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Seba Camp
Seba Camp
Seba Camp
Seba Camp
Seba Camp

Seba Camp: Our full report

Seba Camp was built around 2006, and is situated on the south-western side of Botswana's Okavango Delta.

Located in an ancient riverine forest surrounded by open grassland, this beautiful and relaxed camp overlooks a small perennial lagoon, complete with (rather entertaining) resident hippos.

Seba's main area consists of two open-sided wooden and canvas structures, one housing the dining room, and the other a lounge area. Both are decorated with traditional Botswanan basketwork and other local artefacts.

Comfortable sofas and armchairs define the lounge area, along with a small library of books and magazines. A large deck extends from this main area and beyond this is a circle of directors' chairs around a campfire, which is lit in the evenings. In front of the dining area is a small, well-stocked bar and further seating, where brunch is often eaten.

To the rear of the camp, down a sandy path, is another decked area with a few sun loungers and umbrellas, and a lovely small swimming pool: perfect for hot afternoons.

Seba Camp has eight luxurious tented rooms, two of which are double-decker family rooms are linked by sandy pathways. One sleeps a maximum of six and the other a maximum of five and both have their own plunge pool, toy box and hide-away sandpit.

Each of the large canvas tented rooms is elevated, with viewing decks over the lagoon. The tents are beautifully and individually furnished, and have wooden floors scattered with rugs. The beds have large ceiling-height headboards, which separate the sleeping area from the bathroom. They are very comfortable and furnished with crisp cotton bed linen, fluffy pillows, duvets, and blankets. There are bedside tables and reading lamps built into the headboard, and a ceiling fan over the beds. Each room also has a small table, armchair, and luggage rack, along with plenty of hanging space and shelving.

The bathroom is to the rear of the tent – it is very smart with tiled slate flooring and a sink with a large mirror over it. A flushing loo is separated from the main bathroom area by a canvas wall and curtain, and the shower is built into the other corner of the bathroom, slightly sunken, and has a giant “rain-shower"-style head. Hot and cold water are on tap, and you are provided with dressing gowns, fluffy towels and various toiletries including shampoo, conditioner, soap, body lotion, ear-buds and cotton wool. Mosquito repellant, “Doom" and mosquito coils are also provided.

The two family tents are decorated in a similar style to the other rooms, but are more than double the size. An enclosed corridor (with a large toy store) links two bedrooms, with doors at either end. In what would probably be the children's part of the tent, there is also a flight of wooden stairs, which leads up to a further lounge/play/bedroom area. The bigger of the two family tents has a very large decked area, complete with its own plunge pool and a hidden sandpit. The other one has a smaller upstairs area and no veranda.

The view from the deck is directly over the lagoon to the front of the camp, and down the stairs from the deck there is a shady area with a couple of hammocks, perfect for lazing in the heat of the afternoon.

The family tents have two bathrooms, the only difference to the standard tent being that the children's bathroom has a bath, as well as a shower.

Seba Camp offers a variety of water and land activities, depending on the time of year, including guided walks. During winter (approximately May until August/September) Seba is very much a camp where water-based activities taking precedence - mokoro and motorboat excursions, including fishing, are all options.

Game densities in this reserve are generally not as good as further east in the Delta, hence although you should get to see the usual array of giraffe, wildebeest, zebra and antelope, sightings of predators and buffalo are less frequent. Elephant, however are almost a given!

With over 380 species of birds in the area this is also a very good camp for bird watching.

The reserve also acts as a base for a unique elephant research programme into elephant behaviour, pioneered by Randall Jay Moore, and backed by a South African University. Whilst staying at Seba, you will have the opportunity to learn more about this project if you wish, as the guides and researchers are very willing to share their knowledge with you.


Our view

Seba Camp is a good little camp in itself, which caters well for families - the two family tents having their own plunge pools, toys and sandpit. Whilst this isn't a top game camp, it's in a lovely location for water-based activities and great for birding. Come here to see general game and decent populations of elephant but don’t expect large numbers of predators.

Lucy Copson

Lucy Copson

Botswana expert

Geographics

Location
Okavango Delta Safari Reserves, Botswana
Ideal length of stay
2–3 nights
Directions
Fly into Abu airstrip (approximately 30 minutes from Maun). The camp is only 5 minutes drive away.
Accessible by
Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis
Full Board & Activities
Food quality
The standard of food that we had at Seba Camp on our last visit was excellent.

Brunch is a buffet-style affair, with a variety of dishes on offer. When we were last there we were served beef quiche with a selection of salads, fruit, cheese and crackers.

For dinner we were treated to a barbeque and offered chicken kebabs, lamb chops and boerewors, accompanied by squash, creamed spinach, pap and onion marmalade - so again, lots of variety!

Meals usually follow the format of a light breakfast before your morning safari activity, brunch on your return, a tea-time snack before your evening activity, and then a full three course dinner on your return at around 8 pm.

The camp will cater to special requests if some notice is given, and will also prepare child-friendly meals if required.

