Read 48 traveller reviews of Little Kwara

North of Moremi, Little Kwara Camp is the sister-camp of nearby Kwara Camp; and Lagoon Camp and Lebala Camp in the Linyanti-Kwando area.

The 1,750km² private Kwara reserve showcases a variety of environments from large lagoons and channels lined by papyrus to shallow floodplains, mopane woodlands and dry, open scrub. It is fairly unusual for a safari camp in Botswana to be both a top game viewing destination and have close access to deep-water.

Little Kwara Camp is completely separate from Kwara Camp, although it is only a five minute drive away. Hidden amongst the trees, it has only five tents and therefore feels very intimate. These are large and elegantly designed, with shaded verandas, raised onto individual wooden platforms. Each room has an en-suite bathroom. (Read more about the tents here…)

Entering the canvas covered central area at Little Kwara Camp you will find the curio shop on your right - then the comfortable lounge and bar is to your left. The latter is stylishly furnished with the largest rattan chairs we think we have ever seen, as well as a good selection of other very comfy sofas – all in muted tones. Being slightly raised allows pleasant views over the surrounding scenery - you can relax here, and keep an eye out for the animals which wander past. The bar has a well-stocked fridge where you are encouraged to help yourself whenever you like – seating is some high, padded director's chairs. Adjacent to the lounge is a large dining room which is open-sided and also has good views.

There is a plunge pool set to the side of the lounge area, on a pleasant decked area surrounded by shady trees. You can relax on sun-loungers here and while away the hours between game drives… don't be fooled by the crocodile though!

Little Kwara offers a good variety of activities due the varied landscape found within the reserve: mekoro trips and 4x4 safari drives (day and night), as well as guided walks and fishing. The game drives always have a tracker as well as a driver-guide, a combination which helps to produce some excellent game sightings - the team here are very enthusiastic about tracking predators.

Little Kwara Camp also offers boat trips, some on an unusual double-decker boat giving great views over the tall papyrus. You can visit the renowned heronry at Gcodikwe Lagoon, which is at its best from September to February. The birds tend to nest in August and then the eggs hatch around October. This really is a fantastic experience – a must for keen birders - although the smell of the hundreds of birds that roost there is can be quite over-powering. 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 a mishap/tasty snack! This trip offers superb opportunities for photography, as approaching the heronry by boat allows you to get very close up, and at eye-level - without scaring the birds away.

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Tented Chalet at Little Kwara

Lodge overview

Lodge type: Safari

No. of bedrooms: 5

Season: Open Year Round

Ideal length of stay: 3 nights. (Note that if you combine Little Kwara with Lebala, Lagoon or Nxai Pan for a total of 6+ nights you will be able to get a long stay discounted rate).

Geographics

Location: Okavango Delta Safari Reserves, Botswana

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.

Staff: Managers – Lizzie Sejabodile and Chocks Asale

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board

Dining style: Group Meals

Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining

Room service: Room service is not available – 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 Little Kwara's main area.

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 August/September to February. There is also a good variety of birdlife in the remainder of the Kwara reserve due to the wide-ranging habitat. - See more of our suggestions of the best places for birdwatching in Botswana

Photographic: The safari vehicles at Little Kwara are open-topped and open-sided offering a 180 degree view, ideal for photography. In addition the excursion to the fantastic heronry at Gcodikwe offers great opportunities for some close-up, eye-level shots of all kinds of storks, herons and other bird species from the top deck of the double decker boat. - See more of our suggestions of the best places for photographic in Botswana

Wildlife safaris: Game is as varied as the wide range of habitats on the Kwara Reserve. Predators are regularly seen with decent sightings of leopard and cheetah and a large number of male lion sometimes coming together to form a strong coalition. Antelope abound, along with healthy populations of zebra, wildebeest and giraffe. Large herds of elephant and buffalo often frequent the area and wild dog are regular visitors. - See more of our suggestions of the best places for wildlife safaris in Botswana

Children

Attitude towards children: Generally children are welcome but please take into account the restrictions below.

Age restrictions: Children from 6 – 12 years old are accepted – the family are required to take a private vehicle. Children younger than 6 are accepted when reserving the entire camp for exclusive use.

Activities: None.

Equipment: No special equipment is available.

Generally recommended for children: Recommended for mature children.

Notes: Little Kwara Camp is very open with dangerous wildlife in the area (elephants regularly wander through).

Central communications

Power supply: Generator

Communications: Little Kwara runs off a generator and inverter system. Type of plug: Electrical equipment can be charged in the main office or the reception area – the camp has a range of adaptors which they feel work for the vast majority of guests. 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. 'Fog horns' are provided in the rooms in case of an emergency.

Fire safety: There are extinguishers in the common areas of the camp. In the event of fire, guests should gather by the fire pit.

Extras

Disabled access: On Request

Laundry facilities: A full laundry service is included.

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. There is a 3% charge on curios for the use of a card.

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