• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Fish Eagle Safaris

Fish Eagle safaris

Contact

Logo
  • About
  • Destinations
  • Blogs
  • Newsletter
  • FAQS
  • Team
  • search
  • Contact
  • About
  • Destinations
  • Blogs
  • FAQS
  • Team
  • Contact
  1. home >>
  2. category>
  3. Area>
  4. Okavango Delta>

Okavango Delta

Botswana’s Okavango Delta & Central Kalahari – March 2025 – Part 1

24th May 2025

Botswana’s Okavango Delta & Central Kalahari – March 2025 – Part 1 

Fish Eagle Safaris’ Lyndon Duplessis recently visited several Botswana properties on an educational trip; here is his report:

“March is typically as early in the year as you can head to Botswana and still have a really good experience. The rainy season is just about over (but you’re still likely to experience a few thunderstorms and showers), the grass is green and the animals look healthy. That same grass, if the rains were particularly good, can be a bit on the tall side and that was definitely the case this year. Botswana received a copious amount of rain. Ask anyone in Botswana and they will say that is a good thing. Their currency, the Pula, literally means rain. And they say “pula,” their version of cheers, when they toast a drink. Having said that, it does present some challenges. That nice looking green grass can obscure some of the smaller mammals and make them more difficult to see. The abundance of water – everywhere – tends to disperse the animals who might otherwise have to gather around remaining sources during the dryer months. The good news? All the animals are still around, you just have to work a bit harder to see them and get a little bit lucky. During the course of a full length safari (6 to 9 nights), we like your odds and this trip backed up that sentiment.

Gomoti Plains

My first stop was Machaba Safaris’ Gomoti Plains Camp. I had heard a lot of good things about this camp and the area that it was in. The part of the Okavango Delta the camp is located in has become a hotbed for animal sightings and action in general. It did not disappoint during my all too brief 2-night stay. The camp itself is classic level with plenty of comfort and space but nothing over the top. The staff to guest ratio felt very high to me and everyone was friendly and helpful. Our guide Carl was excellent and the food was delicious.

At one point on a drive my allergies started acting up due to the grass but luckily I had some allergy medication I took which cleared them up in a timely manner. If you are headed to Botswana early in the year this is definitely something you should bring with you. As well as a buff and some eyewear to protect your face from any grass seeds the vehicle kicks up.

The wildlife viewing was a bit tough to come by but we did, thanks to our guide, get some good views of lions. Once during the day hiding under some thick bushes and then again during an after dinner night drive. In fact we saw a large pride of at least 10 lions on the move and hunting. We kept up briefly but they seemingly vanished into the tall grass. General plains game species such as giraffes, zebras and various antelopes were not hard to find.  

One interesting tidbit I overheard was that a couple of the guests were visiting this camp for the 5th time. I think that is no accident and a very good indicator of the quality of service and the amount of animals in the area. Our guide said as the year moves on the animals flock to the river and become very easy to observe.

Kwando 4 Rivers

If two nights at Gomoti were too short a stay then the one night I got to spend at Kwando 4 Rivers was really quite tragic. But it can be difficult to balance seeing new camps with a tight schedule, so in this case, I had to settle for what I could get. I really like the location of this camp with the large main area overlooking permanent water. There is no boating here but mokoro can be done year round. The rooms were impressive and very spacious.

The grass here was even taller than at Gomoti so when we heard that a lion had been spotted a little ways away – but we had to go off road most of the way to get there before sunset – we knew it was going to be an adventure. It was bumpy and the grass was flying everywhere. The occasional log or channel of water slowed us down from time to time but we got there and got to see two female lions with 6 cubs on a kill and then the cubs started suckling from the mothers. Just a fantastic sighting. The only bad news was that we had to make the whole trek back to camp before we ran out of daylight. Oh well – it was very much worth the effort.

A couple of things that Kwando does that not everyone else does; they have a guide and a spotter on their game drives and they have communal dinners. We like both and feel like they add to the safari experience.

Dinaka

It was now time for my trip with Ker and Downey Botswana to start. First up, after meeting all of my fellow travel companions at the airport, was Dinaka Camp, located just about a 25-minute flight from Maun on a large private conservancy north of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. I was anxious to get a look.

Just like the rest of northern Botswana there had been good rains earlier in the year so the landscape was not what you might expect of the Kalahari. Trees, grass, plants and flowers were everywhere looking very healthy and vibrant. There was a great abundance of butterflies and the plains animals looked to be in great shape. We got to see some action right out of the gate on our evening game drive near the airstrip. As we approached there were lions chasing a small herd of zebras in a cloud of dust. No kill but great to experience that excitement so early in our stay.

That evening we drove to a stargazing deck for our sundowner. From there you can see how expansive the conservancy is as you are surrounded by it. The sunset from there was also superb and of course you have a mobile bar and all the snacks you can shake a stick at. Not a bad start. A bit of a curiosity on the night drive back to camp – our vehicle spotted a Kalahari mole rat. We were told it was an extremely rare sighting. Now you know.  

We stayed around the campfire after dinner taking advantage of the lit watering hole by the main area. Over the course of the night we saw a leopard, followed by a brown hyena, finally followed by a quick moving honey badger. Well worth a late night.

Some additional highlights at Dinaka include seeing the 4 or 5 white rhino which are located on the property. Our guides did a wonderful job tracking them through the tall grass. It actually looks like a motorcycle drove through the grass where they had been. The camp also has numerous hides located across the property which offer wonderful photographic opportunities. The second night we got to experience some lions roaring right next to our vehicle. And the staff was wonderful and quite talented as far as singing goes. I think this camp really jumped off the page for me and I would highly recommend you check it out.”

If you are up for a last-minute trip to Botswana or thinking ahead for 2026 or even 2027, by all means reach out to Lyndon at lyndon@fisheaglesafaris.com. He’d be happy to respond by email or arrange a Zoom meeting for you to be introduced to a couple of the members of our team. There’s nothing we like more than talking about Africa and finding out more about exactly what kind of a trip you might have in mind. We can also be reached by phone at 713-467-5222 or 1-800-513-5222 any time of the day and weekends. Please leave a message with the answering service and one of us will get back to you promptly. 

