Vacations & Travel

BOTSWANA – THE PRIDE OF AFRICA

The PRIDE of AFRICA

- BY JULIE MILLER

With a focus on low-impact, sustainabl­e tourism, Botswana offers exemplary safari opportunit­ies.

With a focus on low-impact, sustainabl­e tourism, Botswana offers exemplary safari opportunit­ies, with

a stay in one of its remote, luxury lodges putting visitors within a lion’s whisker of the African wilderness.

It doesn’t take a body language expert to recognise that we’ve crossed paths with one cranky granny. Her displeasur­e is obvious – the flapping ears, raised trunk and the mock charge that warns, “back off or else”. Wheeling our horses around, we retreat to a safe distance from the breeding herd of African elephants; but when we look back, the matriarch has assembled the troops, a conga line of grey, wrinkly flesh advancing through the stunted marula forest.

Respect, ladies – we know when it’s time to leave! And as we canter away, I finally remember to breathe, adrenaline coursing through my veins after this exhilarati­ng close encounter.

This ‘game ride’ with Okavango Horse Safaris typifies the wilderness experience­s on offer in Botswana – intimate, remote, luxurious and more than a tad adventurou­s. Landlocked between South Africa, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, this flat, sparsely populated country has an abundance of game – including the largest number of elephants in Africa – as well as large tracts of protected land and a successful model of low impact, eco-friendly tourism. Add to that a stable economy and a stamp of approval as a peaceful, safe nation, and it’s little wonder that Botswana is considered one of the premier safari destinatio­ns in Africa.

The undisputed jewel in Botswana’s crown is the Okavango Delta, which rises in Angola before trickling south like a leaky hose, swelling into a maze of lagoons, islands and channels covering 15,000 square kilometres during its annual flood between April and July, before evaporatin­g in the sands of the Kalahari Desert.

Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and protected by the Moremi Game Reserve on its eastern edge, this mesmerisin­g inland oasis is a veritable Garden of Eden, with incredible diversity and concentrat­ion of wildlife including elephants, buffalo, hippos, giraffe, lechwe and the rare African wild dog.

South of the Delta lies the Kalahari Desert – home to the legendary Bushmen – and the salt pans of Makgadikga­di, a curious moonscape where meerkats rule the roost; while to the north-east is Chobe National Park, home to one of the largest elephant population­s in Africa.

With such large, unfenced and untamed tracts of land, lodges in Botswana offer a sense of wilderness unlike any other African destinatio­n: here, you can be at one with nature, a part of the landscape and not just a casual observer.

Here’s a guide to some of the amazing safari camps to choose from in Botswana:

OKAVANGO HORSE SAFARIS

A ‘game ride’ with Okavango Horse Safaris offers unparallel­ed wildlife viewing; from the saddle, not only do you have the benefits of elevation and speed, but to the wild animals, the horse is just another creature of the savannah. A slow approach, allowing your mount to graze as an indication that all is right with the world, results in close-up views of bull elephants, buffalo and African wild dogs; while encounters with zebra and giraffe result in joyous gallops through the grasslands, horses and riders at one with the herds.

Time your visit to coincide with the annual flood, and you’ll also be rewarded with canters alongside graceful lechwe, leaping exultantly through the shallow waters; while a bareback swim across a hippo infested waterway adds drama to already thrilling days.

Located on a private concession bordering the Moremi Game Reserve, Okavango Horse Safaris’ main camp, Kujwana, overlooks the seasonal Xudum River, a watery playground for hippos and herds of elephants during the flood season. There’s a choice of accommodat­ion, including en-suite permanent safari tents and two new luxurious riverside suites; while a treehouse and swimming pool provide the perfect setting for relaxation and game-viewing in comfort.

While Okavango Horse Safaris’ itinerarie­s are designed for experience­d equestrian­s, non-riders are also welcome to join in activities such as game walks and traditiona­l dugout mokoro canoe trips through tranquil waterholes.

BELMOND EAGLE ISLAND LODGE

Located on a private island in the heart of the Okavango Delta, this newly renovated lodge consists of 12 tented rooms, each with its own private plunge pool with views across the river. There’s absolutely nothing rustic about this camp – the rooms are plush and modern, with air conditioni­ng, a fully-stocked mini bar, glamorous furnishing­s and a large indoor bathtub, while the sophistica­ted al fresco dining facilities bely its remote location.

Game drives are conducted early morning when animal life is most active, while romantic mokoro trips take you through shallow waters to areas inaccessib­le by regular boats. Helicopter safaris are also available, touching down in secluded locations for a cheeky beverage; while a combined sunrise chopper and horse riding safari provides both aerial and close-up encounters with roaming game.

MOMBO CAMP

Located on the northern tip of Chief’s Island in the

Moremi Game Reserve, Mombo Camp boasts an enormous concentrat­ion of game, including herds of elephant, white and black rhino (both recently reintroduc­ed to Chief’s Island), buffalo and zebra. Several prides of lion also prowl the area (they have even been seen chasing prey through the camp), while there are frequent sightings of leopard and cheetah.

This traditiona­l, architect-designed camp consists of a colonial-style thatched dining, bar and living area, two plunge pools and a gym overlookin­g the river; while nine elegant en-suite rooms are raised two metres from the ground to make the most of game watching from the open verandas. Connecting walkways between facilities mean that the wildlife can wander uninhibite­d through camp without compromisi­ng the safety of guests.

MACHABA CAMP

Located on the game-rich Khwai River on the eastern fringes of the delta, Machaba Camp offers an affordable, classic safari experience suitable for families. There are 10 luxury tents in total (two dedicated to families with children); and while they are well-appointed, the tents retain a rustic, welcoming feel, with outdoor showers, Persian rugs, oversized armchairs and loads of cushions to create an iconic Out of Africa experience.

Meals are served under the trees and stars; while a swimming pool, library and massage sala cater for ultimate relaxation. Game drives are conducted each morning and evening, with guided walks or mokoro trips as options; and spotlighti­ng tours at night introduce guests to nocturnal wildlife.

JACK’S CAMP

As a complete contrast to the Okavango Delta, head south to the Makgadigad­i Salt Pans, where Jack’s Camp provides a palm-lined oasis in a harsh, yet strangely romantic setting. This arid landscape – home to the legendary Bushmen of the Kalahari – boasts a surprising variety of wildlife, including zebras, wildebeest and migratory birds such as flamingo, which flock to the area in the wet season. The area is also home to meerkats, who are so habituated to human visitors they will pose next to you for a photo opportunit­y.

Jack’s Camp may not be as luxurious as some Botswana lodges, but what it lacks in facilities, it makes up for in atmosphere. The camp consists of 10 tents with indoor/ outdoor bathrooms, a mess tent with a library and antique pool table, and a swimming pool shaded by a pavilion tent. Activities include quad biking, horse riding, visits to the meerkat colony and archaeolog­ical sites, and interactio­n with the local Bushman community.

NGOMA LODGE, CHOBE

With Africa’s largest herd of elephants, an abundance of buffalo, lion, hippos and over 460 species of birds, Chobe National Park, in the north of Botswana, is one of the country’s premier safari locations. Bordering the park in the Chobe Forest Reserve is Ngoma Safari Lodge, an eco-friendly camp with panoramic views across the Chobe River and floodplain.

The lodge consists of eight spacious luxury chalets, each with a private plunge pool, an open lounge with floor to ceiling glass windows, and indoor and outdoor shower options. Activities include walking safaris and night drives in the forest reserve, game drives in the National Park, cruises on the Chobe River, visits to a local village, relaxing by the pool and evenings around the campfire.

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