Flight to North Island Okavango
Accommodation
North Island Okavango is found on an island (known locally as Xuxuga) surrounded by the diverse habitats of this area – seasonal floodplains, permanent waterways, woodland and open savannah. Being at the upstream end of the Okavango Delta, this area is the first to get the annual floodwaters, opening up waterbased viewing activities.
The camp offers 4 spacious suites, each resting on raised wooden decks under the shady boughs of wild ebony trees, with stunning views of the lagoon. Each offers 140 square metres of total floor space, with 80 square metres of interior floor space. The rooms feature en-suite bathrooms, indoor and outdoor showers, mini-bar, ceiling-fan, a private veranda and a private plunge pool with a sunken sundeck. Each bed also comes with an ‘over-the-bed’ cooling system for sleeping comfort. For the cooler winter nights, there is a cosy fireplace to relax in front of, making each tent a romantic safari experience.
The camp sits peacefully in front of a glorious hippo-filled lagoon, shaded by a congregation of enormous trees, with a separate lounge and dining area to enjoy delicious dinners, connected by a wooden deck that extends onwards for stargazing around a crackling firepit at night. To the side, there is a separate library for resting and reading and an outdoor gym to exercise in, while surrounded by the wild.
Semi-private means that it is not only one safari operator (company) that uses the concession but different operators share the same area (which per se is not a bad thing). There is also a presence of villages in the north and west of this community concession and the operators work hand-in-hand with the villagers to protect this beautiful wildlife gem.
The camp is accessed by light aircraft to Kadizora airstrip, followed by a short onward transfer to camp. Flight time to Maun in a Cessna Caravan is 45 minutes, and 1 hour 20 minutes to Kasane.
Guests can look forward to first-class service at exclusive and stunning lodges set amid pristine wilderness. The Okavango Delta is an inland delta in the north of Botswana, which can be accessed via Maun or Kasane. Some areas on the edge of the delta are accessible by vehicle, but the vast majority of lodges here are located deep in the delta, which means they are only accessible by air and therefore highly exclusive.
The Okavango Delta plays host to a fascinating cycle of rain, flood, drought, heat and cold. These processes determine the behaviour of the animals and their migration paths. The onset of rain in November / December leads to the appearance of spectacular green meadows as dormant flora springs back to life, trees sprout new leaves and colours become vivid and saturated. The vast majority of animals give birth to their young at the beginning of the wet season, which means the whole area is teeming with baby elephant, impala and kudu – big cat often gives birth to its young at this time too.
The sporadic rains continue until the end of March. Temperatures slowly drop and a feeling of spring sets in around April. The nights become cooler and dew settles on the grass, causing it to sparkling in the sun’s first rays of light when guests can be found pulling up their hoods in preparation for the early morning game drives. The floodwaters reach the delta in April, sometimes earlier, and, covering immense areas, expand outward like a living, breathing organism. The floodwater is basically rainwater from the mountains of Angola, which slowly accumulates in the Okavango River over a period of several months. It squeezes through the panhandle, which is where the Okavango Delta fans out, and then floods the entire region. The well-equipped game drive vehicles struggle through metre-deep water from one island to the next, leaving passengers awestruck and wondering how the journey is at all possible.
The coolest temperatures are measured in June / July, when night time lows can drop as far as 5°C, and welcome hot water bottles are duly distributed! Well-wrapped guests come prepared for the early morning game drives with hats, gloves and warm jackets. Daytime temperatures are pleasant and the skies are clear with bright sunshine – every day! The sun’s heat dominates once again as September approaches, the alluvial areas begin to dry out and the short, dry grass offers a clear and welcome view of the entire spectrum of wildlife here. Temperatures climb to their maximum in October as the whole parched region once again anticipates the coming rains. When huge clouds begin to gather on the horizon, you know it’s only a matter of time until the whole cycle begins again.
Flight to Tuludi Camp
Accommodation
Tuludi is an intimate, exclusive camp width only 7 tented rooms – 6 twin/doubles and 1 family roomw with 2 additional single beds. Each room is over 100sq metres in size with a sunken, outdoor seating area with hanging basket chair and plunge pool, aseparate dressing room, fans, and ensuite bathroom with indoor & outdoor showers and bathtub. Each room has over the bed air-conditioning, with tea and coffee making facilities and a mini-bar.
