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Experiences

What to do in Khwai

The Okavango sets the standard for wildlife and activities, and the Khwai area promises an intimate, affordable slice of the Delta. Experiences are largely water (along seasonal channels or the brimming Khwai River) or land-based and the lodges tailor offerings according to their geography. On the water, iconic mokoro safaris lead the way and are in their prime from April to October. Boat safaris are also possible but exploring at eye-level in the small, dugout mokoros is magical, taking you closer to the wildlife congregating on the banks, and floating past wallowing hippos and elephants in the shallows. Wildlife-wise, the herbivore variety includes herds of buffalo, sable and roan, while leopards hide in the treetops. On land, day and night game drives will have you flexing your binos. Four out of the Big Five are common (not rhino), as well as African painted dogs and a menagerie of birds. For big cats, early morning game drives are a must to spot them still mobile before they rest up for the day. Head out at night to catch some of the smaller nocturnal action - keep your eyes peeled for hyenas, porcupines and genets. Make time for a walking safari to get into the nitty gritty of the animal kingdom and admire the juicy scenery.

Track Khwai's wildlife on a game drive

Where the glimmering waterways and rushing Khwai River wend across the reserve, there are few better places for an epic game drive. Take your pick from a dawn or dusk (or a combination of both) safari where your expert guide will take you on a journey across the lush landscapes, splashing through shallow waterways and exploring the mopane forests. Keep your binoculars at the ready to spot the world-famous wildlife of the Delta. Massive herds of elephant and buffalo gather at the river and floodplains along with sable and roan antelope, and the flash of an African painted dog makes for a startling sight! After a steaming cuppa or celebratory cocktail to finish, you'll return to camp.
Track Khwai's wildlife on a game drive

Glide along the water on a Mokoro Safari in Khwai

When planning your Khwai safari, there's sure to be one word on your lips, 'mokoro'. Many based lodges offer a scenic ride on these traditional dugout canoes, where you'll depart in the early morning or late afternoon to traverse the liquid passageways with your guide at the helm. No one knows the Delta better! Take this time away from the rumble of a 4x4 to spot the smaller creatures of the Delta, from tiny, emerald frogs clinging to the reeds and vivid birdlife flitting between the papyrus. You'll also navigate round wallowing hippos and see members of the Big Five drinking on the banks. The dry season months of July to October are when the waterways are at their fullest.
Glide along the water on a Mokoro Safari in Khwai

Gaze at wildlife from a boating safari in Khwai

Travel the tranquil river and waterways of the Khwai Private Reserve in style with a boat safari. Leave the jetty as your guide weaves past tall pockets of papyrus where jewel-bright kingfishers wait to speed after a fish and banks where the wildest of creatures stop to quench their thirst - think lions, elephant and rare antelope alike. Hear the legends of the Delta and learn all about its four-legged residents from your knowledgeable skipper. Faster and more comfortable than a mokoro, exploring Khwai by boat is always a winning choice, especially in the dry season (July to October). Enjoy the delightful views in the early morning or in the golden hours before sunset when you'll finish with feet-in-the-water sundowners.
Gaze at wildlife from a boating safari in Khwai

Helicopter safari from the sky in Khwai

You'll see Khwai like never before as you take to the skies in a helicopter. Rise over the endless patchwork of forests, tranquil channels and its great river, where you'll have the clearest views of the scene. You'll be able to spot herds of ambling elephant and fleets of buffalo, while pods of hippo emerge from the water like boulders come to life. For those keen-eyed photographers, the doors can be removed for the ultimate snap from the top.
Helicopter safari from the sky in Khwai

Discover smaller wildlife on a bush walk in Khwai

Join your all-seeing guide as you learn to follow the scent of trampled grasses and tracks imprinted into the earth on a captivating bush walk. Leaving camp in the coolness of the morning, there's no better way to take a deeper look at this microcosm of nature. Eye out in-the-process birds nests and spot their brightly coloured builders - don't miss the flight of a lilac breasted roller, watch the scuttle of a beetle amongst the bark of a Marula tree and learn how to follow the hoofprints of a warthog who may just burst out of its burrow. You could even spy an African painted dog scampering across the sand! As you explore Khwai on foot, cast your eyes to the shimmering tributaries where kingfishers may erupt from the lush banks to dive for a fish and elephant splashing through the water. Get a taste of the Delta wilderness on this short but sweet walk.
Discover smaller wildlife on a bush walk in Khwai
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