Tag: okavango

Duba Plains – Turn the Wild Up a Notch

Posted on by James

Some parts of the Okavango Delta feel calm, almost meditative. Channels drift quietly, birds skim the surface, and elephants move through water with an ease that feels timeless. And then there is Duba Plains Camp, where the same water seems to sharpen everything instead.

Set deep within a private concession in the northern Delta, Duba Plains sits in a landscape defined by seasonal flood. When the waters arrive, they spread wide across the plains, transforming dry ground into a shifting mosaic of channels, islands and open space. It is beautiful, unquestionably — but it is also functional. Because where the flood goes, the buffalo follow.

And where there are buffalo, lions are never far behind.

Duba has become quietly known for this relationship. Not in a way that feels staged or predictable, but in the sense that the ecosystem itself leans toward drama. Large herds move across open ground, bunching, spreading, testing the edges of safety. Lions watch, wait, and then commit with a level of intensity that feels very different to more casual encounters elsewhere in Africa.

Game drives here carry a particular kind of focus. You are not simply looking for sightings; you are stepping into a story that is already unfolding. Tracks matter. Direction matters. Behaviour matters. Everything feels connected, as if each movement is part of a wider narrative that began long before you arrived.

And yet, for all its intensity, Duba Plains is still very much a water-based safari.

 

Between moments of action, the landscape settles back into something softer. Elephants cross channels with slow, deliberate confidence. Lechwe move through flooded grasslands, their hooves adapted perfectly to terrain that would challenge almost anything else. Reflections stretch across the water, turning movement into something almost abstract.

The camp itself mirrors this balance. Elevated, elegant, and quietly luxurious, it offers comfort without separation. Wide decks open onto the floodplain, allowing you to watch the landscape shift throughout the day. Interiors are refined but never overbearing, keeping the focus where it belongs — outside.

There is a rhythm here that feels heightened. Stillness builds into movement. Calm gives way to intensity, then settles again. It is a place where contrast defines the experience as much as continuity.

Duba Plains is not a passive safari. It asks you to pay attention, to read the bush, to stay present in moments that can change quickly and without warning.

And when everything aligns — water, movement, predator and prey — you are reminded that the Delta is not just beautiful.

It is alive in a way that feels immediate, unpredictable, and entirely real.

Sable Alley – Where Water Shapes the Story

Posted on by James

There are safari camps where you head out each morning with intent, following roads, tracks, and instinct in the hope that the bush reveals something memorable. And then there are places like Sable Alley, where the experience begins long before the vehicle ever leaves camp, and often continues long after it returns.

Set beside a permanent lagoon in Botswana’s Khwai Concession, Sable Alley sits in one of the most consistently productive pockets of the Okavango Delta. Water is the defining force here, and with it comes a steady, almost predictable flow of life that gathers at its edge throughout the day.

Elephants arrive in loose herds, easing themselves into the shallows with a sense of ownership that suggests they have done this countless times before. Red lechwe move differently, splashing and bounding through water that would slow almost anything else. And along the fringes, predators wait, watching the same patterns unfold, knowing that opportunity eventually follows movement.

Khwai itself is what gives Sable Alley its depth. It is not a single environment, but a convergence of several. Floodplains stretch outward into open light, woodland provides cover and contrast, and channels of water thread through it all, constantly reshaping how animals move and interact.

Game drives reflect this variety. One morning may be spent following a lion pride through damp earth, reading tracks and behaviour as a story in progress. Another may open onto wide plains filled with grazing herds, where scale and distance become part of the experience.

But it is often the stillness that defines the camp.

From the main deck and private rooms, the lagoon becomes a continuous source of quiet activity. Early light reveals silhouettes through mist, midday concentrates movement at the water’s edge, and late afternoon settles into long reflections and softer tones.

The design supports this without drawing attention to itself. Elevated walkways, open spaces, and clean lines ensure that nothing interrupts your connection to the landscape. Comfort is present, but it never competes with what lies beyond it.

Sable Alley is not about chasing sightings across distance. It is about proximity, patience, and the subtle shift that happens when the wild no longer feels separate from you.

And once that shift takes hold, the entire safari experience begins to feel more immediate, more immersive, and far more difficult to forget.

Perhaps that is what lingers most. Not a single sighting, but the accumulation of small, unscripted moments that build quietly over time. A glance, a sound, a shift in light. Together, they create something that feels less like a trip, and more like a lived experience.

Jao Camp: Let the Water Teach You to Slow Down

Posted on by James

Most safaris begin with a map: roads, tracks, loops and river crossings. Jao Camp begins with a different philosophy — let the water decide. The Okavango Delta is famously unpredictable, rising and receding at its own whim, turning woodlands into lagoons and plains into mirror-smooth channels. Jao doesn’t fight this; it reveres it. And guests very quickly learn to do the same.

From the moment you arrive, elevated walkways signal the shift in perspective. You move through palm islands at tree-crown level, brushing past birdlife that seems only mildly surprised by your presence. Suites are generous to the point of indulgence — private decks, plunge pools, gauzy interiors that glow softly in Delta light — but nothing feels showy. Everything serves one quiet purpose: to invite you to unwind.

The rhythm here is governed entirely by water. When the flood is high, mokoro excursions become poetry in motion — a silent glide past lilies, reed frogs, jacanas stepping delicately across floating leaves. Boat outings open up the wider channels, sometimes revealing elephants swimming in slow motion, or a fish eagle perched in just the right shaft of light. When the waters pull back, game drives explore floodplains now etched with fresh tracks: lions, leopards, wild dogs, and the occasional sable giving you a regal once-over.

