andBeyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp

Located in an exclusive 25 000 hectare wildlife concession, the nine ensuite safari tents of andBeyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp look out over the expansive lagoons and channels of the Okavango Delta. Cradled under a canopy of African ebony trees, each tent sits on a raised wooden platform and boasts sweeping views. Burnished teak floors and a lofty roof frame the sitting and dining areas. Private bush dinners, breakfasts in bed, lamplit cocktails on a river island or a walking safari with an al fresco picnic are provided with pleasure by Nxabega’s warm and friendly staff.

The Tents

Raised on wooden platforms, the spacious tented suites let in the sights and sounds of the African bush and offer glamourous, light and earthy interiors. Front-facing beds make the most of the sensational Delta views, while a spacious dressing area sits snugly behind the bed’s giant headboard, in between the bedroom and ensuite bathroom, to ensure the utmost privacy. The beautiful bathrooms come complete with indoor and alfresco showers.

The Family Tent

Families will be well taken care of in the family tent. Two interleading luxury tents make up a family tent, ensuring a magical multi-generational travel experience for all. Raised on wooden platforms, the spacious tented suites let in the sights and sounds of the African bush and offer glamourous, light and earthy interiors. Front-facing beds make the most of the sensational Delta views, while a spacious dressing area sits snugly behind the bed’s giant headboard, in between the bedroom and ensuite bathroom, to ensure the utmost privacy. The beautiful bathrooms come complete with indoor and alfresco showers.

Game Drives

Game viewing in the Okavango Delta is remote and secluded, with very few vehicles sharing the private concession. Sensitive off-road driving practices allow our guests to get up close to the area’s exceptional wildlife. Afternoon drives continue after night, allowing for an opportunity to see the many animals that are more active at night, including leopard and serval. Lion frequently hunts at night and there is always a chance of coming upon them feeding on a kill. andBeyond’s professionally trained guides will ask you about your favourite wildlife and will do their best to ensure that your preferences are met, whether it is tracking a particular species or spending more time enjoying each sighting, getting to know the habits of the animals. They will also tell you about the vegetation of the region and will explain the behaviour of the animals that you come across. In some cases, the guides will be able to identify individual animals and let you know about their history and habits.

Seasonal mokoro trips 

The Delta is probably best known for its Mokoro rides. These are boating trips through the maze-like channels and shallow lagoons of the Delta. They are conducted in traditional boats which are called Mokoros. These sturdy boats used to be handcrafted out of large Delta trees. Today most of the boats used in the Delta are fibreglass replicas, to prevent the cutting down and depletion of the Delta’s magnificent trees.

Mokoros are a great way to go game viewing. As they are not motorized, they allow you to glide silently through the channels. This allows you to approach the wildlife silently and you will see more, as they are not scared off by a motor. You will see many animals that feed on the grass and reeds on the palm islands such as lechwe, sitatunga, elephant, hippo and crocodile. (seasonal - dependent on water levels)

Seasonal motorized boat excursions

Game viewing is also offered in motorized boats. These trips allow you to cover more ground and should allow you to see more of the landscape, although some of the wildlife may be scared off by the motor. (seasonal - dependent on water levels)

Scenic Helicopter Flight 

Thrill to an aerial view of the Okavango Delta as you soar above a vast maze of both permanent and fleeting waterways. Fly over rivers and pools dotted with lily pads, as well as a variety of wild animals that inhabit this unique habitat.

About the Okavango Delta

The largest inland delta in the world, the Okavango Delta is the most unexpected wonder – water present in a desert. The broad Okavango River sinks into the dry sands of the Kalahari Desert, creating a lush and waterlogged oasis with crystal clear lagoons and channels, reeded islands and fertile floodplains. Dubbed “the river that never finds the sea”, this magical oasis spreads over more than 15 500 km² (almost 6 000 square miles) and yet is so fragile that, if it were denied water for even a decade, it would revert to a semi-desert.

This breath-taking environment constantly adapts and changes with the ebb and flow of the floodwaters that seasonally inundate large portions of the Delta. Although dry for two-thirds of the year, during the winter months the rising floodwaters create a maze of marshes, small wooded islands and shallow lagoons. Water lilies and other aquatic plants flourish in the shallow water, while water birds inhabit the banks of papyrus. As relatively little water can be found elsewhere during this time, the wildlife is drawn to the clear waters of the Delta.

On the edges of the Delta, where land blurs with water, breeding herds of elephant splash gently through shallow channels, the long necks of a family of giraffe materialise slowly out of the Delta skyline and graceful sitatunga antelope hide in the reeds. It is a place where you can wonder at the antics of wild dog in the morning and cast a line for tiger fish in the afternoon, wake in the dappled shade of a forest and enjoy dinner beneath the boughs of a massive baobab at full moon.

Beautiful little reed frogs cling to the water grasses and a variety of incredible bird species make their appearance, from jewelled kingfishers and bee-eaters to ponderous herons and cranes and solemn-looking owls. Red lechwe scamper through the shallows and wild cat, serval and pangolin can be spotted at night, when the moon reflects off the backs of a family of hippo coming out of the water to graze, turning them into slabs of shining silver.

Wildlife
The Okavango Delta is home to a large number of species, including some that are specially adapted to the semi-aquatic lifestyle, like the elegant red lechwe and shy sitatunga antelope. Lion prides, cheetah, leopard and African wild dog may be encountered, while hippo resides in deeper channels and lagoons. Honey badgers are observed during daylight hours. Roan and sable antelope favour taller grass in open woodlands and families of dwarf and banded mongoose occupy large termite mounds.

Graceful giraffe, with their impossibly long necks, and herds of zebra can be encountered on the floodplains. Lion, as well as other predators, can also be found in the area, particularly in the drier areas. Although predominantly nocturnal and difficult to spot, leopard occurs in the dense forest are the water’s edge. The sparkling channels teem with a variety of fish, while hundreds of bird species, frogs and insects inhabit the reeded banks.