Lodge photos courtesy Gomoti Plains and Danaka

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN

Destinations
Zambia

10th September 2021

Chindeni and the Bushcamp Company, Zambia

By late July we found ourselves at Chindeni, a small Bushcamp Company property

Read more
Botswana
Destinations
Okavango Delta

3rd October 2022

Camp Okavango, Botswana

Camp Okavango is in the heart of the permanent part of the Delta. In this idyllic setting there are no vehicles, and it is just a short walk

Read more
Area
Destinations
Nyerere National Park
Ruaha
Tanzania

14th October 2023

From My Safari Notebook: Wildlife Photography

Birds in flight and wildlife photographers have an uneasy relationship. Things go wrong as often as they go right. Getting focus-lock on a moving subject

Read more

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

READERS FAVOURITES

Destinations
India

27th May 2023

India

India’s tiger, mammals and birds.

Read more
Botswana
Destinations

4th August 2022

On Safari At Belmond Eagle Island Lodge, Okavango Delta

What is the ‘secret sauce’ for an unforgettable few days on safari in Botswana? It starts with the animals, of course. The elephants, lions, giraffes, hippos

Read more
Destinations
Zambia

10th September 2021

Chindeni and the Bushcamp Company, Zambia

By late July we found ourselves at Chindeni, a small Bushcamp Company property

Read more

48 Hours at Great Plains Duba Explorer and Okavango Explorer Camps

13th October 2024

48 Hours at Great Plains Duba Explorer and Okavango Explorer Camps

The most unexpected experience at both Great Plains’ Duba Explorer and Okavango Explorer tented camps, located in remote corners of the Okavango Delta in Northern Botswana, was not the warmth and friendliness of the staff and management. Or the expertise of the professional guides – Paul and Chillie B – which between them helped us find 111 different bird species in 48 hours. Neither was it the quality of the food, particularly the two tasty bush breakfasts. The most unexpected experience at the two classic tented camps was the showers. No kidding. Not just the size of the shower head or the temperature of the water (as hot as you can handle) but the water pressure. Astonishingly high for anywhere. I’m an inveterate bath person but even I enjoyed that deluge of Okavango Delta water washing away the dust and sand. 

Of course, Great Plains Conservation does a lot of other things well. The interiors of the tent were tastefully furnished with a collection of campaign style chests, desks and chairs, and they had proper reading lights, plenty of storage space, a most comfortable king size bed and soft pillows. The vehicles had ample space with three rows each with two seats, separated by a lidded box for electronic gear and other stuff. There were soft blankets for the crisp mornings, cup holders for your morning coffee to go and a sturdy sun cover to provide some shade. 

The dining experience was a solid step up from some of the buffet offerings we had enjoyed earlier. Particularly at Duba Explorer where chef Beauty treated us to a wonderfully romantic poolside dinner with an Italian style panna cotta of tomato starter with a choice of trout or duck (both superb) or a vegetarian main course. The meal was rounded off with a delectable dessert – a chocolate brownie with caramelized sugar and homemade ice cream.  

Yet another exciting helicopter flight with Helicopter Horizons took us directly from Mokete to Duba Explorer with some fantastic sight-seeing en route, flying within sight of several airstrips and safari camps. Every few kilometers there would be new and different vistas over the Okavango Delta with water in every direction. A veritable kaleidoscope of colors, textures and patterns ranging from blue-green to bright green vegetation, almost black sandy spots and swirls, white bleached sand and grey burn patches with the ashy outline of tree trunks demarcating the direction of the fire.

Landing quite close to the camp in a small clearing, our guide Paul (whom we had first met at Mashatu in 2023) drove us the short distance into camp. Duba Explorer has a grand entrance, with every new arrival walking into camp across a sizable bridge over a perennial Okavango Delta waterway. After completing the routine arrival formalities (receiving a camp briefing and signing the indemnity form) we were escorted to our room, one of six tented classic expedition style tents. With ultra comfortable beds, a mosquito net, separate shower and toilet compartments, decent lighting and enough power points. The lounge at Duba Explorer is a fun place to spend a bit of time, with a spacious indoor/outdoor seating area for meals. Just off to the right, there is a small plunge pool built into an antique military style vehicle.   

Our afternoon outing from Duba Explorer was a boating safari along the Okavango River and it reminded me of what we had been missing on the last several game drives in Northern Botswana. Navigable water. The entire two and a half to three hour outing felt like being inside a painting waiting for a canvas and an artist. Simply gorgeous, particularly as the sun started to sink lower and everything was bathed in the golden afternoon sun. Just a few minutes out of Duba Explorer, we took a left turn from a large lagoon into a waterway which seemed to be cordoned off by a sizable raft of uneasy hippos. I had just resigned myself to the fact that the only way forward was going to involve a perilous dash along the far left edge of the stream, when Paul did a 180 degree turn and we headed back in the direction we came from.  

Another left turn got us into a spectacular channel in the direction of Duba Plains. It was one of the best outings of the entire trip, with elephants crossing ahead of us, lechwe giving us the side-eye, kudu visible everywhere and even the usually elusive bushbuck putting in an appearance. We were on a quest to snag one of Great Plains’ special 111 Club caps, given to guests who can spot that many birds over the course of their stay at one or more Great Plains camps. With four pairs of eyes on the boat (Paul, me, Kathy and Kay, a community representative ) we were spotting birds left right and center and by the end of the afternoon our list reached the low 80’s. In hindsight, I think a boating activity in the Okavango Delta – water levels permitting – should be right at the top of anyone’s list of things to do in Northern Botswana. This is what the Okavango Delta is all about and it can only be appreciated and experienced to its full, amazing effect from a boat.  

