Okavango Delta
Oddball’s Camp
Situated in the south-western Okavango Delta, Oddballs’ Camp is accessible via a 25-minute light aircraft flight from Maun. One of the original camping sites in the Okavango, Oddballs’ Camp is an affordable delta experience that suits the adventurous traveller or those just wishing to get away from it all at reasonable cost.
The accommodation at Oddballs’ Camp consists of simple domed tents erected on raised wooden platforms overlooking the floodplains and bush. All tents have a rustic en-suite bathroom. The central dining area directly overlooks the Boro River, providing excellent game viewing for guests. There is also a comfortable lounging area and a raised viewing platform on the banks of the river. The setting is informal and located above the legendary “Skull Bar” where you might be regaled with adventure stories.
The camp is run in close partnership with the local Sedibana village community who provide most of the guides and other staff for the lodge, as well as receiving medical and veterinary assistance. The guides have all grown up in the Delta and have an incredible connection with the Delta wildlife and its landscape. You will be assigned your own private guide (maximum two people per guide) who will escort you on a series of excursions on foot and mokoro (dependent on water level). An exciting option is to camp ’wild’ out in the delta on a mokoro trail accompanied by your poler/guide (to be booked in advance).
Your stay includes all meals, activities, laundry and park fees. Drinks are not included and need to be paid for in cash as there are no credit card facilities.
Facilities
Simple domed tents erected on raised wooden platforms, overlooking the floodplains and bush. All tents have a rustic en-suite bathroom. The central dining area directly overlooks the Boro River, providing excellent game viewing for guests. There is also a comfortable lounge area and raised viewing platform on the banks of the river.
Local Wildlife
The lodge is located on the edge of the famous Chief’s Island which is home to a wide range of the Delta’s wildlife. Possible sightings could include lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, hippopotamus, crocodile, giraffe, antelopes including the rare lechwe, tsessebe and sitatunga, otter, honey-badger, pangolin, smaller wild cats such as serval, and viverids such as civet and genet.
Optional Activities
Walking and mokoro excursions are included in the company of a private guide.
Jonathan Morris
Area Specialist
Take the option of camping out in the wild with your private guide for a truly authentic bush camping experience.
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.
