrooms: 6 double or twin configuration tents.

Bedroom features

- Six large one-bedroom canvas tents on wooden decking;

- Private verandah and view;

- Canvas is light sand coloured, with netted windows;

- Each bed has a mosquito net, and suites have netted windows;

- Fans in bedrooms and electrical lights;

- Charging facilities;

- Coffee/tea station;

- Writing desk;

- Either twin or double bed configuration.

 

Bathroom features

- Each tent has an en-suite bathroom with flush toilet, shower (with hot & cold running water), double basins;

- Soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion are provided. No hairdryers.

 

ACTIVITIES

Wildlife Viewing

The focus is centred around exploration and adventure. As such, a large portion of the wildlife viewing activities involve drives in specially adapted vehicles.  Walking, with some canoeing on the Selinda Spillway as it enters the Selinda Reserve from the west being fed from the upper fringes of the Okavango Delta.

Custom-built, open Toyota Land Cruisers are specially designed for local conditions and photography, including fold-down windscreens, raised roofs, photographic bars, and multi-plug inverters. Each Land Cruiser is fully stocked with reference books, drinks, and snacks.

Guests have the opportunity to experience up-close encounters with elephants, lions, leopards, hyenas, wild dogs, buffalo, eland, zebra and other ungulate species.

This is a prime bird-watching country, and opportunities abound for guests to spot resident and migrant species, especially in the early morning and late afternoons.

Guided Walks

This specialist wildlife viewing activity of Okavango Explorers Camp is available with licensed, armed guides. There is simply no better way to experience the magic of this unique destination.

Mokoro Excursions (Canoeing)

Mokoro (dug out canoe) rides or Canoeing along the Selinda Spillway channels is a unique and memorable experience when these channels flood, usually during the winter months, a unique experience that cannot be replicated anywhere else in Africa.

Fishing

A rod/reel kit is available for those who want to try their cast in the Selinda Spillway, on a catch and release basis, between March and December (water level dependent).

CENTRAL FACILITIES

- Tented safari main area, which includes the lounge and dining area;

- Coffee/tea station; and

- Outdoor seating with fire pit.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE

- All drinks and beverages are included, including imported spirits and champagne.

- Three delicious meals a day are provided.

- The camp is highly flexible on timings.

- Picnic breakfasts or lunch (or both) are the norms due to wildlife viewing activities.

- Dining style: Group meals or Individual dining.

- Outdoor and under canvas dining locations.

- All dietary requirements are catered for from regular to vegan to children (prior notice is required.)

 I hope you found this information useful and got you excited to visit this amazing camp in the Okavango. Our tour planning incorporates many accommodation options to travellers. The Okavango Explorer Camp is one of them. 

If you would like more information on this camp or on our safari tour planning services please write to us.

To find out more about the types of safari tours we offer please click here. 

 

 

-Duncan Udawatta-

 

 

 

*Credits - Images and video used in this article belong to Great Plains Conservation.