Tag: okavango

Qorokwe: Wildlife on Tap

Posted on by James

The richness of this exquisite safari camp lies in the vibrance of its different landscapes. Rivers that reflect brooding, dramatic skies. Lush, green profusions of wildflowers. Rippling grasslands peppered with wildlife. Spend sunny days exploring the channels by mokoro. Scan and listen for wildlife; a herd of red lechwe, mud-encrusted buffalo bulls, elephants and giraffes, and the predators that this concession abounds with.

You know you’re in excellent hands at this eco-chic luxury safari camp in Botswana, with its commitment to local community empowerment.
Qorokwe Camp has eight rooms with tented suites and indoor and outdoor showers. In addition, its extra-spacious family unit has its own splash pool. The wonderful open dining and lounge area and bar are set on a raised deck, connected to the suites by walkways.

Sundowners are generally a highlight on safari, and those at Qorokwe are no exception. Guides take special care to scout a good sundown spot while on the afternoon game drive, at which drinks will be served and guests can bask in the magnificence of an Okavango sunset.

Botswana has a unique and effective eco-tourism model: low volume, high expenditure per head. Game viewing is simply out of this world. You’ll likely spot the Big Five, which is unusual in many other parts of Africa these days. Due to the low volume of travelers, you won’t have to share that moment of spotting a pride of lions with five-plus jeeps around you. Chances are you’ll come back to camp after each drive with stories to tell that go way beyond just having spotted a herd of elephants or a baby giraffe. The views here are consistently quality, so to see predators on the hunt or multi-species interactions is not out of the question…

Qorokwe is beautiful, comfortable, and incredibly well-staffed. The price point can be around three times less than other high-end camps in Botswana, but with no sacrifice to the quality of viewing or service. Also, it is on a private concession inside the Okavango, meaning you can off-road and do night drives, unlike other parts of the Delta.

Because the Okavango is such an enormous open ecosystem, wildlife viewing has the potential to ebb and flow between years and seasons. With the incredible sightings that Qorokwe guests are experiencing on a regular basis, it’s safe to say that its season is well and truly in full bloom!

Contact us through info@iconicafrica.com for more information, and let’s start planning your safari…

Jao: Awestruck in the Okavango

Posted on by James

In the heart of the Okavango, on a remote island, Jao invites you to discover one of the richest experiences Botswana has to offer.

Where Earth meets river meets wetland, lies Jao. Surrounded by riverine forests and open floodplains teeming with game, Jao is the archetypal Okavango Delta camp, and a lush haven for wildlife. Boat in when the waters rise or travel by game drive vehicle when summer warms the land. At Jao, the endlessly dynamic waters provide a continuous element of surprise and all manner of experiences to explore this Botswana paradise.

Jao is a sculptural marvel of natural and recycled materials, of steel, wood, and glass, of towering, spacious interiors that embrace the light, the bush. Feel your senses come alive at this quintessentially Delta safari camp.

Striking design elements impress at every turn. Marvel at the gallery and museum, relax in the library, or simply just be in Jao’s elaborate main area, surrounded by the trees and bird song of the Delta. Choose between five expansive safari suites or two sublime villas with private plunge pools and their own private butlers, chefs, guides, and vehicles. The perfect Okavango hideaway.

The food experience at Jao is a journey in itself. To reduce their foodprint, strengthen their ties with the community, and create a healthier, more harmonious environment for all of us, the camp uses locally grown ingredients in traditional recipes. Feel indulged as you discover Botswana at its best through touch, smell, and taste.

At Jao you are invited into a world where nature and architecture merge seamlessly. Built into the tall trees, the unique bird’s nest-styled pool gazebo on the edge of the water provides the perfect place to rest. The extravagant wine cellar calls for a pre-dinner drink, while the award-winning spa with gym alongside, beckons you to experience the highest standards of safari luxury.