One of Jao’s most underrated luxuries is its sense of spaciousness — not in size, but in tempo. There’s permission here to move slowly. To linger in the hide while storm clouds bruise the horizon. To surrender to an afternoon spa treatment because thunder murmuring across the water feels like the day’s natural metronome. To enjoy dinner on the deck by lantern-light, listening to lechwe splashing distantly in the shallows.

Some camps help you see wildlife. Jao helps you feel the Delta. And in doing so, it becomes less a safari destination and more a gentle recalibration — a reminder that life is richer when you let nature set the pace.

Chitabe Reimagined

Posted on by James

For almost thirty years, Wilderness Chitabe has earned a reputation as one of the Okavango Delta’s most incredible safari destinations. Set on a wildlife-rich peninsula in the eastern sector of this tranquil eden, its diverse landscapes and patchwork of habitats draw an unparalleled abundance of game year-round. But beyond the remarkable sightings, Chitabe is a place where guests feel at home – a camp shaped by a team whose deep-rooted connection creates a rare and timeless magic.
And now, with a fresh, sustainable design, rebuilt Chitabe remains true to its roots while embracing the future.

Chitabe’s impressive mix of micro-ecosystems makes it one of Botswana’s most rewarding wildlife destinations. The convergence of the Gomoti and Santantadibe channels create almost an island, which supports a rich, year-round game viewing paradise. Here, prides of lions, packs of wild dogs, and the Okavango’s most consistent and viewable cheetah population hunt the plains. There have also been no fewer than 50 leopards recorded at Chitabe.

The Chitabe guest suites offer a blend of comfort and design, perfectly suited to the temperature swings of the Delta (summer can get very hot, winter nights can see the temperature drop to sub-zero).
Crafted to enhance the experience, the suites feature insulated canvas walls and roofs, creating an environment that maintains a light, airy feel. Spacious high ceilings, large insect-proof mesh openings, and private shaded decks open to horizon-wide views of the Delta.

The eight spacious luxury safari-style tents at are built on elevated wooden decks amongst the stunning trees of the Okavango.
Each tent has en-suite facilities that include an indoor and outdoor shower, mosquito nets, standing fans and double sliding doors opening to the shady deck with comfortable seating – a perfect breakfast nook from which to soak up the bush.
Elevated walkways connect the tents to the central camp facilities made up of a thatched raised dining and lounge area leading onto open decking with views across the waterways and floodplains. There is an evening campfire, a small curio shop and a plunge pool providing a cool sanctuary for those warm hours. Or nestle yourself in the library with a view and read a little more about the wildlife and natural history of the area; although the staff, rangers and trackers of Chitabe Camp would be more than happy to tell you all about as well.

Supreme opulence and some of the most consistent wild dog viewing in the Okavango (the local pack dens on the concession almost every year) have ensured a high level of repeat business at Chitabe. Guests fall in love and don’t want to go anywhere else.

If this sounds like the place for you, get in touch through info@iconicafrica.com, and let’s start planning your Okavango itinerary…

Daunara Safari Special

Posted on by James

Pay for 3 nights, stay for 4.

That’s a good deal no matter where you’re talking about, but in the Okavango Delta, it sounds almost too good to be true.

Daunara Safari Camp, one of the newest offerings in the Delta, is running this incredible special for 2025, but with enquiries already starting to flood in, we would advise not to wait if a trip to Botswana’s own version of Eden is something you’d be interested in.

This lovely camp is in the south-east of the Delta, a short scenic helicopter flight from Maun, which is a pioneering safari town in the north of Botswana on the edge of the Thamalakane River.
The Camp is perched on the edge of a permanent water body, perfectly situated for days full of adventure and activity or for you to take time to escape from the world and reconnect with life as it ought to be lived.

At Daunara, your days are tailor-made, from the staff’s heartfelt hospitality to the camp’s thoughtful design, your stay is a constant adventure in nature with walking, fishing, game drives, community visits, mekoro (plural of mokoro – the traditional dugout canoe of the Okavango) and so much more. All in your own time at your own pace, with guides who immerse you in the heart of the Delta experience.

They want you to experience a welcome so warm in a home so comfortable that you don’t want to leave. And it works!

The camp comprises five spacious tented suites, each offering panoramic views of the wild. The layout, dictated by the positioning of prominent trees, allows for both privacy and shared communal experiences, with three standalone suites and two interconnected family suites.

A raised wooden walkway, mirroring the winding Delta waterways, connects the tents, ensuring guests remain immersed in the natural environment as they move about the camp. The central camp area includes a family-friendly house kitchen, an intimate sitting room, a fully stocked bar, and a stand-alone wine cellar, alongside outdoor spaces like shaded verandas, a sunken firepit, and a  lap pool.

Other noteworthy features include a state-of-the-art gym and a massage tent overlooking a second waterhole often frequented by huge zebra herds.

The boma, a modern reinterpretation of a traditional African outdoor gathering space, is a standout feature consisting of three interconnected separate circular forms for dining, lounging, and outdoor cooking, all centered around an enormous fire bowl. This playful yet functional design offers a unique guest experience.

For those looking to attach something out of the ordinary and extra special to their trip, a visit to Elephant Havens, a nearby elephant orphanage, is a must.
The orphanage has a herd of young calves that have been rescued from the wild, and in the fully immersive experience, guests get to help the caretakers feed the little ones as well as give them milk during their twice-daily walks out in the bush.

It’s a unique and magical way to get up close to these magical creatures!

Owner-run, Danaura provides the attention to detail that Iconic Africa looks for in the high-end camps we like to send our guests to, and with this current special running, there’s not better time for a visit.