Our game drive at Duba  Explorer the following morning was initially quiet. We simply could not locate the lions which had been roaring right outside of the camp the previous night. For a while there we had to be content with simply driving through the spectacular grassland scenery. And then, as so often happens on game drives, everything changed. We started to rack up one good sighting after another –  initially a large herd of buffalo, then a large journey of giraffes and eventually a young male leopard about halfway up a tree. The leopard had clearly been observing us enjoying our morning coffee and muffins. Paul had pulled into a spot less than 100 meters away from and in direct line of sight of the leopard.

A short 15-minute helicopter ride took us across some beautiful expanses of Okavango Delta floodplains to the far southern edge of the Selinda Concession to Great Plains’ Okavango Explorer camp. It was in many ways similar to Duba Explorers, just with fewer touches (no plunge pool, scaled down lounge and dining area) and a different, less than ideal bathroom layout with the shower and the screened toilet in the same room. On the plus side, the location right on the edge of the Selinda Spillway is perfect and the camp is in an ecotone with remarkable habitat diversity. This is prime elephant and predator terrain, with lions, leopards and African painted dogs being seen regularly. In addition, as we were to see for ourselves, there are good densities of giraffes and some rare antelopes like roan, sable and eland. All three of which we saw in good numbers.  

Our two game drives at Okavango Explorer with our guide Chillie B, delivered plenty of plains game but were light on predators. This is of course exactly why we recommend that guests spend a minimum of three nights in any one area. Animals move around in real time, they come and go, appear and disappear. You’ve just got to give yourself – and your guides – enough time to make it all happen. And yes, you will almost certainly have a slow morning or afternoon or two somewhere. Sooner or later. As it turned out, we saw a solitary painted dog but the animal was in distress, having been injured or otherwise harmed without any obvious, visible clues.  

On our final morning game drive  we racked up a series of sightings starting with a huge herd of buffalo kicking up a plume of dust as they moved across an island. A bit later we saw some shy zebras, a small group of the superb roan antelope, several herds of eland, elephants, giraffes, more not-so-shy zebras, a hippo out of the water and the highlight of the morning: a nice sized breeding herd of the magnificent sable antelopes. With Chillie B’s help, we reached the mark of 111 bird species in 48 hours in just four outings (three game drives and a boating excursion in the Okavango Delta) at the two Great Plains Conservation Explorers camps. In addition to being fun – and we learnt a lot – it livened up the not so exciting stretches of the outings and incentivized our guides.  

We’re looking forward to spending several days at another Great Plains Conservation Explorers Camp – Selinda – in early December this year. This time, we’ll have 72 hours to reach the 111 bird tally! 

For more information about the Great Plains properties, including some attractive long-stay options for this year and next, please email Lyndon at lyndon@fisheaglesafaris.com or call us at 713-467-5222 at any time, to leave a message with the answering service. We will get back to you right away.

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN

Destinations
Zambia

10th September 2021

Chindeni and the Bushcamp Company, Zambia

By late July we found ourselves at Chindeni, a small Bushcamp Company property

Read more
Botswana
Destinations
Okavango Delta

3rd October 2022

Camp Okavango, Botswana

Camp Okavango is in the heart of the permanent part of the Delta. In this idyllic setting there are no vehicles, and it is just a short walk

Read more
Area
Destinations
Nyerere National Park
Ruaha
Tanzania

14th October 2023

From My Safari Notebook: Wildlife Photography

Birds in flight and wildlife photographers have an uneasy relationship. Things go wrong as often as they go right. Getting focus-lock on a moving subject

Read more

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

READERS FAVOURITES

Destinations
India

27th May 2023

India

India’s tiger, mammals and birds.

Read more
Botswana
Destinations

4th August 2022

On Safari At Belmond Eagle Island Lodge, Okavango Delta

What is the ‘secret sauce’ for an unforgettable few days on safari in Botswana? It starts with the animals, of course. The elephants, lions, giraffes, hippos

Read more
Destinations
Zambia

10th September 2021

Chindeni and the Bushcamp Company, Zambia

By late July we found ourselves at Chindeni, a small Bushcamp Company property

Read more

Wilderness Mokete Camp Exceeds Expectations

12th October 2024

Wilderness Mokete Camp Exceeds Expectations

So did Mokete Camp in Northern Botswana’s Mababe area live up to advance billing? You bet it did! Our very first game drive with guide Jonah – on the afternoon we arrived in early August this year –  delivered our best aardvark sighting ever. I finally have some decent photos of one of these elusive beasts. And what a weird weird animal it is with its odd, thick tail, pig-like claws and elongated snout. 

We thought it was going to be tough sledding for Jonah to match a brilliant aardvark sighting but in less than an hour the following morning, he proved us wrong. Not long after first light, we experienced the jaw-droppingly awesome sight of six lions taking down an old, truly beaten up female buffalo right in front of our eyes. From beginning to end, chase to first contact to the embrace of death with two female lions literally suffocating the life out of the hapless buffalo. It almost appeared as if the old buffalo knew that its days were numbered not very long into the event. One or two feeble bellows early on and then a silent surrender to the inevitable end. 

As kills go – and we’ve witnessed a few over the years – this one was nearly bloodless as the lions were not at all hungry. We surmised that the group of young lions were just being their opportunistic selves and taking advantage of the abundance of buffaloes. This was at least the 4th buffalo they had taken down in less than 24 hours. 

Our four different drives turned up a wealth of other species as well including elephants, buffalo, more (different) lions, giraffe, impala, wildebeest, zebra, tsessebe, roan antelope, waterbuck, lechwe, sable antelope, warthogs and several good birds including ostrich, kori bustard, Bradfields hornbills, giant eagle owl and black korhaan. 

A session spent in an underground hide on the edge of the marsh produced a bonanza of elephant photos with group after group after group of elephants coming down to the water’s edge in the late afternoon. At one stage we had a triple layer of pachyderms in view: elephants in front of elephants in front of elephants. 

On an early evening night drive, following the elephant hide session, Jonah somehow spotted a pack of African painted dogs in the darkness and we observed the five young pups playing with an impala head as well as later on feeding on some impala ribs. 

