Having now travelled to all seven continents, our Head of Sales, Jonty, is always on a mission to find his next great adventure. This time, he returned to the glorious Botswana for a different perspective on life in the Delta, getting back to the basics of a safari.
Jonty’s first stop was Tsodilo Hills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and sacred place for the San people. Jonty was welcomed with an evening of stories told through spirited song and dance, before spending the night in a very cosy sleepout hut – an exclusive experience offered by Nxamaseri Island Lodge for guests staying 3 nights or more. The next morning he hiked Botswana’s highest point at sunrise, rewarded with views reaching for miles, before marvelling at millenia of history told across over 4,500 rock paintings.
Then it was time to say goodbye to the dusty Kalahari and hello to the Okavango Pandhandle in the north, where Jonty fell in love with Nxamaseri Island Lodge and all it has to offer. First of all, this secluded beauty can only be reached via a short boat ride, which already added to the sense of adventure and the interiors capture its surroundings perfectly. Whilst at Nxamaseri, there were plenty of water-based activities including fishing for elusive tiger fish, boating safaris and tranquil mokoro rides. There’s also the opportunity to visit the Nxamaseri Village for a glimpse into local life.
Jonty’s next stop was a mobile camp set up by Beagle Expeditions, which is only accessible by helicopter – a truly epic start to this leg of the journey. Set along the beautiful Kweene River system adjacent to the Sandveld tongue in the western Delta, the camp taps into the essence of a safari with simple but comfortable tents, meals cooked over a fire, and mokoro-turned-plunge-pools to cool off in – a definite highlight for Jonty!
The helicopter pilots spent the night in camp so the next morning Jonty was treated to a safari from the air – doors off, thank you very much. After spying a 28-strong pack of African painted dogs, they headed down for a closer look and the dogs were rather curious about their human visitors too. By day, game drives and on-foot explorations were on the cards, while the nighttime brought all-new sounds and incredible stargazing.
After a second helicopter flight, Jonty’s final stop was Karangoma, a wonderful new camp near the Selinda Spillway – taking a dip in the water during a walking safari was unforgettable. The wildlife around Karangoma was out of this world including amazing predator sightings and huge herds of zebra, wildebeest and other plains game.
Getting to experience a safari at this wonderfully down-to-Earth camp with a direct partnership with members of the local community, offered an opportunity to witness the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature in the Okavango Delta. Needless to say, Jonty returned home with a full camera roll and a renewed passion for creating trips just like this.