Back at the main area, the lofty space is raised on decks and strewn with cushions, sofas and armchairs to flop into for an afternoon of view-gazing and wildlife-watching. Handily, it’s positioned in the perfect spot to watch the sunset so if you choose to stay in camp for an evening, you won’t be disappointed. Next door is the dining area and just in front is a firepit. There’s also a large swimming pool to cool off in the heat of the day, a treehouse library, elevated four metres in the boughs of the trees, and plenty of trinkets and treasures that tell the story of both the camp and the extraordinary ecosystem.
It is a thirty minutes flight from Maun or 60 minutes from Kasane to the Khwai Private Airstrip (Banoka), followed by a 45-minute drive to camp.
Camps in the concession include Sable Alley, the more exclusive Tuludi, the adventurous Skybeds, Little Sable and the rustic Hyena Pan Camp.
Large areas of the Moremi are covered with mopane trees, which makes spotting wildlife difficult; this is also true for parts of NG18. An adult mopane is a beautiful tree, but elephants slowly truncate them over the years, leaving only the stumps. Wildlife spotting around the Sable Alley Camp is nevertheless interesting, and when combined with the sky beds, makes for an exciting safari alternative.
Flight to Tawana
Accommodation
Tawana is named in honour of Chief Tawana Moremi, the paramount chief of the Batawana tribe, whose forebears have been instrumental in conserving the wilderness of northern Botswana. Tawana has a beautiful riverside location on the perennial Gomoti River and offers one of the very few options to explore the Moremi Game Reserve without the crowds.
Tawana has 8 spacious suites, including three family rooms. The suites stretch to approximately 100-square-metres in size (130-square metres for family units) and consist of three units (bedroom, bathroom, lounge) and an outside deck with a plunge pool and shaded sala. The suites impress with their sophisticated, high-quality and very tasteful interior design. Tawana is certainly one of the most beautiful camps in Botswana.
The main area in camp is atmospheric with a restaurant with open-plan kitchen, an elegant lounge with library, indoor and outdoor dining spaces, a curio-shop as well as a walk-in wine cellar as the central element. A wood-fire pizza oven and an open-air dining kgotla add to the Tawana culinary experience. For down-time between game activities, Tawana offers a well-equipped gym and 16-metre lap pool to help guests stay in shape whilst travelling.
Tawana is situated in the south-eastern part of the reserve, east of the well-known concessions of Qorokwe and Chitabe. The camp is situated on the eastern bank of the Gomoti River with view of a vast plain that is usually dotted with animals. The area around Tawana is not private, but the remote location north of the private Santawani concession is very privileged.
Tawana is accessed by helicopter. Flight time from Maun is approximately 30 minutes.
The Moremi was proclaimed a reserve in 1963 by the widow of Chief Moremi III and expanded in several stages thereafter. Today it covers around 30% of the entire Okavango Delta and adheres to a very strict protection policy.
Simply put, the Moremi Game Reserve comprises a lot of water and two large dry plains: the first is Chief's Island (home to the renowned Mombo Camp), which extends deep into the Okavango Delta. The second is known as the Mopane Tongue, the corners of which are marked in the Khwai region by the North Gate, South Gate, Mboma Island and Xakanaxa. Unlike Chief’s Island, whose camps are only accessible by air, the Mopane Tongue is accessible by vehicle.
Similar considerations apply to the Mopane Tongue as to the Chobe-Savuti region: overlanders and providers of mobile safaris travel from Maun to this area and camp at the public campsites or choose the more luxurious option of a private pitch. For this reason, when embarking on a flight safari, we recommend you choose the more expensive but private camps on Chief's Island for the ultimate safari experience.
Flight to Maun
Basic Information
Individual journey. The journey will be planned on your preferred dates.
Duration 9 nights. Min 2 guests. Minimum age 6 years. Weight limit of luggage 20 kg. Luggage in one soft bag only.
Includes all transfers from Maun to the hotels/camps to Maun
- North Island Okavango: Double Room. All meals, drinks (except premier brands), laundry service, twice daily shared activities with one of the camp guides.
- Tuludi Camp: Double Room. All meals, drinks (except premier brands), laundry service, twice daily shared activities with one of the camp guides.
- Tawana: Double Room. All meals, drinks (except premier brands), laundry service, twice daily shared activities with one of the camp guides.
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