LODGE-BASED SAFARI – Reaching like a green-fingered hand into the Kalahari, the Okavango Delta is a mixture of wet and dry. Habitats range from permanent lagoons and papyrus swamps to seasonal floodplains and wooded islands. By combining two or three camps in a single visit, you’ll not only experience more of the delta’s rich palette of landscapes, but you’ll also see a greater variety of wildlife and have more things to do. Broadly speaking, ‘dry camps’ offer game drives year-round, with a good chance of seeing large mammals such as buffalo, elephant, rhino, zebra and lion.
By contrast, ‘wet camps’ – with access to water even after the annual floods have receded – focus on boat trips by mokoro. Being punted along in these traditional wooden dugouts is a great way to spot small wonders such as the jewel-like malachite kingfisher and painted reed frog. There are also ‘mixed camps’ that have varying degrees of wet and dry depending on when you visit (floodwaters peak between June and August).
Lying at the heart of the Okavango, Moremi Game Reserve has a bit of everything. One of its most rewarding areas is the Khwai River floodplain where you might be lucky enough to see leopard and wild dog. Located here, Khwai Tented Camp and Machaba Camp are typical of the Okavango’s intimate camps with just 14 en-suite tents between them.
Surrounding Moremi Game Reserve, a patchwork of private reserves offer small, exclusive camps and more flexible rules – you can go off-road and embellish safaris with night drives, walks and horse-riding. Lavish Abu Camp even offers elephant safaris, if you’re grabbed by the idea of walking and riding through the bush with a family of previously captive elephants that has been returned to the wild.