On our final morning drive, departing camp at 6 am, we had two main objectives: number one to find the two ‘golden boys’ – a pair of particularly handsome lions – and, if possible, the rest of the pride which included five cubs. The second objective was to return to the area where we had seen a pack of African painted dogs – with five youngsters – early the previous evening. We cleaned up on both, going two for two with a home run of a drive. Our capable guide Jonah heard one of the males calling, and within 10 minutes or so, we had one of the two males in front of the vehicle in good morning light. Another 10 or 15 minutes later and we were looking at the other golden boy who had joined up with the rest of the pride; three females and the five youngsters. 

Eventually we made our way to the location where we had left the painted dogs the previous night. While they were not in exactly the same spot, they were nearby, and this time in broad daylight. For the next 15 minutes or so we watched as the young dogs gamboled and played and eventually flopped down to rest about 30 meters or so away from the anxious parents 

Overall the abundance and variety of wildlife at Mokete bordered on phenomenal, reminding both Kathy and me of some of our best experiences in the Serengeti and the Masai Mara, with as many as six or seven mammals to be seen at the same time or within a matter of minutes of each other. 

Getting there and some camp details

Our last-minute trip to Botswana – to check out Mokete and a couple of Great Plains Conservation Explorer camps – did not start well. For starters, our Airlink flight into Maun arrived a solid hour late, due to an air traffic control issue at JNB Airport. 

We thought that being second in the immigration line – once we got into Maun – would help to put us back on track. We were wrong. The one person ahead of us in the line ended up having a serious immigration issue. There went another half an hour. We did eventually make it through immigration and customs (a bit more about that below) and just minutes later we were getting strapped into a Robinson 33 helicopter. Ably piloted by a young New Zealander flying for Helicopter Horizons, the 40 minute chopper flight directly to Mokete ended up being a pretty good flight-seeing experience, particularly towards the latter part of the flight as we got closer to camp.

Kathy and I liked everything about our room at Mokete (we were in #9). It was spacious with lots of natural light, a huge king size plus bed with a sky light, super nice pillows and a cooling system over the headboard. While we did not need it (it was cool enough at night) it would be nice for an afternoon nap and for any time during the day in the warmer months. The lighting was great, there was enough storage space, a good shower, separate toilet and a nice sitting area with a bench and table. 

We asked for the skylight to be opened on both our nights there and it was awesome to be gazing up at a million stars from bed. Nights on safari are pretty special anyway and the skylight made them even more so. 

In line with Wilderness’ general style, the camp has lots of privacy with plenty of open space between rooms. Which makes for a healthy hike if you’re in the last room on the left side – room #9. The rooms have a generously sized plunge pool which we did not get to use during our trip but which we are sure future guests will enjoy during the warmer months. Kathy enjoyed a massage on the pool deck while I caught up with some writing. 

Dinner on our first night at Mokete was fine but nothing special; clearly we had been spoiled with the quality of the cooking on our recent trips to Mozambique and Madagascar. The buffet offerings at Mokete were tasty but the presentation was not the greatest and some of the dishes, like a spinach side dish,  did not look appetizing at all. Of course one can’t expect too much in a safari camp which has to prepare a multi-course meal for as many as 18 people all sitting down at the same time. Also, the buffet style presentation does not make it any easier to present food in its most appetizing form. 

Even so, our early lunch the following day was excellent with no room for criticism. It was another ample offering with a delicious quiche, perfectly grilled chicken wings, a beetroot salad, a cheese platter with cheddar and a blue cheese, all accompanied by freshly baked bread as always. 

Our second dinner at Mokete (a duck stew, salmon with a lemon butter sauce, a risotto, steamed vegetable and a green salad) was perfectly palatable but not overly exciting or accomplished. We think guests to this camp can look forward to well prepared, tasty meals with ample options and generous portions. Just don’t be expecting gourmet fare. Not the place for it. A final lunch on the day of departure did not disappoint. Beef stroganoff with noodles, a potato side dish, mixed green salad and a cheese platter as well as fresh fruit. 

The bottom line: Wilderness’ new Mokete camp in the Mababe area is by far the best game-viewing property we’ve visited in the last year or so. It was simply superb all-round, although the hospitality part of things was still a bit creaky with the coffee, sugar and milk not always arriving at the same time. They will figure that out. Having experienced amazing lion/buffalo interaction and walking with an aardvark trumps everything else and being served a cup of lukewarm decaf was small potatoes. At the price point – almost 50% lower than the 2025 rate for several of Wilderness’ other classic category Botswana camps – Mokete is a steal. So for serious photographers and ‘big game action’ aficionados considering a 2025 Botswana trip, my advice would be to plan everything else around at least 4 nights at Mokete. Wilderness Mokete’s ebullient camp manager Yompy Kennetseng and his team are waiting for you. 

Mokete is filling up fast for next summer (June through August & September) but email me at bert@fisheaglesafaris.com or call our Houston office any time at 713-467-5222 or 800-513-5222 if you are interested combining the camp with another Botswana camp – such as Chitabe – or to possibly add it as an extension to a South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia or Namibia safari. 

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN

Destinations
Zambia

10th September 2021

Chindeni and the Bushcamp Company, Zambia

By late July we found ourselves at Chindeni, a small Bushcamp Company property

Read more
Botswana
Destinations
Okavango Delta

3rd October 2022

Camp Okavango, Botswana

Camp Okavango is in the heart of the permanent part of the Delta. In this idyllic setting there are no vehicles, and it is just a short walk

Read more
Area
Destinations
Nyerere National Park
Ruaha
Tanzania

14th October 2023

From My Safari Notebook: Wildlife Photography

Birds in flight and wildlife photographers have an uneasy relationship. Things go wrong as often as they go right. Getting focus-lock on a moving subject

Read more

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

READERS FAVOURITES

Destinations
India

27th May 2023

India

India’s tiger, mammals and birds.