Meals are served on the deck of the main lodge, which overlooks the lagoon, or are served in the shady area below, right next to the lagoon.
Dining style
Group Meals
Dining locations
Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service
Room service is not available.
Drinks included
Bottled water, soft drinks, local beers and spirits and a selection of (usually) South African red and white wines are included. Champagne and imported wines and spirits will cost extra. Special requests can be accommodated, if notice is given in advance.

Special interests

Family holidays
In a great location for water-based activities and excellent birding, Seba Camp is a welcoming option for family holidays in Botswana. It has two family tents with a private pool, toys and a sandpit. Guided nature walks for children can be arranged.
See ideas for Family holidays in Botswana

Children

Attitude towards children
Children are welcome at Seba Camp.
Property’s age restrictions
No age limit, which is unusual for camps in Botswana. However, a private vehicle needs to be pre-booked for families with younger children.

Children up to the age of 16 must share a tent with an adult.

13 is the minimum age for full walking activities.

Special activities & services
Guided nature walks around camp for children can be arranged. There is also a children's menu available, and babysitting can be arranged on request. Children's packs are also handed out and include: puzzle books, colouring books, pencils and a magnifying glass. The family tents have a sandpit and toy box.
Equipment
Please note that the camp does not provide any special equipment such as cots or highchairs.
Generally recommended for children
Yes, within reason – Seba is one of the more welcoming camps for families with children. We particularly like the family-style accommodation, flexible dining options and special features such as the toys and a sandpit.

Parents must be aware that this is an area of dangerous game, and so children must be supervised at all times.
Notes
Parents should be very aware that the camp is unfenced, and wildlife – including elephant – is known to wander through. The camp is in close proximity to open water and we recommend that children must be under the constant supervision of their parents.

Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Seba Camp

Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Seba Camp have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.

Buffalo

100% success

Elephant

100% success

Giraffe

100% success

Leopard

100% success

Lion

100% success

Spotted Hyena

100% success

Wild dog

100% success

Wildebeest

100% success

Zebra

100% success

Aardvark

0% success

Black Rhino

0% success

Cheetah

0% success

Hippo

0% success

Pangolin

0% success

Roan antelope

0% success

Sable antelope

0% success

White Rhino

0% success

Communications

Communications
Seba has no cellphone reception, no direct phone or fax and no email. Communication is maintained with the head office in Maun via radio.

TV & radio
There is no TV or radio

Sustainability

Seba Camp sustainability

Energy and conservation initiatives

Located in the Abu Concession of Botswana, this family-oriented camp boasts an abundance of game viewings as well as the renowned elephant population of the Okavango Delta. The camp consists of two family suites and eight elevated tents with private swimming pools. The camp overlooks a waterway teeming with birdlife and guests can enjoy daily safari walks or boat trips and optional fishing.

Seba Camp is actively involved in research and conservation initiatives in collaboration with local and international universities. One programme concerning the Human-Elephant conflict concluded in a steady increase in the number of mammals in the local area. The main goal of the project was to assist wildlife managers and farmers in developing alternative strategies for land-use planning to reduce Human-Elephant conflicts in the local area. Elephant conduct and behaviour are now monitored using GIS software.


In compliance with their core values, efforts towards reducing environmental footprint have also been made. To prove their commitment, Seba is now one of 11 camps which are 100% solar-powered. Electricity and hot water are provided via solar panels and inverters producing 3 060 kWh (kilowatt hour) per day of usable energy. Waste water is treated and recycled with help from reverse osmosis ensuring the natural water system is not contaminated, and only approved eco-friendly detergents and chemicals are used in-house. Earthworms in the camp’s worm farm break down organic waste from the kitchen and turn it into reusable rich compost, while the recycling of tin, plastic paper and glass contributed to an increase in the overall recycling rate from just 7% in 2012 to 66% in 2017. Social projects aiming at developing the local communities were also released and helped to finance the purchase of two solar-operated boreholes to provide the Habu village with electricity, as well as water-treatment systems for clean drinking water.

See more great sustainability projects in Botswana

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended
Yes
Medical care
The camp managers are first-aid trained, and a first-aid kit is kept on site. In the event of an emergency, guests can be flown out. There is a nurse in Maun who can be contacted for medical advice, and is on call 24 hours a day. Please note that it is only possible to fly out of camp during daylight hours as the bush airstrips do not have any lighting at night.
Dangerous animals
High Risk
Security measures
Each room is equipped with an alarm horn in case of an emergency, and guests are escorted after dark.
Fire safety
Each tent is equipped with a fire extinguisher.

Activities

  • 4WD Safari

    4WD Safari

  • Birdwatching

    Birdwatching

  • Boat trip

    Boat trip

  • Fishing

    Fishing

  • Guided walking safari

    Guided walking safari

  • Helicopter

    Helicopter

  • Mokoro

    Mokoro

  • Night drive

    Night drive

Extras

Disabled access
Not Possible
Laundry facilities
A full laundry service is included; wherever possible, items will be returned to guests on the same day.
Money
There is a small electronic safe in each room.

The camp is unable to change money or travellers cheques.
Accepted payment on location
Cash in the form of South African Rand, GB sterling, US dollars, Euros and Botswana pula is accepted. Credit cards are not accepted.

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