Keep your ears open for a hundred different bird calls. Spy a tiny painted reed frog, or elephants padding silently past camp. Follow lions across the floodplains. You’ll soon discover why the staff work tirelessly to protect the unique ecosystem of the Okavango Delta. Jao is a place dedicated to the conservation of the waters and the dry land, and the plants, birds, and wildlife that call Botswana home.

If this sounds like paradise to you, or you would like to know about more options within the amazing Okavango ecosystem, mail us on info@iconicafrica.com, and let’s start planning your safari…

Little Vumbura: Island in a Sea of Green

Posted on by James

The Okavango is one of the world’s – not just Africa’s – premiere destinations.

An utterly unique oasis on the edge of a desert, this 16000 square kilometre ecosystem is the world’s largest inland delta, and it provides one of the finest wildlife experiences on the planet.
Elephants wade across waterways, lion prides make use of the winding channels to hunt buffalo, and the elusive leopards are never far away, slinking through the undergrowth as they stealthily stalk the resident antelope species.

Little Vumbura camp, situated in the north of the Okavango, is one of the finest camps there is. Set on a small island close to its sister camp – Vumbura Plains – Little Vumbura offers a more water-based option from which to explore one of the most productive concessions in this corner of Botswana.

Little Vumbura is an airy, six-roomed tented camp shaded by the canopy of an ancient forest. Each well-appointed room, hued in soft neutrals with touches of indigo, has en-suite facilities and a deck with sweeping vistas. A plunge pool and reading area overlook the floodplains, and a Star Deck, (across a bridge from the dining area), offers superb stargazing.

Surrounded as it is by water and lying close to large channels, aquatic creatures like hippopotamus are easily found, but general wildlife viewing is consistently good all year round, with lion, leopard, elephant, sable and buffalo along with extensive plains game. Little Vumbura is situated in a concession leased from remote rural communities organised under the Okavango Community Trust and aims to help bring the benefits of ecotourism to local people.

Having access to some of the main water channels in the area means water activities form a major part of the Little Vumbura offering (although water levels are seasonal, so make sure to enquire before you book).
Take a sedate paddle in a mokoro along pristine waterways, marvelling at the myriad bird species, watching fish swimming about in the crystal clear water.
Or cover a bit more ground in a motor launch, exploring more remote reaches while you search for the fabled Pel’s Fishing owl, which is recorded regularly here.

Little Vumbura is regularly used as an exclusive use camp. Featuring only six rooms it is perfect for larger families or a travelling group of friends to book out, ensuring intimacy in one of the most majestic of African safari destinations.

Get in touch with us through info@iconicafrica.com to find out more about Little Vumbura and other incredible Okavango Lodges, and let’s start planning your safari…

North Island Okavango: in the Heart of the Delta

Posted on by James

With only three spacious tents in camp, each resting on a raised wooden deck under the shady boughs of wild ebony trees, exclusivity is the name of the game at North Island, the latest amazing camp in the Natural Selections Portfolio.
Set in one of the most wildlife-rich concessions in the world heritage site that is the Okavango Delta, this is truly an African Paradise.

Each tent offers stunning views of the lagoon in front of it and a private plunge pool with a sunken sundeck for cooling off, for you to enjoy while watching the ever-present wildlife that comes into view.
After dark the local frog chorus dominates the soundscape whilst fireflies twinkle at you from the reedbeds, their reflections on the still water doubling the light display.
During the hotter summer nights, each bed comes with its very own ‘over-the-bed’ cooling system, and during the winter when cold nights are the norm, there is a cosy fireplace to relax in front of, making each tent a romantic safari experience.

 

Tents all come with sleeper couches that can accommodate children should you be travelling with the family.
En suite bathrooms are fitted with both indoor and outdoor showers, which means you can wash while being fully surrounded by nature. WiFi is available in the rooms but not in the communal areas; guests are encouraged to fully immerse themselves in the experience and their surroundings, so checking social media can be left for after hours!

