Okavango Explorers Camp
Highlights
- Very remote location along a seasonal waterway.
- Modeled after a mobile safari camp of early explorers.
- Prime habitat for elephants, predators, and plains game.
- Game drives, canoeing, walking, fishing.
Location
- NG16 Private Concession
- Northern Okavango Delta
- Northern Botswana
Okavango Explorers Camp is located in the very remote northern Okavango and designed to evoke the adventurous mobile safari camps of the early explorers, but with modern luxuries and conveniences.
Okavango Explorers is one of just a few safari camps in the 500-square-mile (1 300-sq-km) Selinda Reserve, so guests staying at the camp will enjoy a truly exclusive experience in this vast and untouched region of the far northern Okavango Delta.
The camp overlooks the seasonally flooded, western extent of the Selinda Spillway, which flows receives water from the upper edges of the Okavango Delta and is a crucial source of water for the area's wildlife.
Main area dining and view at Okavango Explorers Camp.
Okavango Explorers Camp is owned and operated by Great Plains Conservation, an organization whose mission is to blend sustainable tourism with the conservation of wildlife environments. Great Plains is headed by the husband-and-wife team of Beverly and Dereck Joubert, who are well known to wildlife enthusiasts for their outstanding films, most of which have been created in conjunction with National Geographic.
Great Plains use the term “Conservation Tourism” to describe what they do. They define it as the use of quality-led tourism experiences that are environmentally sound, with the benefits going specifically into making the conservation of an area viable and sustainable.
The Great Plains model takes stressed and threatened environments, surrounds them with compassionate protection and intelligent, sustainable management, and funds them with sensitive, low-volume, low-impact tourism.
Campfire and dining tent at Okavango Explorers Camp.
Wildlife viewing in the area around the camp is very good, with high concentrations of both predators and herbivores, including lion, leopard, African wild dog, spotted hyena, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, tsessebe, waterbuck, impala, greater kudu, and more.
The area is also home to roan antelope, sable antelope, and eland, all of which are uncommon in most of Botswana. Water in the Selinda Spillway is seasonal and varies year to year, but always attracts large numbers of elephant.
Activities focus on game drives and walking, but when the Spillway has water, canoeing is an excellent way to see wildlife up close. Catch-and-release fishing is also offered seasonally and dependent on water levels.
Safari drives are conducted in custom-built, open Toyota Land Cruisers that are specifically designed for the conditions and photography, and feature fold-down windscreens, raised roofs, photographic bars, and multi-plug inverters. Each Land Cruiser is fully stocked with reference books, drinks, and snacks.
Guest tent interior and view at Okavango Explorers Camp.
Okavango Explorers Camp offers 6 classic, Meru-style safari tents. The tents evoke the romantic and adventurous time of the early European explorers, with campaign-style furniture, Persian rugs, and brass and copper fixtures. The tents include en-suite facilities with a hot-and-cold water shower, wash basins, and flush toilet.
The main camp area is constructed beneath shady trees and is designed to emulate the mobile safari camps of Africa's early explorers. Two Bedouin-style, open-air tents, one which is a lounge with relaxing seating and the other a dining space, form the main guest area. The authentic classic-safari look and feel of the camp creates a nostalgic atmosphere of elegance, mixed with adventure and relaxation.
Great Plains are one of Africa's leading safari operators and they strive to minimize energy consumption at all their camps. Okavango Explorers Camp was constructed using only recycled hardwoods and canvas. The camp’s electricity comes from solar energy. Strict eco-friendly environmental standards are maintained so that no harmful chemicals or waste is allowed to enter the pristine ecosystem of the Selinda Reserve.
Giraffes crossing the Selinda Spillway neat Okavango Explorers Camp.
About the Okavango Delta
The Okavango Delta is one of Africa's greatest safari destinations and offers an incredible diversity and abundance of wildlife. The Okavango is an UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance.