Get hold of one of our agents through info@iconicafrica.com to start planning your trip…

Mbamba Lodge – Okavango Reimagined

Posted on by James

Mbamba is set to be the latest addition to the Natural Selection portfolio, a charming explorer-style camp found in the north-western Okavango’s NG12 concession. With a mix of open grasslands, floodplains, forested islands and lagoons, Mbamba will offer a variety of diverse landscapes with ecosystem variations to support an incredible range of the Okavango’s wildlife.

Set to open in April 2025, Mbamba will be the new sister camp to Natural Selections Duke’s, Duke’s East and North Island, also located in the same NG12 concession, which borders that of Vumbura Plains and Duba Plains to the south.

The camp features twelve canvas tented rooms including two family units each with an ensuite bathroom, indoor shower, standing fan, overbed cooling system and private veranda. A simple, tasteful main area equipped with two lounges, a small library, pool and fire-pit completes the camp, providing a comfortable authentic safari feel at good value.

The camp lies in a beautifully open area where the Okavango River begins to spread out, creating the world’s largest inland delta. An impressive range of mammals, birds, and reptiles, can be spotted. Both lion and wild dog are in the area, and the seldom-sighted sable antelope is common. The endangered wattled crane and the highly sought Pel’s fishing owl are Okavango bird specialties that are often found here, along with a full diversity of birdlife.

Activities at Mbamba are designed to explore this wonderfully varied and beautiful area – game drives during the day and night as well as boating and mokoro safaris when water levels allow.

In line with Natural Selection’s focus on beautiful, characterful camps and safari experiences, Mbamba is set to  become a popular camp, offering a rich Okavango experience at very good value.

Designed in the iconic Kalahari safari style like the famous Jack’s and San Camps – also well known Natural Selection offerings, Mbamba sits on slightly raised wooden decks and revel in the much-loved safari aesthetic of plush fabrics, mahogany sideboards, Persian rugs and romantic four-poster beds, all infused with a yesteryear charm. 

The camp is in a superb setting where you’ll instantly be immersed into the Okavango Delta’s true wonder.  With some of the best safari guides in the business, and a variety of land and water-based activities,  you can look forward to a rewarding wildlife experience in this game-rich private concession. In-between action filled game viewing activities, relax around the camp pool or take a siesta in the comfort of your air-conditioned tent. This is an ideal camp for those seeking a deeper understanding of the natural world in a very relaxed environment.

The main mess area at Mbamba is a delight with its draped fabric and collections of ancient artefacts. Relax in the two lounges where you can spend your time perusing the cabinets or grabbing a drink from the well-stocked drinks cabinet, read a book from the small library or relaxing around the camp swimming pool. Meals are served family-style at the long table. Dine under the stars or under canvas, followed by stargazing around the firepit before saying goodnight.

With Duke’s and North Island already running on full occupancies, we predict Mbamba to do something similar, so don’t wait to enquire.
Get hold of us through info@iconicafrica.com if you’d like to be among the first to explore this relatively untouched part of the Okavango.

Adventure awaits…

Xigera – Best of the West

Posted on by James

“West” is probably pushing it a little bit, as Xigera is in fact dead centre in the Okavango – truly in the heart of it, one might say.

One of the most luxurious lodges in the Okavango Delta, the camp is set in a beautiful location on a private concession within the Moremi Game Reserve. Having reopened under new ownership (Red Carnation Hotel Group) in December 2020, Xigera reset the bar when it comes to luxurious safaris in Botswana – offering the ultimate flexibility for guests to shape the experience exactly as they desire, the philosophy at this stylish lodge says it all “anything, any time”.

Xigera (pronounced “kee-jera”, meaning pied kingfisher) has been on the Okavango safari scene for many years but the rebuild  really transformed the lodge. The new design was unrecognisable from the old, apart from the beautiful location. The style at Xigera is bold, yet wonderfully in keeping with the feel of Okavango Wilderness. You can expect a slick safari experience here. A lodge for those looking for the ultimate luxury set amidst stunning landscapes and top class game viewing.

Xigera Safari Lodge guests will not be restricted by the standard safari timetable. Instead, total flexibility is the order of the day, and a completely bespoke approach to activities with no set times dominates. Morning, afternoon and evening game drives are offered, as are private walking safaris, photographic workshops, private yoga, mokoro and glass-bottomed mokoro excursions and motorboat trips as well as fishing in season. Note that water activities are seasonal, usually from May/June to September. Dining al fresco is another highlight, with bush picnics, lunches or breakfasts also available.

During the flood season, from around May to September, Xigera is transformed into a stunning wetland landscape, which makes it the perfect water and land safari camp.

The lodge sits on stilts under a canopy of large trees and enjoys superb views of the floodplains. Elevated walkways connect the different areas of camp, offering a treehouse feel and wonderful elevated views. Xigera Safari Lodge has been constructed with undulating rooflines and scorched timber cladding. The suites have views onto the lily-covered lagoons: the lily is the camp’s emblem and a lily-inspired pavilion will provide shade overlooking the water’s edge. The sunken lounge has a huge copper lily-design centrally suspended fireplace.

The lodge’s interiors are spectacular. Every piece in the lodge’s collection of furniture, sculpture and ceramics is a work of art in itself and has been specially commissioned and made for the lodge over a period of 18 months. The pieces include works by more than 30 leading African artists and craftspeople.

Xigera Safari Lodge has twelve suites, and one family suite suitable for two couples or a family. The suites all have air-conditioning and feature separate lounge, bedroom and dressing room and private deck, daybed with gazebo and each can accommodate indoor and outdoor private dining for up to four people. The large bathrooms also feature outdoor showers. The suites are extraordinarily spacious for a wilderness lodge.