Delicious dinners are served in separate dining areas overlooking a hippo-filled pool; these parts of camp are connected by a wooden deck that extends outwards for stargazing around a crackling firepit one the sun has gone down. Tucked discreetly to one side lies a small, comfortable library for resting and reading and an outdoor gym for those who wish to stay fit while on safari.

North Island looks set to reinvent what the words “luxury” and “exclusive” truly mean on safari.

If you’ re interested in this spectacular destination, get hold of us on info@iconicafrica.com, and let’s start planning your safari…

Tuludi Camp: the Luxury of Space

Posted on by James

Tuludi Camp is the perfect base from which to explore one of the most productive areas of the eastern Okavango Delta. Set in the renowned Khwai Private Concession, and overlooking a stunning Delta landscape – rippling floodplains fringed by ancient riparian forest – the camp sits next to a permanent waterhole that is frequented by elephants in particular, and the local big cat population are regular visitors.

Tuludi is one of the newest luxury camps in the World Heritage Site that is the Okavango Delta, with tree-house style rooms – each with its own private plunge pool – shaded by magnificent leadwood trees. Those who like to wile away the warm afternoons with a book will love the treehouse library.
The seasonal changes to the area result in either floodplains, lily-covered lagoons and the spectacular Khwai river, depending on what time of the year you visit, and what type of safari you would like to experience.

Twice-daily 4×4 game drives take you on excursions into the wilderness, expertly choreographed by local Setswana guides. You also have the chance to take to the water by motorboat or mokoro and gain a different insight into the Okavango’s ecology, although these activities are dependent on the Delta’s water levels.
And since the camp lies in a privately-run reserve, you can also choose to go on guided bush walks – a must for keen birders and photographers, and those who want to discover the minutiae of the environment.

Built in partnership with the local community and contributing to the social upliftment of the surrounding areas, Tuludi is a small camp comprised of only seven luxurious suites.
Each is extremely spacious and elevated for stunning views; you will not just have an indoor and outdoor bathroom but a private plunge pool and a station at which you can charge phones and batteries.
The intimate feel of the camp lends itself perfectly to  couples and honeymooners, but Tuludi also welcomes families with children aged six and over. Privately guided vehicles are available and one of the suites is slightly larger, sleeping a family of four more than comfortably.

Enjoying the advantage of both water and land habitats, Tuludi Camp is open all year round. Water levels are highest during the dry winter period – May to September – when the annual inundation of the Okavango is in full spate, and so offers the best time to explore by boat as well to see impressive concentrations of wildlife. The summer rains trigger an explosion of greenery and many animals such as impala and warthog give birth – good for predator activity – and the birding is at its peak with the migrant visitors all down to take advantage of an abundance of food.

With over 200 000 hectares of pristine wilderness to explore, at Tuludi you will find an exclusive oasis that you’ll be delighted to return to after a day soaking in all the extraordinary ecosystem has to offer…

Khwai Bush Camp: Finest Botswana Authenticity

Posted on by James

The Okavango Delta ecosystem is far broader than many realise, stretching its tendrils way out to the east and south, before they eventually dry up in the sands of Botswana’s Kalahari Desert.

Although it has long been the more centrally-placed concessions in the heart of the Delta that have hogged the limelight, of late those around the periphery have been developing a stellar reputation for game-viewing, but with a lower vehicle density than the more established spots.

Khwai Bush Camp is one such destination, situated to the east of the main Okavango Delta yet delivering just as much of a punch when it comes to its wildlife.

Majestic sable antelopes roam the woodlands here, the distinctive sawing of a leopard is heard far more often than not on evening game drives, and the ubiquitous elephant herds of northern Botswana are in almost constant attendance, particularly during the dry winter months when the Delta’s water levels are up and the game congregates around the river systems and permanent water sources.

