Okavango Delta
Kwetsani
Kwetsani Camp is in the private Jao Reserve, an area of 60,000 hectares to the west of Moremi Game Reserve, in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. The camp offers an idyllic setting on a tree island heavily wooded with palm, mangosteen and fig trees.
Kwetsani Camp offers an intimate safari experience with only five lavish ‘tree house’ chalets each with an en-suite bathroom. The rooms have an open, airy feel and superb views of the surrounding plains. The main lodge is on raised decking under thatch with open vistas over an enormous floodplain that is often dotted with lechwe and wildebeest. Kwetsani also has a swimming pool for cooling off in the heat of the day.
Kwetsani Camp offers excellent land and water activities dependant on water levels from the annual flood. Guests are able to view wildlife on game drives in open 4×4 vehicles and mokoro excursions.
Facilities
‘Tree house’ chalets each with an en-suite bathroom and open-air showers. Swimming pool, dining room, bar and lounge.
Local Wildlife
The lodge provides a fine balance of both wet and dry land species with good numbers of the semi-aquatic red lechwe and sitatunga antelopes. In the dry season, you can see elephant, wildebeest and zebra together with lion, cheetah and leopard. Nocturnal animals like porcupine, aardwolf, serval, large spotted genet and lesser bush baby can be observed on night drives. Many bird species are resident, such as large concentrations of wattled crane as well as slaty egret, rosy-throated longclaw and African skimmer.
Optional Activities
Game drives, night drives, walking safaris and mokoro excursions included on a shared basis.
Jonathan Morris
Area Specialist
The huge rooms here have delightful balconies overlooking the floodplain which is often filled with game. Take some time to sit out here with a good book (and cold drink). You never know what might pass by.
If you have any questions regarding our Botswana tours, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
On behalf of my wife and myself, I would like to thank all at Reef and Rainforest for arranging so superbly yet another exceptional wildlife experience. As you are aware our ‘expeditions’ tend to be species led and this year’s brief was to observe and photograph the ‘Three Big Cats of Africa’ in a truly wild setting (i.e. no fences). Your recommended destination, Botswana, did not let us down, in fact the whole trip proved an outstanding success in all aspects.
We stayed in three camps (three nights in each) across the Okavango Delta and surrounding area, each provided a different environment which ensured our aims were met. Each camp was run to a very high standard, was extremely comfortable and provided excellent meals. The quality of guiding and tracking in all our camps was of the highest standard. As Botswana manages its natural resources so well all the camps were small (no more than 18 guests) ensuring a very intimate safari experience in pristine wild African habitat.
I am delighted to report our big cat objectives were realised. All observations were lengthy and offered excellent photographic opportunities. However, unexpectedly, the highlight of our spectacular trip turned out to be sightings of two separate packs of African Painted Dogs. We visited two dens, the first had a very healthy number of adult dogs, approximately fifteen and eighteen pups. The second had seven adult dogs and sixteen pups. At Lebala we had the privilege of spending a prolonged period of time following the pack of dogs as they hunted, an experience we will never forget.
When one also considers the significant mammal and bird species we observed, Botswana is truly a must visit destination for the wildlife enthusiast. Incidentally we also observed three serval and two African wild cats. We also thoroughly enjoyed our few days at Victoria Falls, possibly the most spectacular waterfall in the world, the hotel in Zimbabwe was excellent. Viewing the falls from the Zambian side and also the helicopter flight are both well worth doing.
This was our third consecutive trip with Reef and Rainforest, and I would be very surprised if there is not a fourth being planned very soon. Thank you all once again.