Red Carnation properties, who own Xigera Safari Lodge, are known for their attention to detail and personal touches and service. With an impressive ratio of four staff to every guest you can expect incredibly attentive and personalised service . The African inspired menus are served by an interactive kitchen and the cellar serves wine from the award-winning vineyard, Bouchard Finlayson, as well as other top wines. After dinner, the boma has a totemic firepit sculpture around which to sit, enjoy a digestif and stargaze.

To work up an appetite for all the fabulous meals there is a state of the art gym as well as a stunning pool. This swimming pool’s dark water is rest for the eyes by comparison with the usual stark brilliant blue; the views from the pool over the river give the sense that you are immersed in the Delta’s natural waterways.

For something more cerebral the library, an air conditioned haven of peace, features occasional talks from specialists.
Wellness is a real feature of the camp; two spa rooms will provide a wide range of treatments and treatments can also be given in the suites. Guest practitioners will create a programme based on wellness, mindfulness and holistic healing with the perfect backdrop of the pristine natural Delta environment.

Predator sightings are particularly impressive at Xigera – there is a large presence of lion, leopard, hyena on the islands. Buffalo are found in good numbers too.  General game sightings include red lechwe, lion, spotted hyena and leopard, and the highest density of the rare sitatunga antelope found in the Delta. Birding in Xigera is very good, with opportunities to see the elusive Pel’s Fishing Owl, African Skimmer, Slaty Egret, Wattled Crane, Lesser Jacana and plenty of eagles, vultures, raptors and kingfishers.

The environmental credentials are impressive and central to the philosophy of the lodge which ultimately aim to be diesel free and entirely solar powered and will use a 400kW Tesla plant incorporating lithium iron batteries and Tesla invertors. The solar farm will end up as the largest in the Delta.

Xigera can be reached by a 25 minute light aircraft connection from Maun airport to the Xigera airstrip, or around an hour and 20 minutes from Kasane airport. A 10-minute drive in a game drive vehicle will then bring you to Xigera itself.

Children aged twelve and over are welcome and charged at a full adult rate.

Get hold of us through info@iconicafrica.com to find out more about Xigera and the wold-class safari experience that it offers…

 

Wilderness Qorokwe: Delta Action

Posted on by James

Qorokwe camp is in the south-east of the Okavango Delta and has only been open for 7 years. The exclusive concession it’s on was previously unused for more than four years, but now reveals a world of diverse Delta habitats, from scattered acacia woodlands with herds of giraffe, zebra and abundant plains game to pristine floodplains, home to numerous red lechwe and mud-bespattered buffalo bulls. Throw in lions, relaxed leopards and a wild dog pack that currently numbers in the 30s, and you have a recipe for amazing game-viewing.

Qorokwe means ‘The place where the buffalo broke through the bush into the water’. A suitable name for a lodge located between two permanent rivers which are visited by buffalo; they love the shallow river channels. And where there are buffalo there are inevitably lion, buffalo being their favourite meal!

Qorokwe Camp consists of eight tented suites and one spacious family tented suite with its own splash pool and large deck. En suite facilities feature a shower with a glass door which slides back to transform it from an indoor to an outdoor shower, double basins and a free standing bath.

The stunning main area at Qorokwe Camp overlooks a productive lagoon which fluctuates in level depending on the season,  and the dining area, lounge, library and bar are built on raised wooden platforms connected by walkways. The camp marries minimalist clean lines and a stylish look aesthetic with its openness really making one feel a connection with the natural world. The rooms and main areas are stylishly modern: flat roofed with wood panels, wrought iron and geometric shapes and large sliding doors that welcome in and frame the magnificent wilderness of the Delta. The scurry of tree squirrels in the branches overhead and the scratching of spurfowl beneath your deck are an ever-present reminder that you are in the wilderness. Peaceful rectangular water features edge the lounge area and frame the view onto the lagoon. The generously sized infinity pool just off the main deck is set slightly lower and adjacent to the firepit.

Qorokwe is in the southern reaches of the Okavango and the landscape really is diverse: game drives will take in Kalahari apple-leaf and acacia woodlands, islands with palm trees, floodplains and seasonal water. The variety of the landscape and the proximity to the Moremi Game Reserve means that the wildlife is excellent and the area is particularly rich in predator sightings. The Qorokwe concession is a private concession shared only with Stanley’s camp, Baines camp and Gomoti Plains camp. However the huge area on which game drives are operating means that the vehicle density is low and it’s very unlikely that you will see a game viewer from any other camp.

Guests will enjoy game drives on open 4×4s to view the wealth of wildlife by day. Night drives produce exciting nocturnal sightings of civet, genet, bat-eared foxes and bushbabies, and owls are regularly seen in the spotlight. Following a leopard as it gets hunting into the evening can be particularly rewarding. Explore the waters by boat or mokoro (water-level dependent) – your guide will reveal the secrets of living in the Delta while you look out for tiny frogs and malachite kingfishers.

Being a relatively new camp and with slightly higher profile options being available in the Wilderness Portfolio, Qorokwe has avoided the limelight until now. But with an incredibly consistent amount of glowing feedback emanating from guests of the camp – particularly relating to the wildlife, Qorokwe is rapidly making a name for itself as a premier game viewing destination.