Khwai Bush Camp comprises four standard chalets (with fireplace) and two family chalets, all en-suite. Watch the magic of Africa unfold from the sanctuary of your chalet’s cool, thatched interior or the veranda that overlooks the famed Moremi Game Reserve. Battery-charging facilities are available in each guest room as well as fans. The main lodge area also has charging points for your convenience. Enjoy languid afternoons at the sparkling poolside drinking in the serene floodplain surrounds. Share an aperitif around our lively fire circle before tucking into hearty, homespun fare at our family-style feasts. Activities include guided walking safaris, bird watching, river activities, and game drives spotting Africa’s iconic wildlife species – lion, cheetah, leopard, wild dog, elephant, buffalo, hippo and giraffe.

If it’s starry skies you are after, with the sound of a lion roaring in the distance (or close at hand), with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon at hand and a roaring fire close by, Khwai Bush Camp ticks all the boxes.
A true safari experience in the style now associated with African Bush Camps (of whose portfolio KBC is a part), this is one not to be missed, and with the specials we are currently running to some of the African Bush Camps’ portfolio, there’s no better time.

Get in touch to find out about rates and availability…

 

 

Mombo: Place of Plenty

Posted on by James

Mombo Camp has long held a reputation as being the place to view wildlife in Botswana.
The Mombo concession is located just below where the Okavango River splits into three primary channels, and supports a diversity of game hard to find anywhere else in Africa. When the water levels of the Okavango rise during winter floods, many animals move to find dry land on the 1000 square kilometre Chief’s Island. Mombo Camp is nestled in the northern tip of the island.

The far-reaching floodplains and diversity of habitats invite a number of different prey species in abundance, drawn in particular by the fertility of the area and the high-quality grazing and browsing that results.

And where there is prey, you find the predators.

Mombo Camp underwent a refurbishment in 2018, although the lodge was careful to use much of the same material and not expand their footprint at all so as to minimise impact on the environment in which they find themselves. Beautifully constructed walkways weave through the riparian vegetation to link the guest suites with the large main area, which features beautifully furnished areas to lounge in as well as a well-stocked library of reference works and novels.
The bar, open throughout the day, is well-stocked and just the place to enjoy a cool gin and tonic whilst gazing out over the lush floodplain. The fireplace adjacent to the main indoor dining area is a welcome addition during the winter months when temperatures can drop quickly after dark.

Eight spacious suites, all constructed out of wood and canvas, afford sweeping views over an open floodplain that teems with wildlife. Elephants graze in front of your deck, lechwe saunter parts displaying impressive horns, and a slinking leopard is likely not far away.
Each suite offers a sitting room; separate bedroom and bathroom; indoor and outdoor showers; elegant copper bathtub; and outdoor private sala with a double day bed, sunken couch, plunge pool, and wrap-around veranda, all immersing you deeper into the bush and the wonders of Mombo’s private traversing area.

An elephant grazes in front of a Mombo villa, Mombo, Botswana
Lounge and paths, Mombo, Botswana
View across the interleading, interlinking suite, Mombo, Botswana

The high nutrient density of the soil around Mombo results in a wildlife experience that is truly like no other. Wild dogs, lions, cheetahs, leopards… it is possible to see all over the course of a single morning’s game drive.
The guiding standard at Mombo is particularly high, and a long history of sensitive approaches to game viewing has ensured that the wildlife is completely relaxed around the Land Cruisers.

If you would like to find out more about this incredible destination, don’t hesitate to get in touch so we can start planning your safari…

The Ultimate Botswana Family Safari

Posted on by James

Long-time friend of Iconic Africa, Lorin Burgoyne, recently travelled to Botswana with her husband Paul and their kids to take advantage of some of the amazing specials Iconic Africa are currently running.
Any uncertainty they may have had about taking young children with them on safari was quickly dispelled.

Read Lorin’s account of their trip here:

We had an absolutely brilliant Family Safari in Botswana. I must admit that we had our reservations about whether it would be worth it for a 11 and 8 year old but we were blown away by the experience. It was our first trip to Botswana and have a much better idea of what it is all about and how it works in terms of tourism and accessibility. We cannot wait to go back and explore more.

