Reviews of Machaba Camp
Wildlife sightings and reviews
31 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Machaba Camp and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
77% success
100% success
0% success
92% success
100% success
100% success
100% success
92% success
92% success
75% success
69% success
22% success
10% success
9% success
0% success
"Warning: Think wice before booking"
1. The Machaba jeeps did not have canopies. We were told different stories as to why that is the case, but the bottom line is that management has apparently decided the sun is not hot enough to justify installing the canvas canopies until sometime in September. Management is wrong! It was miserably hot for the last one and one-half hour or so of the morning game drives, and miserably hot for the first one and one-half hour or so of the evening game drives. The sun was so intense that we used umbrellas as a shield. We saw jeeps from at least 9 other safari companies operating in the area, and every single one had canopies. All the pictures we saw of Machaba Camp when we were booking showed jeeps with canopies and we read nothing that indicated the clients would be exposed to full sun in jeeps without canopies. Had that been disclosed up front, we would have booked elsewhere. While we get that some clients may prefer full sun, management should get that other clients do not.
2. It was the most crowded concession we visited in Botswana. While we read that we would experience more vehicle traffic, we underestimated how much. During one drive there were as many as 12-13 vehicles following a pack of wild dogs! We much preferred the less crowded concessions we toured while at Splash Enclave and Selinda Explorers.
3. The game was few and far between compared to Splash Enclave and Selinda Explorers.
4. The guides (at least ours) were not as knowledgeable or as enthusiastic as our guides at Splash Enclave and Selinda Explorers (perhaps because of #3 above).
The bottom line, if we were to redo our itinerary, we would not go to Machaba. This camp should not be on Expert Africa's recommended list (or at least it should be earmarked with a warning that the safari/game viewing experience will not match other areas in the Okavango Delta)." See all these reviews: 10n in Botswana; 4n in Rwanda
The area around Machaba is not private and it is true that it can be crowded compared to the private concessions. I am sorry that this was a disappointment. Though we usually recommend it because the wildlife is exceptional. So we were really surprised to hear that it was not. These travellers were clearly very unlucky with their wildlife viewing.
The guiding at Machaba is usually very good in our experience. We do sometimes hear that the guides spend a little to much time working off what they know other guides have seen. They talk to the other guides to learn where the animals are. But that should in turn lead to great game viewing.
Elephant
6 sightings
Giraffe
5 sightings
Hippo
3 sightings
Leopard
2 sightings
Spotted Hyena
2 sightings
Wild dog
2 sightings
Zebra
6 sightings
"Great game and guiding"
The game was fantastic - saw dogs a couple of times, including a litter of about 10 pups and a thrilling time following a chase across the landscape. Leopards several times, including a mother with her sub-adult daughter interacting together.
Amazing elephants - big breeding herds which allow you to get right in the middle of them. Very good birds, particularly owls.
All made incredibly special by Shaun, whose passion for the job made it a real joy - he even made a compilation video of our trip and sent it to us as we were leaving.
The camp itself is very nice, lovely main building, nice food. Would definitely go back...." See all these reviews: 7n in Botswana
Elephant
5 sightings
Giraffe
5 sightings
Hippo
5 sightings
Leopard
2 sightings
Lion
5 sightings
Spotted Hyena
3 sightings
Wild dog
2 sightings
Wildebeest
3 sightings
Zebra
5 sightings
"Wonderful river edge lodge "
Guiding / tracking / driving excellent eg following a wild dog hunt .Birds in quanity with particularly eagles / owls .Game wise saw leopard , elephant , croc , hippo , giraffe and most antelope ( particularly waterbuck )A highlight was wild dogs with 12 puppies.Game however was less abundant than at Shinde and guide needed to work hard
Dinner was excellent food / service wise with lovely outside big table .Also they did surprise bush lunch for our party only which was a great treat . Breakfast was however less interesting / rather basic
Makoro trip was very good on beautiful river and bush walk was very interesting .However night drive not very fruitful.
Tents were well appointed with good aspect to river - laundry good . Very nice swimming pool by river with fairly warm water .
Internet connection was poor / frustrating" See all these reviews: 8n in Botswana; 3n in Zimbabwe
Elephant
Multiple sightings
Giraffe
2 sightings
Hippo
10 sightings
Leopard
2 sightings
Roan antelope
1 sighting
Spotted Hyena
2 sightings
Wild dog
10 sightings
Wildebeest
1 sighting
Zebra
10 sightings
"Great camaraderie at Machaba"
Machaba has a lovely relaxed and friendly feel and great camaraderie at dinner. The food is generally extremely good and varied with choices available.
The game drives were great, thanks to our very knowledgeable guide BD. There were generally 6 of us in the jeep, sometimes 4, with some lovely sightings of Leopard, Lion, Wild Dog, Elephant and Hippo.
Machaba Camp doesn't have the immediate visual appeal that some other camps have as everything is in tents, but it is far from basic and has the feel of being "on safari" more than others. The tents have very comfortable beds, a double washstand area, a good inside shower, and there was always plenty of hot water. There are recharging points in the tent. At night the wildlife is all around you, hippos grunting and coming on land to feed at night right by the tent, baboons crashing around and lions roaring, which feels very exciting but might keep you awake at night. Bring earplugs if this bothers you.