Get in touch with us through info@iconicafrica.com to find out rates and availability…

Tuludi Camp – the Luxury of Space

Posted on by James

If you’ve been forever dreaming of an iconic Okavango Delta experience, then end your search with Tuludi. The camp is located in the Khwai Private Reserve, over 200,000 hectares of pristine wilderness, and the landscape is fit for a fairy tale: floodplains stretch as far as the eye can see and the glistening waterways and emerald forests attract all the stars of the safari show.

At Tuludi itself, they capture the magic of being enfolded in nature and the serenity and space that comes with it. Picture seven, tree-house style rooms, shaded by the boughs of cool leadwood trees, sophisticated interiors that mix the contemporary with the traditional, and airy spaces, dotted with intriguing maps, botanicals and treasures from around the area.
The result? An exclusive oasis that you’ll be delighted to return to after a day exploring the extraordinary ecosystem.

  • Sophisticated, intimate and with every detail attended to, Tuludi offers an iconic Delta experience in the most refined of surroundings.
  • Enjoy the space and serenity of an exclusive private reserve on the fringes of the Okavango Delta with only a handful of camps in over 200,000 hectares.
  • No day will be the same at Tuludi, and with game drives, walking safaris and fantastic water-based game viewing on offer, you’ll discover the best of the Delta.
  • Turn your safari into a real holiday and spend some time relaxing in camp. With a large swimming pool at the main area, a plunge pool at your room and a treehouse library, there are plenty of places for a spot of chill out time.
  • Be part of conservation in action: the Khwai Private Reserve is a private concession from which proceeds go straight back into the eco-tourism initiatives of the area and to the surrounding communities.

Tuludi was built to reflect the space and freedom of the surroundings and the high, pitched canvas roofs of the bedrooms create light and airy spaces to retreat to at the end of a busy day in Khwai. The fact that each tented room is a wonderful 60 square metres in size also helps!
Wooden boardwalks wind through the leadwood trees to connect the seven ‘treehouse-style’ tents and each is kept cool by the shady boughs. Inside, the earthy palette is sophisticated and warm and you’ll find separate dressing and sleeping areas, an ensuite bathroom, indoor and outdoor showers, and splashy bathtubs. If that wasn’t enough space to relax, there’s also a sunken seating area and a private plunge pool on the outside veranda (a further 44 sq metres of space), both overlooking those enormous floodplains.

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, meaning you won’t have far to wander for a post-dinner drink and campfire chatter. 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.

Selinda Explorers – Tented Authenticity

Posted on by James

Selinda Explorers Camp is a delightful little camp, perfect for travellers looking for a genuine “old world” safari in simple but elegant style.
Unpretentious yet refined, this camp of just four tents offers a special safari experience with a focus on walking and 4×4 drives. The camp lies on the Selinda Spillway, embracing the natural riverine forest, in the heart of the vast and varied 130,000 hectare Selinda reserve. A truly remote and peaceful safari.

In the style of the early explorer, Selinda Explorers Camp is furnished with traditional and vintage pieces – reminiscent of the expedition pioneers. This is especially evident in the central area, positioned beneath towering Jackalberry and Mangosteen trees. The overall feel of Selinda Explorers Camp is bohemian with stylish bare-foot luxury. This is an intimate camp, with just four tents, and being such a popular camp it books up very quickly.

Each of the tents at Selinda Explorers Camp are designed to offer a classic safari experience in an intimate bush environment. Ensuite “al fresco” showers and toilet area create an authentic wilderness feel and the copper vanities and large pouring jugs are reminiscent of a vintage expedition and make an original touch. All tents at Selinda Explorers Camp enjoy the shady canopies of the forest on slightly raised viewing decks.

The focus at Selinda Explorers Camp is the appreciation of the reserve’s environment and the creatures who live here, with minimal divide in-between and as such walking is offered allowing for a slower pace safari. 4×4 game drives will be included to complete the experience.

Exploring this remote area on foot allows for guides to share their intimate knowledge of the tracks and signs in the bush. Finding animals this way is exhilarating and fascinating. A huge variety of Africa’s iconic animals and plentiful birds reside here and can often be found, whilst exploring this way. The famed large herds of Elephant and Buffalo frequent the area, with numerous antelope and plains game species including Giraffe, Zebra, Impala, Kudu, Red Lechwe and Reedbuck. Predators are always around and sightings of Lion, Leopard or African Wild Dog are not unheard of! 4×4 game drives at Selinda Explorers Camp are also available when sightings require a little more infrastructure!

Selinda Explorers Camp lies on the exclusive Selinda Reserve,  especially well known through various National Geographic films made by the camp’s film-maker owners Beverley and Derek Joubert and watching one of their films, such as the “Birth of a Pride” is a wonderful way to build anticipation of your forthcoming safari to this wonderful reserve.

Selinda Explorers Camp is Great Plains Conservation’s wildest experience. Perched on the banks of the ever changing Selinda Spillway, it is the very essence of pioneering, 19th century African exploration under canvas – but in sublime comfort.
Selinda Explorers Camp

Daunara Safari Camp: Experiential Okavango

Posted on by James

Exclusive-use is becoming more and more the thing to do in bush circles. Your very own camp in which you determine the activities, the timetable, the meal times, and everything you would do if you owned a home in the bush.

Daunara Safari Camp, one of the newest lodges in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, epitomises everything that is good about the exclusive-use option, and so much more.

Conceptualised by legendary safari guide Matt Copham, and designed and built over a two-year period, Daunara has finally opened its doors, and is redefining what “experiential” means in the broader safari context.

Set on a palm-fringed island adjoining a hippo pool in the South-east of the Delta, Daunara enjoys easy helicopter access from Maun, which is the transfer method most guests opt for. FOr the more adventurous there is a two hour road transfer available as well.