We caught a super easy Airlink flight from Johannesburg to Maun and transferred (via Mack Air) to Little Sable Camp in the Khwai Private Reserve on the Delta. Flying in was fascinating – seeing the rivers bleed and flood plains swell in the desert landscape is incredible.

Our days at Little Sable were busy – we saw the sunrise every morning and had fabulous activities every afternoon – a boat cruise up the Khwai river, a mokoro ride down a tributary and the kids favourite – a helicopter flip over the Okavango!

The camp staff and our guide were wonderful – very friendly – and had little surprises up their sleeves to enhance our experience. Our guide was superb at balancing twitcher parents (overly keen bird watchers) with big 5 children – never easy.
The camp itself was lovely – authentic and beautifully positioned in the environment. Nothing was fussy or overdone – just comfortable luxury. The rooms were tents (always my favourite) on stilts over the edge of a flood plan so the frogs and hippos sing you to sleep at night – we also had a resident Barred Owl that fascinated the children. The tents were luxurious– outdoor showers with a view over the marsh and hot water for days (critical for mums!)!

The game viewing was different compared to South African bush – lots of water meant the game was quite spread out so we had to work hard for sightings, but the landscape was by far the champion. The boat cruise and helicopter flip were definitely the highlights for us – it reinforced how water is the artery of life there.

We then transferred to Jack’s Camp in the Makgadikgadi pans via Maun – again flying over the salt pans was awesome – mind blowing landscapes! The pilot let Tom my son sit in the co-pilot seat on the way there – is there anything more exciting for a 10 year old? He says he is now totally comfortable with how small planes work and can probably fly one…

Chemical (our guide; what a legend!) was incredibly knowledgeable and gave us in-depth understanding of how the plains developed geologically – and don’t think there is a bird on the planet he doesn’t know! As seasoned bush goers, we loved that he could paint the full picture of ecology, plant, animal and bird life as well as the history of the area. We felt an incredible sense of belonging at Jack’s Camp – not something I am prone to acknowledging. I always believe this is down to people – everyone was wonderful there! They have built a family and you really feel welcomed into it – what a privilege.

The camp itself is one of the best places I have ever had the opportunity of seeing – let alone staying. There are treasures all over – my son said he felt like he was in the Natural history Museum in London! He was not far off – I could have spent another week there just looking through the artefacts and books – I’m clearly a nerd at heart. As an Architect I am obsessed with place making and how and why spaces work and Jack’s was really is special in this regard – I don’t think there are many places in the world where you will get this treat!

Our days were packed at Jack’s. We visited the habituated Meerkats – I thought Catie was going to faint with excitement. It was amazing – even as an adult. We loved the experience – pups crawling all over us to play, and we loved that they almost command you to assist them with their lookout patrols to become the tallest sentinels in the landscape!

The vistas over the Makgadikgadi pans are some of the most beautiful we have ever seen– peaceful and quiet and calming.  Paul and I were totally entranced by the landscape – we could have spent a month there happily. We can’t wait to go back to this region to explore, the kids can’t wait to go back and ride fat bikes, go on horse rides and drive across the salt plains on quads.

An unexpected highlight of our trip was meeting the local San Bushmen tribe. I believe they have a long relationship with the Bousfield family and visit the region annually. On the night of our arrival, the tribe did a trance dance – not something I believe they normally do for guests, who went to bed at 11pm and the San at 2am.  What a fascinating experience and a rare opportunity to get insight into a new culture. The Jack’s host was wonderfully discreet about an appropriate time for the children to leave. Hilarious – no hallucinogens on family tour! The next afternoon, we were invited to do a walk with the San. Tom had been studying the Khoi San at school and was completely entranced with the walk which was literally about 300 metres! In that time we dug up root bulbs for water, caught a scorpion, made a bird trap, started a fire and learnt how to play their version of rock-paper-scissors. The best 2 hours of our kids’ lives! All in all it was an incredible experience and opportunity, and let’s just say that rock-paper-scissors will never exist in its original form in our household again, and nor should it!

