Read 18 traveller reviews of Nxabega Safari Camp

Nxabega Tented Camp (formerly known as Nxabega Safari Camp) is situated within a 70km² private concession of the Okavango Delta, to the west of Chief's Island. The environment around the camp is dotted with mature mopane woodlands and seasonally flooded grassland, interspersed with islands of real-fan palms, jackalberries, sausage trees and wild-fig trees.
Nxabega itself nestles on its own island under the shady canopy of tall jackalberry trees and overlooking a permanent floodplain.

Burnished teak floors, locally crafted fittings and stylish furniture characterise the very chic Nxabega Tented Camp. The teak-paneled, high-thatched main area is divided into two: a large dining area where tables can be set up individually or combined into one, candlelit in the evening; and a lounge area with comfortable armchairs, books and board games, a well-stocked bar and a warm fireplace – perfect for the winter months of mid June to September. Ornate ostrich-egg chandeliers, a variety of African artefacts and dark wooden furniture all add an authentic touch.

Outside, a large wooden deck provides comfortable seating areas on several levels. These are lovely places to relax during the day, watching Nxabega's birdlife and the antics of ground squirrels. The deck also acts as a dining spot for al fresco lunches and evening meals. In fact, Nxabega has a policy of never dining in the same place on consecutive evenings and wherever your evening meal is served, it's likely to look stunning – atmospherically lit by candles and storm lanterns!

On our most recent trip to Nxabega, in November 2010, WiFi access had been introduced in the main area. This is a break from tradition for an Okavango lodge but it didn't seem to have any negative effect on the camp atmosphere – and for those with a laptop it was a real plus. Rest assured that Nxabega is still a remote part of the Okavango, detached from the 'real world' with no cell phone reception and no television.

A raised walkway links Nxabega's main area to the immaculate pool deck, which on our last visit had just been rebuilt after it was destroyed by a falling leadwood tree during a storm. Shaded by umbrellas, cushioned chairs and loungers overlook the permanent floodplain. There is a coolbox filled with chilled drinks and meals are sometimes taken by the pool, too.
The camp also has a well-stocked curio shop.

Each of the en-suite tented chalets at Nxabega Tented Camp is linked by a sandy path through the bush, along the edge of the island. Their décor, enticingly comfortable beds (think plumped up pillows) gives an air of luxury. (Read more about the tented chalets here…)

Nxabega offers a mixture of land- and water-based activities: guests can explore either on foot, or by 4WD game-drive vehicle, motorboat or mokoro (a traditional canoe offering an idyllic way to explore the reed-lined channels and lagoons of the surrounding waterways). All activities are accompanied by a fully trained and licensed guide and a tracker/assistant.

Boat trips are a particular draw and Nxabega is very flexible about how these are organised. On our last visit we enjoyed a short sundowner cruise through the maze of channels and deeper lagoons, and we're told that full-day excursions will soon be an option. Typically these will leave the boat station in the early morning, around 6.00am, and will stop at various points along the way before lunch is served on one of the elevated islands found throughout the area.

In the past we at Expert Africa have felt that, being in a predominantly wetland area, Nxabega simply didn't have the variety, or density, of game that is found in some of the drier safari areas of northern Botswana. On our last couple of visits, however, we found the game-viewing at Nxabega to be very good. Impala, red lechwe, zebra, tsessebe, baboons, jackals, kudu and giraffe are all common in this area. During a visit in September 2010, we saw a leopard on the night-drive; judging by Nxabega's guestbook, they are seen fairly regularly, and the broken, bushy terrain is perfect for them. We also spent part of our morning drive observing the antics of a pack of hyenas at their den. On another visit, later in 2010, we spotted steenbok and African wildcat on an evening drive – followed by a great sighting of a couple of lionesses on a zebra kill, and a large male nearby relaxing on a termite mound the following morning. So we are now revising our view of this area's game!

As with most reserves in the region, there are no fences and the animals are free to come and go. There are occasional sightings of cheetah and wild dog although neither species is as common here as in some of the reserves to the east of Chief's Island.

The quality of guiding we have experienced at Nxabega in recent years has always been very good. On our last couple of visits we consistently came back from our activities having learnt and seen much more than we'd expected – and been continuously more interested and engaged than in other reserves where the density of game was perceived to be higher.

The lodge is run by &Beyond who are very strong on training their staff, and particularly their guides – and this is a feature at both Nxabega, and its sister camp in the Okavango, Sandibe Safari Lodge.

In conclusion…Nxabega is a lovely camp, its tented chalets offering luxury and a stylish feel while never letting you forget where exactly you are. The staff are very friendly, guiding is very good, and the food is of a very high standard indeed. The range of activities adds another important dimension, making this a great place to stay to experience many facets of the Okavango Delta.

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Tent at Nxabega Safari Camp

Lodge overview

Lodge type: Safari

No. of bedrooms: 9 tented chalets.

Season: Open Year Round

Ideal length of stay: 2–3 nights. Note that a discounted rate is offered if Nxabega is booked in combination with its sister-camp, Sandibe Safari Lodge.

Central facilities: Nxabega Safari Camp's main building has a large dining area, a lounge complete with comfortable arm chairs, books and board games, well stocked bar and a warm fire place perfect for the winter months (mid June to Sept). The main area is surrounded on two sides with decks each offering their own seating area, and has its own bathroom. The pool area is linked to the main area by a raised walkway. Cushioned chairs and loungers are set up under the shade of umbrellas, overlooking the permanent floodplain. There is a cool box filled with chilled drinks available throughout the day. The camp's curio shop is open between 8am and 4pm; it can be opened at other times on request.

