What is a "water camp?"

Botswana offers one of the most diverse safari experiences in Southern Africa - motorized boat trips, walking safaris, game drives in open 4x4 vehicles, mokoro canoe safaris. There is something for everyone! Africa Easy highly recommends a combination of "land" and "water" camps while in Botswana. What are these "land" and "water" camps? What type of experience and activities do these camps offer? Today, let's talk a bit about "water" camps.


A water camp is located deep in Botswana's Okavango Delta (the world's largest inland delta) and is seasonally, and sometimes year-round, surrounded by lagoons, networks of waterways and rivers. Water camps are usually built on stilts and have bridges connecting the tents or rooms with the shared public areas. Often guests can sit on a private verandah outside of their room and enjoy views overlooking the water.

Activities at water camps are a bit different than at "land" camps. Thanks to the flow of shallow waterways, mokoros are an ideal way to explore the Delta from water camps. Mokoros are traditional-style dug out canoes that are taken out in shallow water, allowing travelers to see the smaller things in Africa - birds, frogs and plant life. The goal of a mokoro ride is to enjoy the silence of skimming through the water without a motor, rather than viewing big game. Motor boat cruises are also available at water camps; this outing does often provide an opportunity to spot game. Finally, when on a small island in the Delta as many water camps are, walking is a unique experience and a great way to learn more about wildlife tracks, birds and bugs. The smaller things are just as interesting as the bigger ones!



Birding and game viewing at water camps is excellent. Pell's fishing owl are common near water areas; lechwe and sitatunga are antelope species that have adapted to the water; elephants often gather near waterways during drier months.


Some of our favorite water camps are Jacana Camp, Little Vumbura Camp, Jao Camp, Camp Okavango and Xugana Island Lodge. Ask Africa Easy to design a custom itinerary to include these camps or book our Best of Botswana Safari. 


Photos by Africa Easy and Desert & Delta.

Flying Safaris or Overland Driving Tours

"Do I want to fly or drive from camp to camp while on safari?" This is a very common question that Africa Easy travelers often as ask they are considering options for a custom safari. Our answer depends on several factors including destination (some countries and game areas are easier to access by road, while others are only accessible by air - such as the Okavango Delta island camps), length of safari, interest and budget. 


FLY-IN SAFARIS

Light aircraft flights (instead of driving) between the game viewing regions, land a short distance from the safari camps allowing you more time for photography and game viewing. This also allows for greater distances to be covered on your safari and the flying itself is a highlight and offers excellent views of the African wilderness.

The fly-in safaris allow you to mix quite a bit with fellow travelers too, even though you are not part of a group as such, you meet up with interesting people at the various lodges, where meals are taken together and there is ample opportunity for socializing.

It has been our experience that game viewing, especially for big game and cats, is best on a fly-in safari, or at least it is more consistent. The guides at the camps more or less know where game is concentrated at any particular time, and the various vehicles out on game drives are in radio contact, so everyone is alerted to sightings of special interest.

OVERLAND & ADVENTURE SAFARIS
Travel by road between safari camps is the more traditional and economical way. A ranger-driver will be with you and take care of the driving and guiding all of the way. Accommodations are either permanent or mobile tented camps. One can also opt to do more active safaris, which involve walking, canoeing and hiking out to some of the more remote regions in Africa. This option is a little more rugged, but offers unique experiences and some exciting wildlife and wilderness experiences. Depending on the destination, you may also be presented with opportunities to meet local residents while driving through the countryside.

Ultimately, we will built your safari to include the best mode(s) of transportation considering many factors in your safari. Contact us to learn more about planning a custom safari or booking one of our suggested itineraries. 

Off the Beaten Path in Botswana

Botswana is certainly one of the premier wildlife destinations in Africa and over 40% of its land is protected by the government in national parks and reserves. Most travelers stick to the Northern area and make a circuit through Chobe/Linyanti/Savute areas and the Okavango Delta. Africa Easy highly recommends that travelers stay a bit longer and get off the beaten path by venturing into the Makgadikgadi area or the Kalahari. Here's a bit of history on Botswana...

Botswana, previously known as Bechuanaland, was first inhabited by the semi-nomadic San people, bantu-speaking tribes, from the north who moved into the area before the first millennium and before the European missionaries arrived in the mid-19th century. In 1885, to counter Boer expansion from South Africa and Ndebele incursions led by Mzilikazi from the north, Bechuanaland came under British protection. By 1895, Rhodes' British South Africa Company hoped to annex Bechuanaland, prompting three Botswana chiefs to persuade Queen Victoria to keep their land under British control. The British administered the Bechauanaland Protectorate until 1966 when Botswana was granted full independence under the leadership of Seretse Khama. Diamonds were discovered in 1967, which brought rapid growth to Botswana. Today, the country boasts an enviable record of democracy and human rights, healthy foreign reserves and is considered one of Africa's economic success stories.

One of our favorite spots in the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park is Leroo La Tau. The lodge is situated on the western bank of the Boteti River, northwest of Khumaga Village (approximately 140 miles southeast of Maun). The eastern bank of the River forms the boundary of the Makgadikgadi Pans National park, which stretches from the riverbank towards its interior of scrubland  and mineral rich grasslands. The lodge offers both scheduled guided day and night game drives. Depending on the water levels of the Boteti River, boat activities may also be available. Optional cultural excursions can be arranged to visit the nearby village, as can guided nature walks in the area. Travelers should note that due to the remote location of the Pans within the National Park, the actual Makgadikgadi Pans are not visited on daily scheduled activities from Leroo La Tau. 


Leroo La Tau translates as "lion's paw", but although the surrounding area features abundant lion, zebra and wildebeest, it also boasts Chobe bushbuck, leopard, cheetah, brown and spotted hyena, impala, kudu, jackal, porcupine, genet, caracal and more. Additionally, there is also the possibility of spotting the rare white rhino. 


With just 12 thatched chalets, each with en-suite bathrooms, a dining room, reading room and bar in the main lodge, expansive wooden decks and a plunge pool, guests can immerse themselves seamlessly into the ultimate wildlife experience in Botswana. Having explored the area and enjoyed a spectacular wildlife phenomenon on guided day and night game drives, guests can retire after dinner to a splendid fireplace overlooking the river.  


Contact us to customize your safari itinerary to include Leroo La Tau.