Read more
Botswana
Destinations

4th August 2022

On Safari At Belmond Eagle Island Lodge, Okavango Delta

What is the ‘secret sauce’ for an unforgettable few days on safari in Botswana? It starts with the animals, of course. The elephants, lions, giraffes, hippos

Read more
Destinations
Zambia

10th September 2021

Chindeni and the Bushcamp Company, Zambia

By late July we found ourselves at Chindeni, a small Bushcamp Company property

Read more

Safari Lodge of the Month: Wilderness Mokete, Mababe

22nd June 2024

Safari Lodge of the Month: Wilderness Mokete, Mababe

Wilderness’ recently opened Mababe-area tented camp – Mokete – has catapulted to the top of many safari aficionados’ must-visit lists.  

Game viewing at Wilderness Mokete is unmatched, renowned for the mega herds that make their way across this private wilderness with a constant supply of water, located on the eastern fringe of the Okavango Delta and the famed Moremi Game Reserve, to the south of Chobe National Park. With its three distinct habitats: grassland plains, mopane and acacia woodlands, and the marsh system fed by the Mababe River, Mokete is home to prides of lion, leopards, cheetahs, packs of wild dogs, bat-eared foxes, jackals, African wild cats and servals. All of which makes for an immersive, exclusive and thrilling safari. There are often huge herds of buffalo in the area, and there can also be huge herds of zebras. Also worth mentioning: two pretty special antelope, sable and roan. They have been seen around Mokete in the dozens if not hundreds. Unlike anywhere else.

The camp offers unconventional safari adventures, where time is dictated by nature, not the clock. In this part of Botswana, it’s not uncommon to see lions on the hunt on the plains during the day, which makes for exceptional photographic opportunities. Guests can choose to stay on a game drive as long as they please, or stop for a lazy bush picnic – or stay out with the predators late at night if they wish. Guided walks can be arranged, or guests may be tempted to spend an afternoon in the sunken hide, eye-to-toe with the elephants.

With only canvas between guests and nature, a stay at Mokete is an immersive feast for the senses. Due to the open layout and high density of wildlife, only guests 16 and older are permitted to stay. There is a swimming pool for warm afternoons and a star bed for cool evenings under the sky.

Fish Eagle Safaris’ Lyndon recently spent a couple of nights at Mokete. Here are some of his observations and his recommendations to make your stay at Mokete even more rewarding than it may otherwise be:

At Mokete there are a number of things that you will definitely want to do during your stay:

  1. Take some time to focus on the lion and buffalo interaction. The large lion prides have got a great setup and pretty much plant themselves between the buffalo herds and the water. Our guide told us they can easily feed a couple of times per day. We did not witness a hunt but every time I saw the lions they were eating something. We took a helicopter ride to the camp and en route we saw the recent aftermath of a hunt with about 12-13 lions feeding on the carcass of a buffalo.

  1. Visit the elephant hide. There is an area that is known as ‘elephant paradise’ and it attracts huge numbers of elephants, especially in the evenings when they come for water. The camp has a hide overlooking the water and we got to spend an evening there. It was fantastic and the number and sheer tonnage of elephants cycling in to drink before heading back into the wooded area was astounding. We went back to the area on our final night (not back to the hide) and it took a long time to drive through due to the high density of elephants. It was quite something combined with the sunset.

  1. Go on an after dinner night drive. I was told this can be requested upon arrival and we can also let the camp know in advance, if this is something you’d like to do. At the time of my visit there was a resident wildlife photographer/film-maker in camp. During one of our dinners he recommended we do this as a group because of all the amazing things he had been spotting during the night. It turned out even better than any of us could have hoped.

    Here’s what we know about night drives: they are very hit and miss. Nocturnal animals are difficult to find with a spotlight due to a narrow field of view and often the only thing you might see at a distance is the light’s reflection in the animal’s eyes. This leads to some premature excitement only to find out you are looking at and heading toward a herd of impala. Mokete is not immune to these annoyances but our night drive started with a bang right out of camp with a giant eagle owl flying and perching in a tree just next to the road. Not five minutes after this we had a splendid viewing of a porcupine. This would typically be a moderately successful night drive already but the real fun hadn’t yet begun.A few minutes later we caught a glimpse of the elusive aardvark. Actually, two. This was my first time seeing one so I experienced some elation as we sped over road and grass to get a better look. What a sighting! Shortly after this we saw a group of four bat eared foxes. Some time passed and we saw a third aardvark, this one alone and much less bothered by our presence than the previous two. We spent a good amount of time observing it as it jogged from one area to the next looking for a meal. They are so much more agile than I could have imagined, which makes sense having to survive in such an environment.

    Up ahead of this there was a large herd of buffalo. Seeing these at night is different because they were having trouble getting a good look at us. This caused them to stop moving completely and stand absolutely still before one gave the call to move and they ran off. Fascinating! Overall I still don’t know if this is what we can expect of a typical night drive at Mokete or if we had incredible luck. The way that the wildlife photographer spoke about what he would see at night leads me to believe that game drives like this might not be as lucky as they felt after all…

  1. Time permitting, visit the northern side of the park that borders the Chobe area. It takes a bit of time to get there but this is the area where we spotted two male cheetahs. The habitat is a bit different and there is enough of a distance from the main lion prides that cheetahs feel safe.

  1. Just general game drives exploring the different areas of the park. It is quite large so this would mainly be on the advice of the guides and what they have been noticing.I think a three or perhaps four night stay should be enough to accomplish most if not all of this.A couple extra notes. The sand there is fine and it can get very dusty. Later in the dry season (my visit was in early May) it  will be even more prominent I suspect. I would highly recommend at minimum bringing a buff or something to cover your mouth and nose (and something to protect camera equipment). The areas by the water where the lions camped out were very bumpy. The guides did not rush through so it wasn’t bad but it was slow going.  