From a game perspective, we caught the end of the zebra and wildebeest migration (also visible on the flight in) which was surreal, but more up or street was the bird migration. Flamingos, pelicans, terns and according to our kids every unidentifiable little brown bird on the planet. I think we were lucky in our timing but birding mecca it was!

Unchartered Africa know how to safari – every moment from arrival to departure was next level! I cannot recommend it enough – one of the best camps I have ever been to and one I will happily return to.

As a last note, it has become rather unfashionable to bucket list travel with children (if not expensive) but I was reminded about why we choose to take ours along on our adventures. Every single experience on this trip was enhanced because of them and not because the experiences were tailored to them. Authentic places, characters and experiences, and that is what builds true memories.

Vumbura Plains: the Ultimate Water and Land Safari

Posted on by James

The Okavango Delta is an utterly unique wildlife destination.

Formed thanks to a shift in the earth’s tectonics which rendered the Okavango River unable to reach the sea, the delta now sits as an inland paradise; a union of land, water and sky which is as close as one can get to finding a true wildlife Eden.

The Vumbura camps are set right on the water’s edge, meaning you are often almost IN the wildlife experience right from the deck.

Sitting along the delta’s northern edge lies Vumbura Plains, one of Wilderness Safaris’ Premier Camp offerings. 14 luxuriously appointed chalets line a pristine waterway in which elephants wade daily, otters regularly swim past, and the plethora of birdlife that defines the Okavango is a constant spectacle.

Vumbura Plains is separated into Vumbura North and South, with the separate camps boasting slightly different decor and a slightly different emphasis, with the south camp being geared more towards couples on honeymoon and the north camp aimed at families and larger groups.

Glass frontage means an almost unobstructed view to the outside and its wildlife treasures and views.

The wildlife viewing between the two is essentially the same though – incredible – and even just the walk between your room and the main lodge area along the raised walkway is almost sure to gift you a sighting of some sort. The semi-aquatic lechwe and multiple other antelope species are regularly seen grazing behind the camp, and the warning chatter of monkeys is a regular audio cue that signals a leopard is on the prowl.

The ubiquitous lechwe of the Okavango go bounding through the shallows.
Set low down the water’s edge, the Vumbura Camp makes you feel as if you are part of nature, instead of slightly removed from it.

The suites themselves all feature a private plunge pool set on a broad deck, with expansive views out over the lagoon on which the lodge is situated. The decks are set low so that visitors are regularly afforded eye-level views of elephants feeding in the aquatic grasses growing beneath the delta’s surface.

Imagine having a dip in the lazy midday warmth and the world’s largest land mammal just happens to be feeding only a few feet from your pool!

Set in the shade of magnificent riparian trees, each suite at Vumbura Plains is an experience unto itself.
Look up from where you’re swimming in your private plunge pool, and a sight like this might well meet your eye…

The camp itself is one thing – and is so impressive it’s almost reason enough not to head out on game drive – but it’s the wildlife that people travel all the way round the world to see, and Vumbura will certainly not disappoint. The diverse mosaic of habitats, from seasonally inundated channels to small islands, acacia woodlands and expansive grasslands, means that a diversity of species can be supported too.
There is a constant lion presence in the area, leopards are regularly sighted draped from the boughs of the impressive Jackalberry trees, and tssessebe, sable, kudu and giraffe are all found in relative abundance. The bird life is also impressive, and Okavango specials like the rosy-throated longclaw and long-toed lapwing are regularly sighted.

Water activities round off Vumbura’s offering as one of the most complete wildlife and nature experiences out there.

Vumbura Plains is truly one of the jewels in the Wilderness Safari – and Botswanan – crown.
Luxury suites, an amazing mix of water-and land-based activities, wildlife around every corner, suites that you could spend all day lounging in… it is the definition of what a luxury safari should be.