Often referred to simply as "the Delta", the Okavango is characterized by an ever-changing network of waterways that originate far to the northwest in the highlands of Angola. The Cubango River flows into northern Botswana and spills into the flat expanse of Kalahari sands, where it fans out into a shallow trough formed by tectonic faults beneath the sand.
Game drive from Okavango Explorers Camp.
The annual 'flooding' of the Okavango brings in rich sediments that provide nutrients atop the sands, which in turn creates a diverse ecosystem of permanent and seasonal waterways, deep-water lagoons, papyrus beds, palm-covered islands, seasonally flooded grasslands, and woodlands. The rich fresh-water environment changes year-to-year depending on the level of the floodwaters making it one of the most dynamic wildlife destinations on Earth.
Wildlife in the Okavango Delta is diverse and includes all of Africa's Big Five animals (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and buffalo. Commonly seen herbivores include giraffe, plains (Burchell's) zebra, blue wildebeest, impala, tsessebe, common reedbuck, greater kudu, waterbuck, buffalo, elephant, and warthog. Both species of rhino are found, albeit in small numbers. The Delta is also home to red lechwe and sitatunga, both of which are water-dependent antelopes.
The abundance of herbivores means that predators are common in the Okavango. Commonly seen species include lion, leopard, spotted hyena, black-backed jackal, and African wild dog. Cheetah are sometimes seen in the larger grasslands like those on Chief's Island. Less frequently encountered predators include serval, caracal, honey badger, and various species of mongoose.
The abundance of water in the Okavango provides habitat for Nile crocodiles and hippos, both of which are seen easily at any of the safari camps located near the Delta's permanent water. Primates in the Delta include chacma baboon, vervet monkey, and bush baby (galago).
Birding is outstanding in the Delta, with over 400 species possible. A typical safari day can easily produce over 100 species for an avid birder.
ROOMS INCLUDES & EXCLUDES CHILDREN FACILITIES ACTIVITIES
Accommodation
6 guest accommodations in total comprising:
- 6 semi-permanent, Meru-style, canvas safari tents. Double or twin-bedded setup are both available.
Each safari tent includes campaign-style furniture, Persian rugs, and brass and copper fixtures. The indoor bathrooms (not plumbed, but with hot and cold water supplied) include a shower, flush toilet, and double-basin vanity.
The guest tents are connected to the main camp area by sandy footpaths on the ground.
Guest tent interior at Okavango Explorers Camp.
The style of the camp and its guest tents evokes adventure and nostalgia, brining one back to stories about the early days of colonial exploration in East Africa.
The tents include specially-crafted, campaign-style furnishings that replicate those used by the early explorers from a bygone era, creating a romantic experience. The interior décor is sourced from Zanzibar and the Far East, with colorful rugs and recycled hardwoods.
The tents are at ground level on slightly-raised, wooden platforms. In front of each tent is a covered space with comfortable seating (on the ground) for relaxing while looking out over the Selinda Spillway and seasonal water channel in front of the camp.
Other items and features in all of the guest units include:
- Writing desk and chair.
- Clothes wardrobe.
- Luggage rack.
- Mosquito netting over the beds.
- Electronic safe.
- Standing fan.
- Tea and coffee station.
- One pair of high-quality, 8x30 binoculars to use during your stay.
- Yoga mats.
- No Wi-Fi available due to the remote location. A satellite phone is available for emergencies. (Calls will be for guest’s account).
- The tents have solar-powered, 24-hour electricity.
- A charging facility is available in each tent.
- Personal amenities, including soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion. No hairdryers.
Okavango Explorers Camp can accommodate a maximum of 12 guests in total: 2 guests in each of the 6 guest tents. Additional guests are possible, as triples for children sharing with adults can be arranged upon request.
Includes & Excludes
Includes:
- All meals and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, including premium beverages.
- Safari experiences (twice-daily or full-day game drives, drives after dark, bush walks, canoeing and fishing subject to water levels, and birding) accompanied by an experienced guide.