The design of the camp is elegant, contemporary, and sophisticated – distinctly African in its roots. With hand-crafted finishes in timber and canvas, it’s a home, designed with care, boasting a team who deliver sincere and charming service, deeply proud of their Botswana heritage.

Five stand-alone classic, spacious and beautifully appointed tented suites all overlook the delta, two of which are interconnected with a shared sitting room. Elepphants are pretty much daily visitors to the pool in front of the camp, and lechwe, zebras, impalas and cavorting wildebeest abound in the floodplains.
The whole camp is connected via raised wooden walkways, allowing safe movement through the day. All the tented suites are fully air-conditioned in both the bedroom and the bathroom.

Food is clean and uncomplicated with distinct flavours that celebrate the fresh produce we can get from our community garden, itself an amazing initiative based at nearby Daunara Village (from which the camp gets its name). The days and menus are unscripted, for you to enjoy meals at your own pace. Meals are paired with the finest South African wines we have personally selected.

In between game drives and exciting adventure activities, you can find time for a quick workout at the gym or a relaxing massage in our dedicated massage pavilion.

The family suite features two luxury tented suites connected by shared sitting and dining areas. Ideal for parents with younger children or close family who need to be closer together. The second room converts easily into a twin or a king-size bed.

 

Envisioned by a man with over 30 years in the safari business, Daunara is truly one of the most flexible and innovative camps we’ve encountered. Visits to the local elephant orphanage, tracking lions, helicopter flights to go tiger fishing or to nip across to the San cultural heritage site of the Tsodilo hills… all this and more is possible out of Daunara; it simply goes way beyond your standard safari offering.

With all the buzz being generated around it, availability is being snapped up at a rapid rate, so if your own home-away-from-home in in the Okavango Delta appeals to you, get in touch, and let’s start planning your tailor-made safari…

Lodges of Legacy

Posted on by James

Dotted amongst the myriad of safari offerings out there are a few camps who have truly stood the test of time.
Tracing their roots back to the early days of safari in their particular areas of operation, these gems have refined their offerings to the utmost degree, understanding their environments and their guests’ needs superbly. Some offer luxury, some offer a quaint rustic charm, but all of them are steeped in history and have already left a legacy within their chosen corner.

Here are three of our favourites, from South Africa, Kenya and Botswana…

Londolozi

Family-run Londolozi has been around since 1926, although technically only as a commercial safari operation since the early 70’s.

Bought by the Varty family as a bankrupt cattle farm almost 100 years ago, the land was slowly regenerated and rewilded, until it turned into the thriving ecosystem guests enjoy today, with some of the best wildlife viewing on the planet, the highest density of leopards yet recorded in Africa, and a percentage of repeat guests that most lodges only dream about, so loyal to this unique brand do its visitors become.

With its progressive approach to the safari space, Londolozi has been at the forefront of many innovations in the industry, setting the tone for how the bush can – and should – be so much more than simply a place to view animals. Instead, they have recognized it as a place of healing and connection, and this ethos has tailored their whole safari and lodge offering to reflect that.

Londolozi was the training ground for many big names across the industry. The head of Kruger Park anti-poaching, a world authority on the Okavango Delta, CEOs of big lodge portfolios, award-winning wildlife cameramen, internationally-renowned public speakers… all former rangers at Londolozi who have gone on and continue to go on to shape the industry across the continent.

The legacy of Londolozi has not only been the mark it has left on the many guests who have passed through its gates, but the ripple effect out across African safaris in general…

Cottar’s 1920 Camp

The award-winning Cottar’s 1920s Camp is situated in the 7608-acre private Olderkesi Conservancy bordering the famous ‘seventh’ natural wonder of the world, the Maasai Mara in Kenya and the Tanzania Serengeti game reserve. Owned and managed by the oldest established and continuing safari family in Africa it extends an era of luxury and quality and returns to the original spirit and essence of ‘safari’.

Cottar’s Safari Service was founded in 1919, which means over 100 years of experience in the industry.

The Cottar family was renowned amongst the British administration for being rebellious and anti-establishment, preferring long stints with African tribes in wildest Africa. The Cottars’ were the first to import American vehicles for safaris, the first to reach new areas such as Lake Paradise, the first to obtain never before seen wildlife footage. In this family it was normal to have lions, leopards, wild dogs and chimpanzees as family pets. Mike’s son Glen, with his wife Pat, continued the family business and pioneered hunting and explorations expeditions into remote parts of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, Zaire and Botswana.

Having established and run photographic safari camps since their first one erected in Tsavo National Park in the 60s, the Cottars’ legacy has long been established, only furthered by the building of Cottar’s 1920 Lodge in the 1990s by Calvin Cottar, the great-grandson of Charles Cottar, who founded the business all those years ago.

The camp itself provides the romance of safari under cream canvas tents, the style of the bygone era of the twenties, while at the same time supplying the amenities required by today’s modern world travellers. It has two main mess tent areas for fine dining, drinking, reading and relaxing, and an amazing pool and spa where guests can relax after a game drive. Guests can also enjoy a traditional canvas safari bath, a genuinely unique way of bathing specifically set up on the tent’s verandah, with views out over the plains. The location of the camp provides easy access for day and night wildlife drives in the Maasai Mara National Reserve and the Olderkesi Conservancy, wildlife walks, and cultural interactions with the Maasai community.

The professional guiding team that will handle your safari rank among the most qualified in Africa.