Get in touch with us if you would like to visit Wilderness Mokete. We can be reached at 800-513-5222 in Houston, or email jason@fisheaglesafaris.com or lyndon@fisheaglesafaris.com

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN

Destinations
Zambia

10th September 2021

Chindeni and the Bushcamp Company, Zambia

By late July we found ourselves at Chindeni, a small Bushcamp Company property

Read more
Botswana
Destinations
Okavango Delta

3rd October 2022

Camp Okavango, Botswana

Camp Okavango is in the heart of the permanent part of the Delta. In this idyllic setting there are no vehicles, and it is just a short walk

Read more
Area
Destinations
Nyerere National Park
Ruaha
Tanzania

14th October 2023

From My Safari Notebook: Wildlife Photography

Birds in flight and wildlife photographers have an uneasy relationship. Things go wrong as often as they go right. Getting focus-lock on a moving subject

Read more

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

READERS FAVOURITES

Destinations
India

27th May 2023

India

India’s tiger, mammals and birds.

Read more
Botswana
Destinations

4th August 2022

On Safari At Belmond Eagle Island Lodge, Okavango Delta

What is the ‘secret sauce’ for an unforgettable few days on safari in Botswana? It starts with the animals, of course. The elephants, lions, giraffes, hippos

Read more
Destinations
Zambia

10th September 2021

Chindeni and the Bushcamp Company, Zambia

By late July we found ourselves at Chindeni, a small Bushcamp Company property

Read more

Safari Lodge of the Month: Xigera

21st May 2024

Safari Lodge of the Month: Xigera

Until not too long ago, Xigera Safari Lodge in northern Botswana’s Okavango Delta was like a young artist just breaking into the crowded and hugely competitive pop music arena. Brilliant at times and with loads of talent but just not quite there yet. An opening act at best, and sometimes the ticket you settled for when all the other concerts were sold out. 

No more. Architect Anton De Kock and the Tollman family have turned this one-time Cinderella into a superstar, contending for the highest accolades one could possibly bestow in the panoply of elite safari lodge.  

Xigera Safari Camp is currently and will likely remain – for the foreseeable future – the most impressive iteration of a safari lodge in Africa. At least that we know of. Twelve ultra-deluxe suites radiate out from a sumptuous central dining and lounge area, all elevated on a three meter high boardwalk.  

The rooms are nothing short of gargantuan in size; ours (#2) had a huge lounge area with large plate glass windows and doors with pretty views over the floodplain. The  large bedroom with a king size bed sported equally good views. The entire bedroom can be closed off by a simple but effective, electrically operated sliding mosquito net.  To the rear of the room, there’s a large walk-in closet with a make-up desk and magnifying mirror. The room has tons of storage space and clothes hanging space. And yes, there is a hair dryer.  

The cuisine at Xigera

During a recent visit to Xigera we found the food to be of the highest standard throughout, starting with lunch on our day of arrival. It was fun and exciting with  items like peri-peri wings, lamb sliders and a classic caesar salad with anchovies. Dinner was a multi-course affair, served outside in the boma under the African night sky. Does food taste better outside? Maybe not, but combining cutting-edge cuisine with fire and coals, smoke and heat, is never a bad idea. All the more so in the hands of the Xigera culinary team who does magical things with a fine lamb loin chop or a perfectly done portion of boerewors, firm to the bite but never tough, juicy and with a characteristic but understated note of coriander. Delicious served with plain mealiepap, known as sadza, ugali and nshima elsewhere in Africa. 

It ended up being an enchanted evening for guests and staff alike. Several of the guests were introduced to African dishes for the first time, much to their delight. A spirited dancing and singing performance by staff members concluded the night. 

The team was back at it quite early the next morning over breakfast. The Xigera eggs Benedict, with salmon, was particularly good and delicate, with a perfect Hollandaise sauce.  

Dinner that night was an outstanding 6-course tasting menu, a novel and sophisticated take on the traditional boma dinner. It retained the fire, coals and smoke of the boma, as well as the social nature, with guests, chef, and sommelier around a quadrangular outside area, with 3 small hibachi cookers providing the coals. 

Taking us through the first five courses, assistant chef Ollie Notes provided background and context to each dish. 

These included:

  • A smoked mozzarella with tomato relish and basil pesto
  • Grilled butternut with herb salt and local honey over a bed of butternut mousse
  • Salmon tostada with avocado wrapped in a freshly made corn tortilla
  • Twice-baked potato with onion and chevre and fresh goat cheese.
  • Grilled onion with a Gorgonzola reduction

Chef Branea from Cape Town put the finishing touches to the delectable ice cream dessert.  

Game viewing at Xigera

We’ve been on quite a few game drives in the Xigera area over the years and we have seen a definite uptrend. On our previous visit there we had our best view yet of a sitatunga on a mokoro outing, we bumped into some lions and we got some great leopard photos as well. 

This time, more of the same. Right off the bat, Xigera surprised with a sighting of two good-sized male lions, in their prime, on a small island not far from the lodge. Not too far away – three female lions – all part of the same pride.  

Early mornings are when you want to be on safari in Botswana. That’s when some of the cats are still active as we found out on the following morning’s drive. There was a lot going on with a coalition of two young male lions – just coming into their prime – having just recently moved into the Xigera area at the time.

On this day, they were making no secret of their presence, loudly proclaiming being around with roaring – all while scent-marking everywhere. Of the two, the dominant male lion seemed to be keen to seek out the three females we had seen the previous day. That action would no doubt have serious consequences as the pair of dominant males would have been forced to react. That didn’t happen that day.

We left the two interlopers and located the dominant brothers who had also been roaring earlier that morning. They were clearly aware of the threat to their authority but were by no means cowed or nervous. They seemed very much at ease and in fact dozed off after they had found a shady spot to their liking.

What was clear at the time was that the lion pride dynamics at Xigera were poised for a sea change and guests at Xigera may be in for some surprising developments and titanic battles should the two younger males decide to take on the older, bigger, dominant males for control of the pride.

While we concentrated on the lion dynamics during the course of our stay, it became clear that the hit and miss game viewing which had characterized Xigera back in the day had matured. There was plenty of general plains game around in the way of zebras, lechwe, giraffes and kudus. Plus some solitary elephant bulls and a few small breeding herds. 

Combining Xigera with other Botswana camps

How does one ideally combine Xigera with other Botswana properties? We posed the question to Red Carnations’ Sally Gray who had an elegant and creative suggestion. Combine Xigera with Natural Selections’ Jacks Camp and Wilderness’ Mombo. 

