The Kwando Private Game Reserve in northern Botswana has developed a reputation as being one of the best, if not the best, places to observe wild dogs in southern Africa, perhaps the whole of Africa. The dogs have denned and produced pups within a few kilometres of the camp every year save one for the past 11 seasons and we have planned this safari to tie in with the probable emergence of the new pups from the den, one of the most exciting spectacles in wildlife viewing. 

This safari is limited to four persons only and we spend 4 nights at Lagoon camp on the Kwando River, the closest facility to where the dogs usually locate their den (in 2008 we were less than 25 minutes from the den site), followed by 3 nights at Little Kwara Camp, on the eastern edge of the waters of the Okavango Delta.

Kwando Lagoon Camp is a classic luxury tented safari camp built on raised wooden decks overlooking a tranquil lagoon off the Kwando River (which becomes the Linyanti River and subsequently the Chobe River on its journey to join the Zambezi near the Botswana border with Zimbabwe at Kasane). In recent years it has become one of my favourite camps in Botswana, both for its excellent game viewing as well as its traditional old safari style – though the camp was rebuilt in early 2011 and is now quite stunning in its new guise!  The camp exists for the game viewing and there is none of the pressure of many other camps to return from outings to fit in with the camp kitchen timetable…

The Kwando concession is the most remote in Botswana, situated as it is in the far north-eastern corner of the country bordering on to Namibia’s Caprivi Strip, and Lagoon Camp (below) is undoubtedly one of the most remote and isolated camps in the country too. A favourite for Daryl Balfour Wildphotos Safaris for sure!

Apart from its wild dogs – as already mentioned they have denned here every year apart from one over the past 11 years – the region is renowned for its lions and elephants and other big game. Sable and roan antelope also occur here, while Kwando makes a special effort with its night drives, often following predators hunting until late in the night.

From Kwando Lagoon we move to the Little Kwara Camp. Beautifully located on high decking under spectacular jackalberry, sausage and knobthorn trees, this luxury tented camp is situated on the very edge of the permanent waterways of the Okavango Delta. I have chosen this camp to give a complete change from the activities of Kwando Lagoon and while game drives will certainly be an option (and wild dogs, lion, cheetah and leopard all occur here in numbers) we will also be able to undertake boat and mokoro (traditional dug-out canoe) outings. Kwara has easy boat access to the two largest expanses of open water in the Okavango Delta, Gadikwe and Gobega Lagoons, my old stamping grounds when running a safari camp in the Delta back in the 1980s.

This safari is limited to four persons only and will have the sole use of vehicles and boats for the duration of the safari. We have also booked an extra seat on all our internal charter flights to avoid the stress and hassles associated with flying in small aircraft, particularly insofar as excess baggage & camera equipment is concerned. Charter flights in Botswana usually limit passengers to 15 kilograms of baggage each, including camera gear, so we have eliminated this hassle by having an extra seat, thus allowing us extra baggage!

The safari cost of $8690 per person sharing (based upon 4 guests travelling) includes all accommodation, meals and drinks at both camps; all activities including drives and boating excursions; medical evacuation insurance with MRI; daily laundry service at both camps; all park fees and government tourism levies and taxes; private charter flights between Maun and the camps and back to Maun. Single supplement is US$2030 per single and only two singles can be accommodated.

The scheduled flights on Air Botswana from Johannesburg to Maun and back have NOT been included in this quotation, but these flights can be booked on your behalf. Please let us know if you require this service.

A non-refundable deposit of $3000 will be required to confirm your booking within 21 days of making your reservation. Exact Dates will be confirmed according to availability, but we are currently planning on July 28 - August 4, 2012. Prices remain subject to increase if there are unexpected increases in Government taxes and park fees, air charter costs and fuel surcharges.

Please contact us now should you be interested in this safari.