North of Moremi, Little Kwara Camp is the sister-camp of Kwara, Lagoon and Lebala (in the Linyanti-Kwando area) and its private reserve covers about 1,750km². It is fairly unusual for the Delta as few top game camps have close access to deep-water. The environments found near Little Kwara are perhaps more varied than those around most Okavango camps - large lagoon channels lined by papyrus, shallow floodplains, mopane woodlands and dry, open scrub.
Little Kwara Camp is completely separate from Kwara Camp, although it is only a five minute drive away. It has only four tents and therefore feels very intimate. The large and stylishly furnished en-suite tents with their big shaded verandas are raised onto individual wooden platforms. Each room has an indoors bath, partly-covered outside shower and separate toilet.
Little Kwara offers mekoro trips and 4x4 safari drives (day and night), and the team here are enthusiastic about tracking predators. Drives always have a tracker as well as a driver-guide, which helps to produce some excellent game sightings. Note that the vehicles are completely open - this is good for photographers but be sure to take a sun hat!
Little Kwara Camp also offers boat trips, some on an unusual double-decker boat giving great views over the papyrus. You can visit the renowned heronry at Gcodikwe Lagoon, which is at its best from September to March. This really is a fantastic experience – a must for keen birders. Watch out for the comical baby marabou storks which flap about and perch precariously on the branches - crocodiles lurk in the waters below them just waiting for them to drop off. This trip offers superb opportunities for photography, as approaching the heronry by boat allows you to get very close up - without scaring the birds away.
Central facilities: Entering the main lodge at Little Kwara Camp you will find the curio shop on your right as you approach the comfortable lounge and bar. This area is slightly raised and allows pleasant views over the shallow lagoon and you can relax here, and keep an eye out for the animals which the water attracts. The bar has a well-stocked fridge and you are encouraged to help yourself whenever you like. Adjacent to the lounge is a large dining hall which is open-sided and also has views over the lagoon.
There is a plunge pool set on the edge of the main lodge on a pleasant decked area, and you can relax on sun-loungers here.
Directions: Fly in to the airstrip which is only a short drive from Kwara Camp.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer
Key personnel
Owner: Kwando Safaris.
Food & drink
Usual board basis: Full Board
Dining style: Group Meals
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Room service: No - this is a safari camp.
Cost of meal e.g. lunch: Included
Drinks included: Bottled water, soft drinks, local beers and spirits and a limited selection of (usually) South African red and white wines are included. Champagne and imported wines and spirits will cost extra and may need to be requested in advance. There is a “help-yourself” drinks fridge in the bar area of Kwara's main lodge.
Special interests
Birdwatching: The spectacular heronry at Gcodikwe deserves special mention here and is best visited in Little Kwara Camp's double-decker boat from around September to March. Generally there is a good variety of birdlife in this area due to the wide-ranging habitat.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for birdwatching in Botswana
Photographic: Little Kwara uses unroofed open-sided vehicles, ideal for photography. In addition the boat trip to the fantastic heronry at Gcodikwe offers great opportunities for some close-up shots of all kinds of storks, herons and other bird species. If you're lucky you may get shots of sacred ibis flying in formation across the background of a fiery setting sun.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for photographic in Botswana
Wildlife: As Kwara Reserve is very large and covers a wide range of environments, game is consequently varied. Tsessebe and impala abound, along with healthy populations of zebra, wildebeest, reedbuck, kudu and giraffe. There are elephant and large herds of buffalo in the area, as well as wild dog and all the big cats.
- See more of our suggestions of the best places for wildlife in Botswana
Children
Attitude towards children: Generally children are welcome but please take into account the restrictions below.
Age restrictions: No children under 8 years of age are allowed at camp unless the whole camp has been booked out. For children aged 8-12, a private vehicle must be booked.
Activities: None.
Equipment: No special equipment is available.
Generally recommended for children: Recommended for children 10 years old and above.
Notes: Little Kwara Camp is very open with dangerous wildlife in the area. The camp is also open to the water.
Central communications
Power supply: Generator
Communications: For all intents and purposes you should consider yourself out of contact. There is no mobile reception, no direct phone or fax and no email – this is the bush! Communication is maintained with the other camps in the reserve via CB radio. In an emergency radio contact can be made with the main office in Maun.
TV & radio: There is no TV or radio - this is the bush!
Health & safety
Malarial area: Yes
Medical care: All camp managers are first-aid trained and a comprehensive first-aid kit is kept at camp. In an emergency, the camp can arrange for clients to be flown out.
Dangerous animals: High Risk
Security measures: Because of the Okavango's large population of dangerous game, and the fact that Little Kwara Camp is unfenced, guests are escorted to their rooms after dark. A safety talk is given on arrival. Alarms, sirens or whistles are provided in the rooms in case of an emergency.
Fire safety: There are extinguishers in the common areas of the camp.
Extras
Disabled access: On Request
Laundry facilities: A full laundry service is included, save for the washing of underwear. Washing powder is provided in the rooms for this purpose.
Money: No exchange facilities are offered.
Accepted payment: Mastercard and Visa credit cards are accepted. Diners and Amex are not. No commission is charged on credit card transactions. Rand, £, $, Euros and Botswana Pula are accepted.
Big cats at Little Kwara
The small size of little Kwara gives it a friendly and 'family' atmosphere. We were particularly impressed when the staff sang and danced for us one evening. (Although the guides did not seem ...
Lions, cheetahs and leopards!
The cabin was great, during July (winter) there is no water near the lodge - just a pond in the distance.
The staff was friendly and helpful. I felt the jeep safaris were too long - 4 hours each, ...
Never a dull moment at Little Kwara with John
From the warm and friendly welcome from Lizzie, who had just the right approach to guests, to the great accommodation and excellent sightings we really enjoyed our four days at Little Kwara. The loca...
Useful links...
We want you to understand more about Little Kwara. We're also confident that a trip there with us cost you the same or less than booking it any other way, even directly. So follow the links below.
Little Kwara Click here to go through to Little Kwara's own homepage where you will find further photos and information on the camp...