Here is Sally’s take on the unique appeal of each of these properties and how they complement each other to create a perfect safari combination. One more piece of good advice from her:  “Be sure to end your stay at Xigera!”

Jack’s Camp

  • As with all lodges of this caliber – location is pivotal. Jack’s location is incredible – overlooking the Makgadikgadi pans.
  • Completely different ecosystem and landscape compared with anywhere else in Botswana.
  • Home to several unusual species of game, largely endemic to this region, such as brown hyena, black-maned lions, aardvark, oryx and springbok.
  • The experience of being able to sleep out in the salt pans – I have done this – possibly the best experience I have ever had.
  • Accompany the local San people on one of their bush walks – learning the secrets to their survival in such a harsh environment.
  • This area is also the home to one of the largest migrations of zebras in Africa – truly remarkable.
  • Similarly run to Xigera – Jack’s is family owned and run by Ralph Bousfield, who is hugely respected in the safari industry.
  • Jack’s Camp works well with Xigera as the two properties deliver a completely different experience.
  • Jack’s offers a wide variety of activities, so a 3-night stay is recommended.

Mombo

  • Iconic location on Chief’s Island in the Moremi Game Reserve.
  • It’s not for nothing that Mombo is known as the place of plenty – it is a game-viewing delight.
  • Made famous by the leopard named Legadema – beautifully captured in the wildlife documentary Eye of the Leopard. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren are still at Mombo.
  • Dominated by cats, particularly lions and leopards.
  • Mombo offers game drives only, so it needs to be combined with another lodge for guests to get the full Botswana experience.
  • Mombo has a “hide” experience which allows you to get up and close with the animals.

Xigera Safari Lodge

  • Refurbished and revamped and opened in 2021.
  • 12 Suite lodge.
  • Fully air-conditioned which is a rarity in the Okavango Delta. Most of the other lodges have an airflow over the beds.
  • Xigera has as many as five different activities daily – four of them all year. Daily: game drives, mekoro outings, fishing, walking;  seasonal: boating.
  • A variety of activities calls for a longer stay – as there is so much more to experience.
  • Xigera is among the most sustainable lodges in Botswana – being 95% off the grid and having a sophisticated recycling program.
  • Incredible game experience. Intriguing species such as the rare African painted dog and cheetah have moved back into the region after a shift in the tectonic plates in Botswana in 2017.  This very minor earthquake has changed the face of this part of the Okavango Delta
  • Food is described as being “luscious.” All from local farmers supported by Xigera’s “Make Travel Matter” initiatives.

When you are ready to embark on what may very well be the ultimate safari combining Jack’s Camp, Mombo and Xigera Safari Lodge – give us a call at 1-800-513-5222 or email bert@fisheaglesafaris.com.   

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN

Destinations
Zambia

10th September 2021

Chindeni and the Bushcamp Company, Zambia

By late July we found ourselves at Chindeni, a small Bushcamp Company property

Read more
Botswana
Destinations
Okavango Delta

3rd October 2022

Camp Okavango, Botswana

Camp Okavango is in the heart of the permanent part of the Delta. In this idyllic setting there are no vehicles, and it is just a short walk

Read more
Area
Destinations
Nyerere National Park
Ruaha
Tanzania

14th October 2023

From My Safari Notebook: Wildlife Photography

Birds in flight and wildlife photographers have an uneasy relationship. Things go wrong as often as they go right. Getting focus-lock on a moving subject

Read more

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

READERS FAVOURITES

Destinations
India

27th May 2023

India

India’s tiger, mammals and birds.

Read more
Botswana
Destinations

4th August 2022

On Safari At Belmond Eagle Island Lodge, Okavango Delta

What is the ‘secret sauce’ for an unforgettable few days on safari in Botswana? It starts with the animals, of course. The elephants, lions, giraffes, hippos

Read more
Destinations
Zambia

10th September 2021

Chindeni and the Bushcamp Company, Zambia

By late July we found ourselves at Chindeni, a small Bushcamp Company property

Read more

Zimbabwe & Botswana special offers – low-demand season 2023-2024

12th October 2023

Zimbabwe & Botswana low-demand season special offers – 2023/2024

We’ve got several special offers available for the coming low-demand season in both Zimbabwe and Botswana. The specials are available for a range of properties in both countries, from December (in some instances November 2023) through to March and April 2024. For a few camps the discounts extend right until the end of May. 

Zimbabwe

The best all around deals are available for the Imvelo Safaris camps in Hwange – namely Camelthorn, Bomani, Nehimba and Jozibanini. Here’s the lowdown:  

*Stay three nights/Pay two nights.
*Stay seven nights/Pay five nights.
*Children 18 and under stay free when sharing with an adult. Up to two children per adult. 
*No single supplement. 
*A free private vehicle will be included for groups of four or more.

Add a couple of nights in Victoria Falls, put it all together and you’re looking at a nine night/ten day fly-in safari at a price of around $5,200 per person sharing, with three nights at Nehimba and four at Bomani, and two nights at Pioneers Lodge in Victoria Falls.  

This price is valid for 1 January 2024 to 30 April 2024, and from 1 December 2024 to 31 December 2024. The rates will be extended to 31 May 2024 at Camelthorn and Nehimba, and to 31 July 2024 at Jozibanini.

What is included:

*2 nights in Victoria Falls on bed & breakfast basis
*7 nights on safari at two safari camps in central and southern Hwange
*All meals, soft drinks, beers, wines & local spirits on safari
*Bed & breakfast accommodation in Victoria Falls
*Laundry included at safari camps
*All road transfers and two scheduled light air transfers from and back to Victoria Falls  
*A sundowner cruise on the Zambezi
*A private guided tour of Victoria Falls
*Twice daily game viewing activities at both safari properties
*A Ngamo community experience, a Community Rhino Conservation Initiative (CRCI) talk and rhino viewing at Bomani and Camelthorn

Excluded:

*Gratuities
*Hwange National Park entry fee of $20.00 per person per day 
*Rhino Conservation and Community Levy – $150 per person
*Commercial flights from the USA to and back from VFA (Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe).

