Botswana’s Delta & Culture Safari

Your trip begins in the charming city of Maun. On arrival, a guide will be there to greet you and transfer you to Nxamaseri Island Lodge. One of the oldest lodges in the area, it offers a unique African experience on a private island in the permanent waters of Botswana’s Okavango Delta. At the lodge, you will explore the waterways of the Okavango by motorised boat or mokoro excursions and although not a big game viewing area, there are still some interesting wild inhabitants to encounter including crocs, hippos, otters and bird species too numerous to count.

Nxamaseri Island Lodge is the closest property to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tsodilo Hills. Your adventure includes a visit to this rare and unique place that exudes an atmosphere of intrigue and mystery. The word Tsodilo is derived from the Hambukushu word ‘sorile’ which means sheer. It’s home to more than 4,500 Bushmen rock paintings that adorn the stone faces of the hills and is a sacred site to the locals. It is one of the most historically significant rock art sites in the world, and you’ll climb and explore hills and trails, seeing and appreciating the evidence of legends and ancient life.

Your stay at Nxamaseri Island Lodge also includes a down-to-earth cultural experience visiting the local Nxamaseri Village. The people of Botswana are renowned for their welcoming spirits and how incredibly they have adapted to living in such wild places. You’ll have the chance to meet the chief of the village, and each visit will aid in contributing to these communities and their livelihoods.

The next part of your adventure, takes you to Xugana Island Lodge, situated in a private concession. The lodge is a serene spot, where you can easily unwind from fast, modern-day life, connecting with pure nature.

Xugana is a water-based lodge and they do not offer game drives, but you will discover this landscape on dreamy jaunts in traditional mokoros or on thrilling power boat cruises. Watch as a Fish Eagle catches its lunch or try your luck at catching tiger fish or bream. An occasional activity on offer is walking with guides on some of the surrounding islands and exploring the bush on foot. At the end of each day, be welcomed back at the lodge to a warming fire and staff that are ready to pamper you with traditional Botswana cooking and superb African wines.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the last property on your Okavango Delta journey, Camp Xakanaxa. Boasting spectacular views of a lagoon by the same name, the camp rests on the banks of the Khwai River. Here, you will stay in Meru-style, luxury safari tents on raised decks, cooled by a unique sprinkler system. An open-air lounge is where you can relax, a plunge pool and sun deck overlooks the Delta and an elegant dining area is where superb meals are served.

The game drives and boat tours offered here are of the highest standard, not to mention that you get to see the abundance of birdlife. Xakanaxa’s guides are expertly trained, highly knowledgeable and always eager to impart their knowledge of the area on those who are eager to learn.

Your day begins with a delicious breakfast before being transferred back to Maun to catch your flight back home.