The camp is very well run with a good management team and we had a brilliant stay there." See all these reviews: 9n in Botswana; 3n in Zimbabwe
Elephant
6 sightings
Giraffe
1 sighting
Hippo
7 sightings
Leopard
2 sightings
Lion
1 sighting
Wild dog
3 sightings
Wildebeest
2 sightings
Zebra
2 sightings
"Machaba Camp review"
"Machaba Camp review"
Food was good" See all these reviews: 6n in Botswana
"Wonderful setting, but too many cars"
Unfortunately, I don't go on safari for food or tents. I go to see animals, and to have a quiet, somewhat private experience with them. Both of these are difficult (not impossible) at Machaba.
The number of individual animals seemed much lower than we had seen at other camps. Long periods of driving with only birds to see. At first I blamed our guide, Kitso, thinking he was just not pointing them out to us, but I think they just weren't there. Part of the reason is that the concession is just across the river from the Moremi Game Reserve. Animals can stay on the reserve and not have to be bothered by those annoying tourists.
And there are a lot of annoying tourists - at least compared to the private concessions I've been in elsewhere. On our first night, a male leopard in a tree was spotted, and there must have been twenty vehicles surrounding the tree - exactly the kind of encounter I did NOT want to have. There are seven camps (I think) that share the concession, and numerous self-driver/campers. At the private concessions, the guides work to ensure no more than three vehicles at any sighting. Here, there's no control so it's just a free-for-all.
In spite of the above comments, we did see lions, leopards, hyenas, baboons, elephants, giraffe, and a few impala. In fact, one day I was sick in camp and four elephants came into the "front yard" of the tent and grazed for a while, then a few members of a troop of baboons trooped on past.
The government is apparently considered changing the rules to reduce the number of camps and self-driving campers in the area. I truly believe they should do this, because I feel like this experience hurts the Botswana "brand". It Machaba was the only camp I had ever visited, I'd probably have been thrilled with what we saw, but having seen what else is available, I was not satisfied." See all these reviews: 12n in Botswana; 2n in South Africa
I (Richard Ball) have been going to the Khwai area for the past 20 years. Last year (2016) I visited three times, each time droving myself and staying for 3-5 days. This year (2017) I spent 5 nights there in May. I didn’t experience high volumes of traffic here. Around the most interesting sightings I only saw about 3/4 vehicles.
However, this year there’s been a spike in the number of visitors in this area – especially during the very busiest months (mid-July to mid-October), enabled by extra campsites for self-drivers and mobile safari companies.
It is still possible to have a quiet and private experience in the Khwai area, where Machaba is, but clearly we need to take into account the time of year, and the popularity of the camps, more than we have to date.
"A bush experience at Machaba"
The view over the river with elephants and hippos was the best we have come across in 5 camps. The staff were a delight and the behind the scenes tour should not be missed. The food was the best we had even at much more expensive camps. A nightime dinner in a bush clearing lit by lanterns and candles was a really luxurious highlight.
Less good is that the area, whilst superb for game, is busy with several lodges and self drives. Expert Africa had warned us of this. Many vehicles can arrive at a scene and there was not the peace which we value so much in Botswana.
It would make a better first camp then go on to a quieter place. We saw fantastic things and would not have missed it.
Our favourite camp but not our favourite location." See all these reviews: 9n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
"Excellent commercial camp"
"Lively Camp on the Khwai"
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Other lodges in Moremi Game Reserve
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Private Mobile
The Botswana Private Mobile Safari has no fixed location; it's exclusive to your group and comes with a top professional guide. Expect comfortable camping, great food, and a superb wildlife experience wherever you decide to go.
Xigera Safari Lodge
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Xakanaxa
Xakanaxa Camp is a well-established traditional camp beside a huge lagoon within the Moremi Game Reserve, with access to some superb game viewing.
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Sable Alley
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Okuti
Okuti Camp has an innovative design and offers game drives and boat trips in a beautiful, game-rich part of Moremi Game Reserve.
Mombo Camp
Mombo is one of Botswana's most exclusive safari camps, set in a beautiful, remote location within the Moremi Game Reserve and with exceptional game densities.
Chief's Camp
Chief's Camp is situated on Chief's Island, within the Okavango Delta's Moremi Game Reserve. Experience one of Botswana's top game-viewing areas by 4WD and mokoro.
Little Mombo
One of Botswana's top safari camps, Little Mombo stands on the north side of Chief's Island, in the heart of the Okavango Delta's Moremi Game Reserve.
Little Machaba
Overlooking the Khwai River and Moremi Game Reserve beyond, Little Machaba is a classically designed camp with very comfortable tents in a great game-viewing area.
Hyena Pan
Fairly rustic, and relatively inexpensive, Hyena Pan overlooks a natural waterhole that attracts an almost constant parade of animals.
Camp Moremi
Camp Moremi lies within the Moremi Game Reserve, in one of the best locations for game viewing in Botswana.
Skybeds
Situated in a private reserve close to Moremi Game Reserve, Skybeds offers a simple yet wonderful opportunity to sleep under the stars and watch wildlife from your bed.
Sango Safari Camp
Sango offers comfortable tented accommodation, without some of the frills often found in Botswana's camps, with an area that's scenic and gets excellent, consistent game sightings.
Tuludi
Tuludi is a brand new luxury camp, within the Khwai Private Reserve, built on a site under giant leadwood trees and overlooking the Okavango Delta floodplains.
The Jackal & Hide
The Jackal & Hide camp is located in the Khwai Private Reserve – which borders the Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe
Khwai River Lodge
Khwai River Lodge is a luxurious and well-equipped safari camp, on the northern edge of Moremi Game Reserve. This area isn't exclusive, but it is beautiful and has excellent game.