Nxamaseri Island Lodge

Nxamaseri Island Lodge is one of the oldest camps in the Okavango Delta. It was established in the early 1980s by PJ and Barney Bestelink. PJ, an experienced guide, spent months exploring the permanent water channels of the delta in search of a perfect location for his home and camp. He favoured the Nxamaseri Channel for its beauty and seclusion, and eventually elected to build his lodge on a large shady island hidden in the Nxamaseri waterways.

The lodge is best summed up in the video below:


These are just three of our favourite picks, each offering their own unique insight into the wild ways of Africa.

Get in touch with us through info@iconicafrica.com to find out about some other gems who have left their indelible mark on the industry…

Where to Safari This Winter

Posted on by James

(Note: Winter in this post refers to the Southern Hemisphere winter; roughly May through to September)

The word “winter” doesn’t always conjour up exciting images of travel. More like pictures of cold, overcast days, likely some rain, not much happening, everyone sitting indoors reading a book.
Yet for those who know safari, winter sends ripples of excitement up and down their skin. It’s a time of clear skies in the southern hemisphere safari circuit, jackets and beanies at night, and action, action, action from the wildlife!

Ultimately winter is about water.

It’s the dry season over most of the African safari circuit, so any surface water becomes of prime importance in wildlife movement, be it in the form of a river, a pan left over from the rains or even an artificially pumped damn.

Almost all wildlife needs to drink every day, and so understanding what ecosystems have what water availability at different times of the year will certainly aid you in planning a world-class safari.

Here are three areas we absolutely love when the winter months settle in…

The Okavango Delta, Botswana

The Okavango can seem quite topsy-turvy when it comes to water, in that when the rains have stopped, the water levels rise. This is because the rain that feeds the Delta’s annual inundation don’t fall locally, but far away in the Angolan highlands. It takes these rains a good few months to flow downstream, so it is only in May that they are properly reaching the Delta itself, and the channels start to spill over into the floodplains.

The rains are quite variable which means the inundation itself is variable, but for those who are interested in water-based activities like dugout canoe excursions, fishing trips or water transfers between camps, winter is the time for you.

It’s also a fascinating time to see how the local wildlife adapts to very different conditions.
Elephants swim across channels to reach better grazing, lions use the waterways to hunt buffalo, chasing the big bovines into the deeper water to slow them down, then moving in en masse to finish the job, and everywhere you look you see shimmering signs of life-sustaining water.
There is magic to be found in the Okavango all year round, but to truly understand the ecosystem, the months of flood are our favourite.

Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

The south-eastern corner of this, one of Africa’s oldest national parks, is particularly productive. The Wilderness-run Linkwasha concession boasts four stunning camps – Makololo, Little Makololo, Davison’s and Linkwasha Camp itself – all of which offer exclusive access to some of the best game-viewing the dry season can offer south of the Zambezi.
The closest permanent water is the Zambezi River, over 100 kilometres to the north, so Hwange choose to maintain some surface water through a series of pumped waterholes, evenly spaced across the reserve.

This prevents the wildlife – most notably elephants – dispersing outside of the park and into neighbouring community lands. Prime game viewing is therefore maintained for visitors and human-wildlife conflict in buffer zones is mitigated against.

The dry season also means shorter grass, so spotting animals is easier, and there is far less vegetation to get in the way of a potentially award-winning photo.

Things can get chilly though, here in what is essentially still part of the Kalahari basin, so make sure to bring a warm jacket to protect against the chill of the evening. Upon return to camp you’ll be greeted by a warm drink or a crisp glass of wine, and can gather round the fireside as the hyenas start to call.
Then it’ll be back out again before sunrise, checking the waterholes to see what has happened during the evening.

Hwange in the dry season is not to be missed!

North-west Namibia

The rolling gravel plains, stark mountains and seemingly barren wilderness of north-west Namibia may appear to be lifeless, but in fact is one of the most fascinating ecosystems on the planet.

Desert-adapted black-rhino, desert elephants, lions who almost never drink, giraffes that stand alone in an area that looks somewhat like the surface of Mars… all these and much, much more are to be found here, somehow eking out an existence where it hardly ever rains.

Given that water is still necessary for life, animals must still drink, and secreted in this vast wilderness are secret springs and seepages that the animals know of. Visit any one of them and you will find a myriad of tracks showing all kind of visitors; hyenas and kudus and mongoose and jackals and the elephants themselves.
Ancient pathways lead many kilometres between these hidden lifesprings, but the ancient knowledge the wildlife possesses leads them unfailingly to these points.

A number of stunning camps are tucked away in remote valleys in the wildlife concessions here, which allow unfettered access to this, one of the most remarkable ecosystems in the world. The winter months mean cooler temperatures in an area that can be scorchingly hot in summer, and clear skies and a panoply of stars come standard.

   

Both the Damaraland region and Kaokaveld to the north are cut through by ephemeral rivers that wind their sandy way down to the harsh but appropriately named Skeleton Coast, and theses river systems serve almost as oases, harbouring subterranean water for much of the year, which the elephants know to dig for, and the giant pachyderms can often be found along the watercourses as a result.
Seeing a herd emerge from a riverbed onto the gravel plains in a landscape that you would never imagine could support such creatures, is a sight you will never forget.

The southern hemisphere Winter is a magical time to be on safari, and we feel strongly that the three areas above will offer some of the most spectacular experiences out there.

If you want to know more about what’s available, reach out on info@iconicafrica.com, and let’s start planning your winter journey to Africa…

The Best Treehouses in Africa

Posted on by James

Counting sheep is one way to try and fall asleep.

Why not go one better though? Try to count a billion stars, have a lion roaring in the distance as a lullaby, and feel the cool night breeze of Africa on your face as it sussurates through the mosquito net… That’s the way to do it.

