Located between the Chobe National Park and the Moremi Game Reserve in Botswana, the 200 000-hectare Khwai Conservancy is an enthralling place of wild landscapes and abundant wildlife. The plentiful Khwai River running through the park and dense Mopani forests in the interior provide the perfect home for numerous animals, and the incredible scenes of animals drinking from the river allow for superb photography opportunities. Visitors can look forward to seeing large elephant herds, and spotting lions, leopards and hyenas quite easily. Other species include wild dog, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, buffalo, lions, cheetahs, leopard, hyenas, hippos, Kudu, Tsessebe, and reasonably rare Roan and Sable. Hiking, game drives, guided walks, spa treatments, and open-air camping are just some of the activities on offer.
The Okavango Delta is exceedingly beautiful. A jewel in the middle of the Kalahari Desert, the Okavango is Africa's largest and most beautiful oasis - an isolated, lush green paradise with some of the richest wildlife in the world. The maze of waterways, lagoons, vast grassy plains and palm-fringed islands is home to crocodile, hippo, elephant, lion, leopard, hyena, giraffe, wild dog, rare antelope and around 400 bird species.
But wildlife is just one of many elements that combine to make the Delta a treasure house. It is the brooding quietness of the waterways, the plaintiff cry of the African fish eagle, the Malachite kingfisher reflected in the translucent waters, the scent of the water lilies and the Okavango's glorious sunsets, which will stay with you forever. Highlights include the elusive Sitatunga antelope which has found refuge in this pristine wetland ecosystem, while birds such as the African fish eagle, Pel's fishing owl and many others provide a spectacular display.
With the influx of the annual flood, the delta's water levels rise steadily from May onwards, reaching further and further into the Kalahari sands, with its peak levels reached in August. Camps in the seasonal waters tend to offer water-based activities, such as mokoro trips and boating safaris, from June to October when the water levels are highest. Exactly when varies by lodge and by season. They will also offer 4x4 game drives in open vehicles and game walks. Camps in the permanent waters focus exclusively on boating and walking safaris. Whilst multi-activity camps are able to offer a range of water and land-based safaris throughout the year.
Most of the delta is divided up into private "concession areas", each with only one or two safari camps, thus ensuring exclusivity and tranquillity. There are no fences so the game is free to move around naturally.
Note on Charter Flights: Exact charter flight times are finalized the night before, depending on logistics. Therefore, you will only be given your exact departure time from camp on the previous evening. Usually this will be sometime in the mid to late morning but occasionally it is just after lunch.
The Chobe river is alive with crocodile and hippo and marvellous birdlife, including kingfishers and bee-eaters. Languorous sunset cruises are a speciality of the Chobe river area, as well as morning game drives in the park. Staying on the Chobe riverfront is therefore popular, given its abundant wildlife and ease of access to Victoria Falls (1½ hours by road) and also to the Okavango Delta. So game drives in the northern park are not an exclusive experience.
