Our mokoro trips are one of the most enjoyed activities. We presently have 2 mokoro stations - each offers different vistas around the area, either a breaking dawn to remember or a memorable sunset. vacationtechnician guests are constantly commenting on this height of indulgence - toasting a breathtaking sunset from the mokoro with a G&T in one hand, and their bird book in the other. We offer a half or full day combination drive/mokoro safaris with picnics if requested.
A boating activity from Kwetsani is top of the list of highlights. There is no better way to appreciate the waterways of the Okavango Delta than from a boat moving through channels of papyrus, with abundant flora and water lilies where African Jacana hide along with Slaty and Little Egrets, Goliath Herons and a myriad of other water birds. Sightings of the hippo and crocodiles are also a big thrill for guests. We have a vehicle stationed at Hunda Island permanently and offer both half and full day drive/ boat safaris. vacationtechnician guests appreciate being able to see plains game on the drier savanna areas of Hunda with giraffe, zebra, kudu, buffalo, and elephant being regularly sighted. Some of the lucky ones were able to spend time with the Wild Dogs too.
Game drives around Kwetsani Island have been fantastic. The water has confined our drives to a smaller area, and involve exciting driving through water over half a metre deep in some places. The Kwetsani Pride has been very active and most guests visiting us have been able to see the 2 regal males with their pride - offering night time thrills with their territorial roaring.
A female leopard has been seen regularly on the island - playing out in the open, and frequently resting up in a shady tree - almost all our guests enjoyed a leopard encounter of some description this month. A very rare sighting of a cheetah had us all very excited. It is very unusual to have these cats in this part of the concession at this time of year with all the water around and was a lovely surprise.
The flood plains in front of the lodge are always alive with lechwe - with the water coming right up to the swimming pool, these unusual water antelope sometimes venture only 20m away from the swimming pool deck. Around Kwetsani Island serval, genet, porcupine and African wild cat have been spotted on late night game drives. Our honey badger population is as
cheeky and arrogant as ever, but great to have around the camp. Hyaena are also often seen both early in the morning and in the evening from the deck of the lodge.
The birdlife has been spectacular with many storks, egrets and Wattled Cranes wading across the floodplains just in front of camp. We had a small flock of Lesser Flamingo's in the channel behind Kwetsani for a week or two, and 4 African Skimmers were seen near MacFarlanes Bridge earlier in the month.
Each vacationtechnician guest has experienced either a Baobab dinner, bush cocktails or both. Compliments on the standard of food have been flowing as frequently as ever with our chefs often called to the table from the kitchen for applause. While the month started with deluge after deluge of rain, it seems the rainy season is slowly abating. We recorded 70mm of rain this month. The weather has been pleasantly warm to hot during the day, with windy evenings and the odd spectacular African thunderstorm on the horizons in the afternoons. Our March 2004 average low temperature was 21 and the high 32.
Kwetsani Camp Botswana is a five roomed luxury tented camp located in a private reserve 25km to the west of Mombo and to the west of the Moremi Game Reserve. The large elongated island on which Kwetsani is built is heavily wooded, cool and shady with Palm, Mangosteen and Fig trees and is one of the most remote camps in the entire Okavango Delta.
Kwetsani Camp is raised on stilts beneath the shady canopy, overlooking the expansive plains. The five wonderful, spacious tree-house chalets are built under a thatch roof, with wood, glass and a little canvas. All have en-suite facilities including a shower, flush toilet, twin basins and an additional outdoor shower for those who like showering in the open air. The camp overlooks an enormous floodplain that is dotted with lechwe and wildebeest. One can lie in one's room, or in the pool and watch the animals in front of the camp. All the Okavango's large predators are found here.
Activities include mekoroing, walking on palm-fringed islands and game drives during the day and night. The night drives are currently restricted , due to high flood water levels, to an hour drive around the camp island. In the height of the Okavango's annual floods, boats are used to get around the area and also to transfer to the islands where the game viewing vehicles are located. Lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, buffalo and elephant are all found in this area, as well as good concentrations of zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, and all the plains game. Access into this area is only by aircraft (dependant on the Okavango's flood levels, either Jao or Hunda airstrip is used for access to this camp).
Hippo, Sitatunga antelope and Crocodile reside in the deeper permanent lily~filled lagoons of the area. Lion, Leopard, Wild Dog, Cheetah, Tsessebe and Lechwe are among the major game attractions at Kwetsani. Nocturnal animals such as Porcupine, Aardwolf, Serval, Genet and Bushbaby can be observed on the night drives (water levels permitting).
Vacationtechnician personalized luxury adventure travel transports you to the most exquisite wilderness and chill out retreats on Earth. Conserving rare biodiversity through low volume tourism; our aim is your indulgence -at no one's expense. Plan now to be assured a rejuvenating escape at a restful pace -to an unspoiled gem in the purest sense.
Posted by vacationtechnician at April 6, 2004 07:18 PM | TrackBack