More and more safari lodges across Africa are offering a romantic sleep-out as an option, and their stunning treehouses are as opulent as one could desire.
No simple matress-and-sleeping-bag combinations are to be found here; instead guests are greeted by soft mattresses, expansive duvets, the warm glow of kerosene lanterns, and more than likely the subtle accompaniment of nightbirds trilling nearby.

Although the idea of a sleep-out can be intimidating to the inexperienced safari-goer, treehouse locations are as safe as any luxury lodge, and are an incredible way to experience raw nature. You will never sleep as deeply as you will when the night sounds of Africa are your personal bedtime story.

Here then are three of our favourite safari sleep-out offerings:

Wilderness Linkwasha, Zimbabwe

Tucked in the south-east corner of the Hwange National Park, the Linkwasha Concession plays host to four stunning lodges in the Wilderness portfolio: Linkwasha, Davison’s, Maokolo and Little Makololo. The area boasts a stunning variety of wildlife, and is particularly productive in the dry season when animals are entirely dependent on the few remaining surface water points.

It is next to one of these pans – which is kept topped up by the National Park – that the Linkwasha Sleepout platform is situated.
Tucked up against an ancient Leadwood tree, the treehouse enjoys stunning panoramic views over the surrounding plains, with prime viewing over the waterhole and whatever might be coming down to slake its thirst.
In the dry season one can be assured of a constant parade of elephants doen below, whose splashing and gurgling will be a gentle accompaniment to your snores through the night, and the grasslands will almost certainly reverberate to the call of a big cat during the evening.
Open skies all around mean that the star-gazing will be unsurpassed!

Xigera Lodge, Botswana

In the heart of the Okavango Delta – about as close to a wildlife eden as you can get on earth – Xigera Lodge offers unmatched opulence in the safari industry. Stunning architecture in a remote location with some of the best game viewing on the sub-continent really makes this destination hard to beat.

Throw in a treehouse built to resemble one of Africa’s most iconic trees – the baobab – and you have just about one of the most romantic sleep-out venues on the planet.

The sheer imagination used to design such a stunning creation will take your breath away; something like a treehouse standing by itself could be potentially incongruous, but the Xigera offering just fits.

A night out here will be one you will never forget…

Lion Sands, South Africa

The Sabi Sand Game Reserve is one of the best places to view predators in Africa, and Lion Sands ticks this box brilliantly.
Apart from boasting some of the most luxurious lodges and one of the densest leopard populations on the continent, they have three stunning treehouses to choose from if a sleep-out under the stars is what you’re after. Each of the Chalkley, Tinyeleti and Kingston treehouses has their own unique charm, but all have much in common at the same time – comfort, beauty, and a sense of place, almost as if the treehouses were always there.
The feeling you want from an experience like this is one of belonging, as if you are actually part of the environment. And you get that feeling in droves at the Lion Sands treehouses…

As rustic as they may sound, the treehouses on offer at the higher-end lodges are anything but. Bathroom facilities, their own dining experience, 24-hour communication with the lodge via radio, and a whole host of other make them incredibly comfortable, safe, and as user-friendly as one could wish.

A treehouse sleep-out is just about as authentic an experience that one can find in the African bush…

If this is the kind of adventurous night you’d be interested in, get in touch through info@iconicafrica.com, and let’s start looking for a treehouse for you…

 

 

Duba Plains: Delta Dawn

Posted on by James

World-famous wildlife filmmakers Derek and Beverly Joubert made their name through groundbreaking documentaries like Eternal Enemies: Lions and Hyenas, Eye of the Leopard, and Relentless Enemies, which examines the intense rivalry between buffalo and the lions that have adapted their ways to hunt them through the watery channels of Botswana’s Okavango Delta.

This last production was filmed on site at Duba Plains, on the northern edge of the Okavango, and the camp at which the two filmmakers has since become one of the jewels in the Great Plains crown, and one of the best places in the world to see big cats.

It has been a number of years since the specific lions in the documentary were around, and new individuals now rule the area. Populations ebb and flow, as they will in nature, but both lions and buffalo still roam the floodplains, along with wild dogs, leopards, elephants, and a multitude of other species just waiting for the safari-goer.

Duba Plains Camp is essentially the epitome of the Botswana safari and sits on the private 33,000-hectare Duba Plains reserve amongst a matrix of palm-dotted islands, flood plains and woodland.
Birdlife is prolific, and someone stumbling into this ecosystem for the first time would be forgiven for thinking they had unexpectedly arrived in Eden.

The camp at Duba Plains offers five bespoke suites. Its design ensures that it blends into the landscape whilst evoking the classic African safari style of the 1920s.
All the rooms are on raised recycled railway sleeper decking. Each suite affords guests stunning views of the surrounding floodplain and the steady stream of wildlife parading past.

Each suite has a lounge area and beautifully appointed en-suite facilities: a flush loo, double vanities, indoor and outdoor showers, and a luxurious bath. Ceiling fans and an environmentally friendly air-conditioning system over the bed ensures a comfortable climate. Enjoy your private verandah, complete with a plunge pool and shaded sala.
The floodplains that stretch out beyond the camp play daily host to a plethora of wildlife, and the reality is that you often don’t need to go on a game drive, as creatures both great and small literally parade past your room on a regular basis.

Duba is truly one of the iconic Okavango lodges, and with the extensive Great Plains Portfolio across Botswana and into East Africa, it is a simple matter to tailor-make a safari within their collection, with each lodge simply brimming with opulence and waiting to deliver a world class wildlife experience.

Get in touch through info@iconicafrica.com, and let’s start planning your safari…