Safari notes:

*The CRCI rhino sanctuary has become an incredible guest experience at Bomani and Camelthorn and is available year-round.
*Mack Air has economical charter flight rates into and out of Hwange year-round (including the low demand season), which makes getting around a lot easier and more affordable than private charters.

About Hwange

Hwange National park is Zimbabwe’s premier wildlife destination. This huge national park is one of the most important elephant sanctuaries in Africa, with as many as 40,000 elephants resident in the greater Hwange area. We always include at least one Hwange property (mostly tented but not exclusively so) in an itinerary, often two. In addition to the elephants, Hwange has good populations of buffalo, giraffe, eland (largest antelope in Africa), zebra, wildebeest, and a variety of predators including lions, cheetahs, leopards and African painted dogs.

The safari experience in Hwange is very much like in South Africa, Botswana or for that matter Kenya. One difference: Zimbabwe has a couple of very special antelope not generally seen elsewhere, namely the majestic sable antelope and the equally attractive roan antelope. Plus literally thousands of impala and various other smaller mammals. The birdlife is superb with many birds of prey and colorful bee-eaters, rollers, shrikes, and dozens of other birds. Hwange is also an exceptionally good place for walking safaris, under the safe and capable supervision of a professional Zimbabwe guide.

Botswana in summer

There are few destinations in Southern Africa with quite the same appeal as Botswana in the low-demand season from December through the end of March. Even in years of good rainfall – not likely to be the case this coming summer – the precipitation is relatively low, hardly ever more than four inches average per month.  Most importantly, no part of the region is subject to the torrential rainfall which all too frequently affects the South African lowveld area (including much of the Kruger Park), from January through March, caused by tropical cyclones.  

With some rain – and the cooling effect of the cloudy weather – northern Botswana and the Kalahari (though still warm to hot in the afternoons) are much more pleasant than in the months of October and November. With even limited rainfall, the dry, dusty veld conditions seemingly change overnight, bursting with bright green vegetation, flowers and rich colors.

Conditions are ideal for photography. Beautifully soft morning and afternoon light. Crisp, clean air with minimal haze, and absolutely gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, almost always with some clouds around for added drama and color. I took some of my best ever leopard photographs in the Jao concession in Northern Botswana in March some years ago. Likewise in the Kwara area and at Duba in the northern Okavango Delta on two other February/March trips. Leopards, cheetahs, African painted dogs, giraffes, zebras – in perfect light, game drive after game drive.    

Include a few days in the Kalahari at Nxai Pan and discover an area simply teeming with life during the summer months when thousands of zebras migrate onto the open pans, in search of the fresh, emerging vegetation. Never too far behind? The impressive black-maned lions of the Kalahari and cheetahs clambering onto anthills or tree stumps on the lookout for springbok, steenbok or impala. In the summer months, there’s usually good numbers of big-tusked elephant bulls around, scattered groups of buffaloes and a variety of antelopes and abundant giraffes in the woodlands. On previous low-demand season trips to Northern Botswana we’ve gotten lucky with African painted dogs on several occasions, and there’s always a chance of seeing brown hyenas and African honey badgers.  

One of the best low-demand season offers for Botswana – available from January to March 2024 – is a “stay 8 nights, pay for 6 nights” deal from Desert & Delta at a price of less than $5,000 per person, including all internal charter flights from and back to Maun. The offer includes a 3-night stay at Leroo La Tau camp in the Kalahari. It is possible to include Chobe Game Lodge as well. This is what we would recommend:

*Two nights at Camp Okavango or Xugana Island Lodge. These typical Okavango Delta water camps offer the ultimate in relaxation in the heart of the Delta with unmatched walking, mokoro and boating activities.
*Three nights at Camp Moremi or Camp Xakanaxa. Here, on the edge of the Moremi Game reserve, guests can enjoy the perfect combination of prolific game viewing and motorized boat excursions into the Delta’s papyrus-choked channels exploring beautiful lagoons, small palm-fringed islands and patches of floodplain.
*Three nights at Leroo La Tau inclusive of a Nxai Pan day trip, a cultural experience and excellent photography opportunities along the Boteti River Valley.

This coming summer may be one of the best opportunities in many years to visit Botswana during the low demand season. With fewer travelers in the region, visitors will enjoy what is already a remote wilderness area, even more. For more details, please call our Houston office at 1-800-513-5222 during normal business hours, Monday to Friday, or email me at bert@fisheaglesafaris.com.

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN

Destinations
Zambia

10th September 2021

Chindeni and the Bushcamp Company, Zambia

By late July we found ourselves at Chindeni, a small Bushcamp Company property

Read more
Botswana
Destinations
Okavango Delta

3rd October 2022

Camp Okavango, Botswana

Camp Okavango is in the heart of the permanent part of the Delta. In this idyllic setting there are no vehicles, and it is just a short walk

Read more
Area
Destinations
Nyerere National Park
Ruaha
Tanzania

14th October 2023

From My Safari Notebook: Wildlife Photography

Birds in flight and wildlife photographers have an uneasy relationship. Things go wrong as often as they go right. Getting focus-lock on a moving subject

Read more

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

READERS FAVOURITES

Destinations
India

27th May 2023

India

India’s tiger, mammals and birds.

Read more
Botswana
Destinations

4th August 2022

On Safari At Belmond Eagle Island Lodge, Okavango Delta

What is the ‘secret sauce’ for an unforgettable few days on safari in Botswana? It starts with the animals, of course. The elephants, lions, giraffes, hippos

Read more
Destinations
Zambia

10th September 2021

Chindeni and the Bushcamp Company, Zambia

By late July we found ourselves at Chindeni, a small Bushcamp Company property

Read more
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to Next Page »

Footer

Design

  • About
  • Destinations
  • Blogs
  • FAQS
  • Team
  • Contact
All Rights Reserved ©Fish Eagle Safaris 2022 | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy
Designed & Developed by B Online

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

SIGN-UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Form

Footer Widget Header

Related Blogs