Things to do in Botswana

Khwai River Lodge: for close encounters with wildlife

It almost sounds like the lions are right outside your room…

By Cindy Boshoff

Director of Sales and Marketing for Belmond Safaris

We’re in the Khwai concession area just across from the Moremi Game Reserve. It’s very lush, very green and we have a permanent, deep river in front of us. Opposite the water is a hill that everything echoes off and often you can wake up to the roars of lions. It almost sounds like the lions are right outside your room. There are only 12 tents with these expansive wooden decks so it feels like the wildlife is yours alone. The large swimming pool also has wonderful views of the floodplains where you’ll often see game.

It’s a classic safari camp and because we’re on a concession you get the best of both worlds. You can do your walking safaris here, your night drives and you don’t have to follow any set paths. The great thing about the walking safaris is that you can learn so much about your surroundings because obviously you’re going a lot slower. There will be a guide in front of you and one behind using different hand signals depending on what’s around – so very exhilarating. You’ll discover how to track animals and come into contact with new plants and smells like wild sage or basil. The last time I went on one I saw a whole family of baboons and they’re quite vocal so you can hear them screaming from quite a distance. Just to see them on foot is incredible.

On one of our helicopter safaris, you can take in the rich vegetation without the helicopter doors resulting in excellent panoramic views. You can go really really low so you’ll be able to see the game from an altered perspective and it’s a lot easier to spot. That’s just amazing to see from the air because they’re in such large numbers. We also do a lot of picnics and sundowners overlooking one of the larger waterholes that have these big families of hippos. It’s something that you’ll always remember.

Available in these itineraries…

Itinerary

Unsurpassed Botswana and Cape Town
by Daniel Heatly

Length11 Days

Price range£7,660 - £9,610pp

Alfred & Cindy Boshoff

Originally from Johannesburg, Cindy Boshoff moved to London to embark on a career in hospitality. After 10 years of experience abroad she returned to Africa where she has lived for eight years in Cape Town working in the luxury hospitality industry. She is an avid birdwatcher, keen photographer and conservationist. Most of all she loves creating bucket-list Botswana travel experiences for her clients, one dream trip at a time.

Alfred&

Your journey will start with one of our UK team – someone like James, who's travelled extensively in Botswana. They’ll shape your ideas into the trip of a lifetime. But they won't do it alone. They'll draw on the expertise of our contacts on the ground, connecting you to the people who'll make your holiday one you'll always remember - the rangers who'll ensure you'll spot the best wildlife in Chobe, the village chiefs who'll give you an insight into local life and the helicopter pilots who can land you on an island in the Delta never visited by humans before.

James Davinson

Africa Travel Expert for Alfred&

James has spent 12 years exploring much of Africa, including Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Kenya. Rather than merely scratching the surface of a destination, his passion for diving ensures that he ventures well and truly under it! When he isn’t underwater, you’ll find him jumping into it, at the Devil’s Pool high above Victoria Falls. Time in South Africa has also made him partial to a spot of coastal driving and quality food and wine at a local vineyard.
Harrison Mangwegape

Guide at Camp Xakanaxa

Harry was born in the Botswanan village of Thamaga, near capital Gaborone. He loved wildlife growing up and trained at the Okavango Guiding School in Maun to pursue his passion. He started working as a guide at Desert & Delta’s Savute Safari Lodge in 2010 and later joined Leroo La Tau in Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, before moving to Camp Xakanaxa.
Keitumetse 'KT' Mogale

Guide at Camp Okavango

Keitumetse has been guiding for 12 years. He grew up in the village of Mogotho in the Okavango Delta and began his career as a tracker. He now leads walking safaris and game drives at Camp Okavango and enjoys sharing his stories with guests from all over the world.
Andrew Baker

Founder and Managing Director of Helicopter Horizons

Andrew grew up in Zimbabwe before moving to the US to train as a pilot. Botswana had always held a place in his heart, so he began his aviation career as a fixed wing pilot in the Okavango Delta. He founded Helicopter Horizons in 2004, offering photographic flights - without doors - for organisations such as the BBC and National Geographic. The company now offer scenic flights for tourists in the Okavango Delta, Linyanti region and the Makgadikgadi Pans, as well as transfers between safari camps.
Florence Kagiso

Senior Guide at Chobe Game Lodge

Florence grew up in a farming family in the Okavango Delta and has been a guide at Chobe Game Lodge for 17 years. When she joined in 2004, she was the first female guide at the camp - she now mentors a team of 17 women. Her work was recognised in National Geographic Traveller’s recent Reader Awards 2021, where she won The Innovator award.
Ollie Maitapiso

Guide at Leroo La Tau

Ollie grew up in the village of Xaxaba in the Okavango Delta and began his career as a trainee poler in 1999, taking guests out on mokoro trips. He started guiding in 2004 and joined Camp Xakanaxa in the Moremi Game Reserve in 2007, before moving to Leroo La Tau in 2014.