Shinde

Shinde is a luxurious Okavango Delta destination nestled on a lush palm island. It is an iconic camp, that forms part of the Ker & Downey collection in Botswana, and loved by many who have stayed here. The new Shinde is built in a way that pays homage to its former self. Located on the edge of the Shinde Lagoon, the area simply teems with animal and birdlife, you can enjoy sightings of the best wildlife from the comfort of your deck.

Rebuilt in 2020, the camp offers a unique main area that boasts a “treehouse-style” comprising of lounges, dining areas and a fire deck all with beautiful views over a permanent lagoon and under the shade of ebony and mangosteen trees. The luxurious tents and main area provide a relaxing experience with a touch of historical charm. The décor of the tents and other areas of the lodge features authentic safari pieces.

Each tent boasts a large bedroom, en-suite bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers. Guests are spoilt for choice with options for a double or twin bed configuration on comfortable three-quarter, extra length or king-sized beds. The lodge is an eco-friendly destination featuring full solar electricity, standing and ceiling fans. For families, there is a custom-built two-bedroom suite with a fully equipped bathroom. The family tent can accommodate a maximum of 5 people.

Due to the location of Shinde, guests can enjoy both water and land activities year-round. From Motorboats to Mokoro excursions you can experience the incredible bird, plant and reptile species found in the aquatic habitat of the Okavango Delta. The game drives are conducted by a personal guide in comfortable, specially designed game drive vehicles. For the more adventurous, guided walks are also available while fishing enthusiasts will enjoy fishing for a variety of species such as tilapia and tigerfish.

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 giraffes, 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.