Okavango Delta
Camp Xakanaxa
Camp Xakanaxa is located in the Xakanaxa region of Moremi Game Reserve in the heart of the Okavango Delta in Botswana. This is a lush area with abundant game all year round and provides the perfect setting for this exquisitely designed camp.
Camp Xakanaxa lies alongside the Maunachira River, which flows through the Xakanaxa Lagoon within the world renowned Moremi Game Reserve, and accommodates up to twenty-four guests in classic safari tents on raised platforms. Each tent is tastefully furnished in elegant bush style with twin or double beds and en-suite facilities with shower, hand basin and ablution facilities.
The stylish main buildings are set on raised platforms to maximise the views over the surrounding lagoons and islands. Constructed of local timber, reed and thatch they include an open lounge containing a small but comprehensive library, dining room, expansive sundeck, plunge pool and sala with day bed and a fire deck set under giant jackalberry trees. The reception lounge boasts a curio shop and facilities are provided for charging videos, cameras and batteries. The camp operates on generator power but at night all lighting is supplied by gas and paraffin lanterns thus giving the camp an authentic African ambience.
Within the camp is a separate enclave called Pandani’s which is suitable for private groups of up to eight guests, housed in four tents, with a private lounge, dining room and kitchen. It provides an ideal hideaway for families and includes an exclusive guide for activities. The camp is flexible so guests may also dine in the main camp if preferred.
Camp Xakanaxa is situated on permanent water so can offer all year round boating trips, as well as extensive 4×4 drives into the Moremi Game Reserve.
Facilities
Tented rooms, open lounge, library, dining room, sundeck, plunge pool and fire-deck.
Local Wildlife
Game drives within the Moremi Game Reserve can reveal an astonishing amount of wildlife. Possible sightings could include lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, hippo, crocodile, giraffe, red lechwe, tsessebe, sitatunga, otters, honey-badgers, pangolin, smaller wild cats such as serval, and viverids such as civet and genet. Bird highlights can include fish eagle, malachite kingfisher and rare Pel’s fishing owl.
Optional Activities
Game drives in open safari vehicles and boat trips to the Xakanaxa Lagoon and seasonal heronry at Gadikwe.
Jonathan Morris
Area Specialist
No off-road driving is allowed in the Moremi Game Reserve, so sightings can often be from quite a distance. Make sure you pack a good pair of binoculars, and your big telephoto lens for the best photography.
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.