Land and water safari on a private Okavango concession
&Beyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp occupies a private 25,000-hectare wildlife concession bordering Moremi Game Reserve, giving it access to one of the Okavango Delta’s most varied combinations of woodland, floodplain and seasonal waterways.
It is an excellent choice for travellers who don’t want to choose between traditional game drives and the Delta’s water experiences.
Depending on seasonal water levels, a stay can combine day and night game drives with walking safaris, mokoro excursions, motorboat trips and fishing.
The private-concession setting also gives Nxabega freedoms that aren’t always possible inside national parks and reserves, including the ability for game drives to continue after dark.
The camp
Nine elegant tented suites are positioned on elevated wooden platforms beneath mature trees, looking towards the surrounding woodland and seasonally flooded grasslands.
The central guest area is open and airy, with indoor and outdoor spaces for relaxing and dining.
There is a swimming pool with loungers and shaded salas, an open-air boma for dinners beneath the stars and a dedicated massage sala overlooking the landscape.
Despite its polished appearance, Nxabega still feels unmistakably like a safari camp rather than a conventional resort.
Accommodation
The camp has nine tented suites, including a family option.
Each suite has an extended private veranda with shaded seating and a hanging daybed, creating a particularly inviting space for the quieter hours between safari activities.
The en-suite bathrooms include indoor and screened outdoor rain showers.
Wi-Fi is available in the suites, although the setting encourages spending considerably more time watching the Delta than watching a screen.
A family tent with an enclosed interconnecting walkway provides suitable accommodation for families, and children of all ages are currently welcomed at the camp.
Game drives
Nxabega’s private concession provides access to both morning and afternoon game drives, with the opportunity to remain out after sunset.
This matters because the character of the bush changes markedly after dark.
Nocturnal species become active, predators may begin hunting and guides use spotlights to reveal wildlife that would otherwise remain unseen.
The concession borders Moremi Game Reserve and supports a wide range of wildlife within a varied landscape.
On the water
When water levels permit, mokoro excursions reveal the quieter side of the Okavango.
Guests travel through shallow channels in traditional-style dugout canoes, providing an intimate view of the Delta’s aquatic environment.
Motorised boat trips can explore farther afield through the waterways, while seasonal catch-and-release fishing adds another option.
Water activities are dependent upon seasonal conditions, something worth understanding when choosing both travel dates and camps.
Walking safaris
Guided walking safaris provide yet another perspective.
Rather than concentrating only on large wildlife sightings, walking allows guides to interpret tracks, plants, insects, sounds and animal behaviour at ground level.
It is one of the best ways to appreciate just how much is missed when travelling exclusively by vehicle.
Wellness and time at camp
Nxabega works equally well when you want some downtime between activities.
The swimming pool overlooks the Delta landscape, while a dedicated massage sala offers treatments in a setting far removed from a conventional spa.
Meals can be served in several indoor and outdoor locations, including evenings in the open-air boma.
Families
Nxabega is unusually flexible for a small luxury safari camp.
Children of all ages are welcomed, there is dedicated family accommodation and childminders can be arranged on request.
&Beyond’s WildChild programme introduces younger guests to the environment and local culture through age-appropriate activities.
The exact safari programme for families will depend upon children’s ages and the activities being considered, and we can advise accordingly.
Getting there
Nxabega is generally reached by light aircraft from Maun to the camp’s airstrip, followed by a game-drive transfer and, when conditions allow, a boat journey to camp.
Helicopter transfers can also be arranged.
The arrival itself therefore becomes part of the experience, revealing the scale and complexity of the Okavango landscape from above.
Highlights
- Private 25,000-hectare Okavango wildlife concession
- Bordering Moremi Game Reserve
- Nine elevated tented suites including family accommodation
- Day and night game drives
- Guided walking safaris
- Seasonal mokoro excursions
- Motorised boating when conditions permit
- Seasonal catch-and-release fishing
- Swimming pool
- Dedicated massage sala
- Open-air boma dining
- Children of all ages welcomed
- Strong choice for combining land and water safari in one camp
Why we like it
Nxabega is one of the more versatile choices in this part of Botswana.
Its private concession means the safari does not have to end at sunset, while seasonal water activities and walking add substantially more variety than a game-drive-only lodge.
For travellers who have limited time but want to experience several different sides of the Okavango Delta, that flexibility is extremely valuable.
Speak to Private Hideaway Escapes about including &Beyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp in a tailor-made Botswana safari.
