This interesting “village” in Botswana’s far north, is known as the safari capital of Botswana. Many travellers pass
through here on their way to the Okavango Delta. It is the southern most part of the Delta and boasts a river
tributary of the Okavango called the Thamalakane. We often recommend a night here to see how it all works and
to meet some of the characters who reside here – guides, conservationists, bush pilots, photographers and film
makers to name a few. It is our home and this frontier “village” certainly puts things into perspective before
travelling to the wilderness.
Best time to travel – April to November
The Moremi Game Reserve protects 5500 square kilometres of the Okavango Delta’s wilderness. This world
famous park is renowned for it’s fantastic game viewing and its pristine condition. It is one of Africa’s most exciting
destinations and travellers from around the globe come to enjoy this unique inland river delta – the Okavango
Delta. The Delta begins life in Angola, some 2000 kilometres north of Maun.. Having flowed through southern
Angola and across Namibia’s Caprivi Strip, it fans out over the Kalahari sands forming a 15000 square kilometre
alluvial fan. The formation of the delta dates back to around two million years ago.
The Xakanaxa region of Moremi is well known for its good game concentrations. A myriad of road systems take
us on exciting game drives through ever changing habitat from riverine forest to Mopane woodland, lagoon
systems to floodplains and river channels to open grasslands. The scenery is entertaining enough in its
diversity and no two game drives are the same. Excellent concentrations of grazers and browsers support high
numbers of predators. On day two of our safari, we travel by boat across the Xakanaxa lagoon and up the
Maunachira river. Here we get to see how the delta really works. Thousands of islands make up this unique
system and we stop on one of them for a picnic lunch.
This is the eastern most river of the Okavango Delta and it ends life in the sands. Many people return here
because the wildlife concentrations are so incredible. Elephants come from miles around to drink, pods of Hippos
are discovered around just about every bend in the river and the semi aquatic Red Lechwe occupy the rivers
flood plains. As we say “there is always something interesting happening on the Khwai!” There are at least three
prides of Lions that occupy the river front, there presence keeping the prey species ever alert. It is also great
African Wild Dog country and last year we had numerous sightings including two kills.
This area is known for its seasonal flood plains and lagoons. It is also known amongst the guides as a quiet part
of the delta. There are only two private camp sites in the area and here you can fell truly alone. In the evenings,
breeding herds of Elephant arrive to drink having spent a large part of the day in the Mopane forests. It is also
an area that may offer up a sighting of Cheetah. Giraffe are prolific as well as herds of Zebra, Wildebeest and
Impala.
This area is situated between Xini Lagoon and Xakanaxa. It is remote and rare to see other people. It consists of
large open grasslands, Mopane forest and lagoons. This area allows us to explore both the Xakanaxa area and
the Xini lagoon area. The area offers brilliant bird watching. The campsite is situated under Large Fever Berry
Trees and looks out onto a lagoon occupied by a pod of Hippo. There are some big Crocodiles here lying in wait
for Zebras and Impala coming down for a drink.
On safari in Botswana
Hippo on the Khwai
Leopard
Botswana Flag
On Safari in Savuti