Kati Knowland, our director of business development, was delighted to return to her favorite country – Botswana – for the chance to visit a few new and existing properties to get firsthand insight for our clients.
During her stay, she visited Karangoma (the newest property opened by Wild Expeditions), Mokete (a new Wilderness Safaris property), and Setari Camp, Kala Camp, and Treehouse (three privately owned water-based camps). She’ll be discussing each property in turn and sharing photos – first up, Karangoma.
KARANGOMA – Okavango Delta, Botswana
There are a lot of things that Wild Expeditions’ new Karangoma Camp does really well, but perhaps my favorite thing about this property in Botswana’s Okavango Delta is the way they involve guests in the story of the land itself.
Formerly a landscape roamed by poachers, Karangoma is a prime example of how tourism can heal the land and the wildlife that calls it home.
Of course, any animals that are used to being hunted by humans will be rightfully skittish of the vehicles getting too close. That’s why, over the time since first acquiring the land, throughout the building of the camp, and now to welcoming guests, Wild Expeditions has set about the difficult task of helping these animals to learn to trust humans again.
While the animals are quickly becoming accustomed to guests who shoot with cameras and not guns, every visitor to Karangoma still becomes a part of the camp’s story of reinvigorating this wildlife area and rewriting the relationship between wildlife and humans.
Some other highlights of my May 2024 trip:
• We saw huge herds of zebra and large groups of elephants, as well as ostriches, many (MANY) birds, a Giant Eagle Owl, tsessebe, and waterbuck
• Before an iconic boat ride through the Okavango Delta, we had the opportunity to SWIM in the Delta!
• We saw lots of hippos, both in and out of the water, as well as curious ellies munching their way through the reeds on the edge of the water at sunset
• We got to glide along the waterways in the iconic mokoro (traditional canoe), surrounded by lily pads, reed frogs, and bird song.
• The food was a definite highlight – one dinner in particular, a delicious steak with perfectly cooked potatoes, was my favorite of this three-week trip.
• The beds were heavenly. I don’t often think much about beds when I’m on safari, but these were so comfortable I wished I could bring one home with me. Plus, slipping into bed on a cold evening and finding a hot water bottle (also known as a bush baby) tucked under the covers, is about as close to perfection as it comes!
• The rooms were quite spacious and comfortable, and there is one family room that has one standard-sized suite and one slightly smaller suite for children.