- Laundry services are provided on a daily basis (weather permitting, items will be returned on the same day). Laundry is dried by the sun and on most days any laundry placed out in the morning will be returned by the evening.
- Return, scheduled, seat-in-plane air transfers from Maun and/or Kasane Airports, as well as inter-camp air transfers from properties in the greater Okavango Delta and Linyanti/Savuti regions to this camp (subject to a minimum 2-night stay).
- Motswiri airstrip transfers.
- No Wi-Fi access due to the remote location.
- Tourism Levy & VAT.
Excludes:
- Scenic helicopter flights ranging in cost based on duration. Best to book in advance.
- Any applicable wildlife fee, park fee, reserve fee, concession fee, other land-use fee.
Single Supplement
A single supplement may apply for any room booked by a single traveler; please ask us for pricing.
Children
Children aged 6 years and older are accommodated at Okavango Explorers Camp:
- Triples for children sharing with adults can be arranged upon request.
- Child rates are applicable for one child aged 15 years and younger, sharing with two adults in a tent.
- Children 15 and younger must share a tent with at least one adult.
- Children aged 16 years and older will pay applicable adult rates and be accommodated in a separate tent.
- Families will be combined with other guests on all activities (no private vehicle available unless guest numbers allow).
- Children can participate in walking activities from 8 years of age.
- Young children must be supervised by their parents, as the camp is not fenced and is located in an area with high predator densities and there is water surrounding camp.
- The Great Plains Young Explorers program is thoughtfully designed to give children a range of experiences and topics from birding to cooking to art to wildlife tracking.
Facilities
Okavango Explorers Camp is situated on the bank of the seasonal 'Selinda Spillway' as it enters the Selinda Reserve from the west, being fed from water along the upper edges of the Okavango Delta. Note that water in this portion of the Spillway is seasonal and varies year to year.
The main camp area is constructed beneath a shady forest of mopane and leadwood trees and is designed to mimic the mobile safari camps of Africa's early explorers. The main camp consists of two Bedouin-style, open-air tents; one which is a lounge with relaxing seating and the other a dining and bar space.
The authentic classic-safari look and feel of the camp creates a nostalgic atmosphere of elegance, mixed with adventure and relaxation.
Main guest area facilities include:
- Two open-air tented spaces, one for a lounge and the other used for dining.
- Campfire area with seating.
- A bar with a coffee-and-tea station.
- Dining is typically communal, but private dining is available on request.
- All dietary requirements are catered for, from regular to vegan to children; prior notice required.
- No Wi-Fi access.
- Mobile phone signal unavailable.
- Mineral water is provided in the main camp areas and in the guest tents.
- The camp is run entirely using solar energy with generator back-up.
Activities
Okavango Explorers Camp focuses on exploration and adventure and when there is adequate water in the channel in front of the camp, guests can choose from canoeing, game drives, and walking. Be advised that water in the channel is seasonal and the quantity varies from year to year.
Activities included in the rate:
- Twice daily (or full-day with picnic lunch) game drives. Drives after dark are also offered. The vehicles are custom-built Land Cruisers that are designed specifically for the conditions around the camp and photography (fold-down windscreens, raised roofs, photographic bars, and multi-plug inverters).
- During winter months, hot water bottles (on early morning game drives only), blankets, and lined ponchos are provided.
- Guided walks led by licensed guides with firearm training.
- Birding.
- Canoeing on the Selinda Spillway, water-levels dependent.
- Seasonal (between March and December) rod-and-reel fishing on the Selinda Spillway on a catch-and-release basis.
Optional activities at additional cost:
- Private activities are on offer (subject to vehicle availability, which is solely dependent on guest occupancy and cannot be guaranteed nor booked in advance).
- Scenic helicopter flights ranging in duration from 30, 45 to 60 minutes. The activity is best between 11:00 and 15:00, when animal densities are high. Must be booked in advance.