Geographics

Location: Okavango Delta Safari Reserves, Botswana

Directions: Nxabega Tented Camp is a 25-minute flight by light aircraft from Maun and a 75-minute flight from Kasane. Please note that due to heavy flooding in 2010 and 2011, Nxabega airstrip is currently closed; as a temporary measure guests fly into Pom Pom airstrip followed by a one-and-a-half hour transfer to camp, stopping halfway for lunch. A new airstrip is planned for but as yet still needs to be finalised.

Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Key personnel

Owner: &Beyond

Staff: Camp/Lodge Manager: Grant and Dimari from South Africa. Goffe and Joyce from Botswana. (Tuli is the cover manager at the lodge.) Guides: Max. KB, Bee, Lesako and BT. Trackers: Sepapo. Chef: Baemedi and Prescilla

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board

Food quality: NGreat care is taken with the menu and the presentation of meals at Nxabega, and the food is excellent. An early morning breakfast is served before the morning activity. This usually includes the option of cereals, fruits, yoghurts, juice, bread, muffins and porridge with tea and coffee. A tot of whisky with your porridge is recommended to help you kick start your day! Brunch is usually eaten at individual tables on your return from the morning activity. With assorted salads, hot dishes (we had fresh bream and bacon with a beetroot salad which was really tasty), eggs if you wish, fresh fire-baked bread and cheeses on a beautifully presented, woven basket tray, it amounts to your own individual buffet! Afternoon tea, served around 3.30pm, is usually a combination of a light savoury snack, such as chicken sosaties or salmon rolls, and some type of cake – with tea, coffee or juices. The three-course dinner menu is usually announced by the chef during lunch, just in case there are any last-minute changes, dietary requirements or requests to be noted. Whatever the options, even though you've just had lunch, it leaves your mouth watering. We had a vegetable fritter to start, followed by succulent roast chicken and gravy, accompanied by butternut squash, ratatouille and rice. For pudding we had a ginger cake with ginger ice-cream. All very good. Often, on one night during your stay dinner is served in the 'boma', when the menu is a mix of traditional African and barbecue dishes. Nxabega will provide simple lunch packs on request for guests who are departing on early flights.

Dining style: Group Meals

Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining

Room service: Drinks can be bought to the chalets on request and placed in the small coolbox there - nopte the rooms do not have telphones however..

Cost of meal e.g. lunch: Included

Drinks included: All beverages, apart from premium brand drinks, are included. There is a selection of Johnny Walker, Glenfiddich, Kahlua, Contraeu, specialist wines and French champagne available at an extra charge. Water from the borehole is drinkable and fine for brushing teeth.

Special interests

Solo Travel: Nxabega Safari Camp does not usually charge any single supplement to solo travellers – which is unusual for safaris camps in Botswana. It also has a friendly and relaxed atmosphere with activities – including 4WD safaris, bush walks and mokoro trips – which are great for sharing the amazing wildlife with like-minded visitors. - See more of our suggestions of the best places for solo travel in Botswana

Wellbeing: Nxabega Safari Camp offers a range of massage options including aromatherapy massages, Swedish massages, Indian head massages and feet massages lasting from half an hour to an hour and a half. These can be requested whilst at the camp and will be done in the privacy of your room. - See more of our suggestions of the best places for wellbeing in Botswana

Children

Attitude towards children: Children are welcome at Nxabega.

Age restrictions: Children under 7 years of age are not allowed to join the usual activities. On request, a short mid-morning game drive can be conducted just for the family group with young children.

Activities: A babysitting service is available for about 20 Botswana Pula per hour. This money is given directly to the babysitter, who is an ordinary member of the camp's staff. (Not a trained child-minder.) Meals catered for children are available on request.

Equipment: There is a cot and a high chair available at the camp. There are also extra single beds and stretcher beds which can be added to a room for a young child to share with parents.

Generally recommended for children: The area is frequented by many large and/or potentially dangerous animals and isn't fenced so children will need the constant supervision of their parents. Children are generally welcome at Nxabega however.

Notes: The children may be taken to the staff village where one of the ladies will show them how to weave baskets. There is a portable DVD player available for children to use. At present, the family must bring their own DVDs with them. When we visited, there were plans for a library including a TV and DVD player and a selection of wildlife DVDs. These were due to come about towards the end of 2007.

Central communications

Power supply: Generator

Communications: The camp has radio communications with Maun, and between guides on the activities. The camp has email and the internet available for use by guests at no extra charge. There is a telephone also available, but calls will be charged as an extra and can work out quite expensive. There is no mobile phone reception in the area.

TV & radio: There is a TV available in the staff village. Guests can join the staff to watch 'important' sporting events on request and at the management's discretion – although this would be unusual!

Health & safety

Malarial area: Yes

Medical care: All the guides are trained in first aid and a good first aid kit is kept at the camp. Light aircraft flight to Maun hospital is possible during daylight hours. Medivac with helicopter for emergencies.

Dangerous animals: High Risk

Security measures: Fully trained, uniformed security guards monitor animal activity in the vicinity of the camp. They escort guests to and from rooms after dark. Each tent contains a 'hooter' which guests can activate in the event of a medical emergency – and the guards should respond swiftly to this.

Fire safety: There is a fire extinguisher outside every tent which is serviced every 12 months. Notes on what to do in case of fire (meet in arrival area) in every room.

Extras

Disabled access: Not Possible

Laundry facilities: A full laundry service is included. Collections are at 8am and returned the same day, weather permitting.

Money: No exchamge facilities are offered at Nxabega.

Accepted payment: Payment can be made in cash (Euro, US dollars, South African Rand, Botswana Pula and UK Sterling), or with Visa or MasterCard. Tips Envelopes are provided in the chalets for tips (at your discretion) for both guides and trackers, and for the rest of the staff. These can be given direct or through the management. Tips may also be made by credit card and distributed as requested by the guest.

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