Example of a typical day:
- Early morning wake-up call. Morning wake-up and activity times vary according to the seasons, activities on offer, and wildlife sightings.
- Light breakfast before departing on the morning activity.
- Return to camp for a meal and rest period.
- Meet for afternoon tea and snacks (savory and sweet choices) before departing on the activity.
- Return to camp - freshen up or meet for drinks, followed by dinner.
- Enjoy a nightcap or discussion around the fire before retiring.
Great Good Fair Poor
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WHEN TO GO
The Okavango Delta offers very good wildlife viewing opportunities all throughout the year, but there are seasonal variations in terms of weather that may be a consideration when planning your visit.
The high season in terms of tourist demand is during the dry months between June and October. The latter part of the rainy season is the low season.
The winter (June through August) is dry and cool and wildlife may be easier to find as rain water is evaporating and the rivers and deeper waterholes become more frequently visited by the animals.
During the middle and later stages of the rainy season, the grass becomes tall and the bush becomes lush and thick, which makes for lovely colors, but makes spotting wildlife more difficult.
Okavango Explorers Camp is open year-round.
Summer / Rains
Northern Botswana, including the Okavango Delta receives most of its rain between December thru February, which is the summer season. November and December are wonderful months to visit the Delta, with only occasional rainstorms and most rain coming in short showers, which bring relief to the thirsty land after the dry season.
January and February typically experience afternoon downpours on most days, but all-day rain is very uncommon. By the middle of March, the rains become much less frequent and the grass and bush have grown long and thick. Mornings become cooler by the end of March.
In spite of being summer, the rains keep temperatures from becoming overly hot, although humidity and insect life are at their peak. Days are mostly overcast or partially cloudy, with dramatic skies and a lovely green color to the landscape. Afternoon temperatures average 88°F (31°C), but mornings are very comfortable at around 65°F (19°C).
Baby animals are in abundance, especially impala lambs and warthog piglets. Migratory birds arrive to breed and dramatically increase the number of species and overall numbers, particularly in the lagoons and pans, which are full of rain water and food for the aquatic species.
Unlike the dry months (May through October), when the middays can be very warm, causing wildlife to minimize activity and seek shade from around 10am til mid-afternoon, the overcast skies in the summer often mean that animals are active throughout the day, offering many more hours of game viewing.
Autumn
March, April and May are Fall season months and the beginning of the dry season in the Okavango, with rains very uncommon from around mid-March. The landscape is still lush and green, with sunny days and comfortable temps; afternoons average 84°F (29°C). Mornings are comfortable, but a fleece and base layer may be needed for the first hours on game drive.
Migrant birds fly north and water in the lagoons and rain pans is drying up. Permanent waterways in the Delta are however rising, as the 'flood' water from the Angolan highlands is now reaching the Delta.
Morning temps are around 54°F/12°C and afternoons average 79°F/26°C.
Winter / Dry Season
June through August is winter and the vegetation is drying and going dormant. The Okavango flood water is peaking but the surrounding landscape is mostly brown and yellow. Dust and sand particles in the air is on the rise. Game viewing is superb, with elephant and buffalo herds congregating along permanent water.
Mornings can be chilly to very cold at around 45°F (7°C). Warm clothes, including winter hat and gloves are needed for the open-air game drives. Dress in layers, as the temps do rise quickly during the day, with middays reaching 79°F (26°C).
Spring
September and October are the driest months as the landscape and animals eagerly await the coming rains. Game viewing is phenomenal, with all lagoons and rain pans completely dry and animals congregating around permanent waterways. The flood levels are down and the grass and vegetation mostly dried.
Days are warm, sunny and often cloudless and by mid-morning, most animals are seeking shelter in the shade and awaiting the evening temps to drop. October can be brutally hot and dusty and even smoky as sporadic grass fires can occur.
Safari camps are mostly full to capacity, with guests adhering to guide books saying this is the only tome to visit (not true of course!) Temperatures in October can easily reach 95°F (35°C) or even hotter.
