The Okavango Delta, a famously sought-after destination known well for its phenomenal bird population drawn to the lush, nourished tangle of trees stemming from the saturated floodplains. The eastern portion of the wetland forms part of the Moremi Game Reserve, which combines the permanent waters of the Delta with drier areas toward elephant heaven, Chobe National Park. In between these two renowned Botswana Reserves falls the Khwai Concession; a development area named after the Khwai Village, and now a perfectly positioned wildlife wonderland of unexpected and exceptional contrasts of terrain. Quietly nestled along the trickling Khwai River, embedded in the bush and overlooking the diverse Moremi Game Reserve, is where we find our Featured Accommodation in the Delta: Machaba Camp.
Recently rebuilt, it opened its doors in November 2012 in the same impeccable place as it previously existed. Machaba maintains the simple safari ambience, with subtle canvas exteriors visible through the natural greenery and woodwork that the camp is built in and around. This gentle simplicity is contrasted by the contemporary, luxurious furnishings and elegant décor found within the largely spacious tents. Classically-styled and lavishly appointed, Machaba victoriously holds true to the sense of safari and wilderness that embodies the very quality of Botswana. Outdoor bucket showers create an air of romance, invigorating the senses in sight of the trees and surrounded by the birds.
Guests visiting this glorious establishment can rely on being grandly accommodated in one of Machaba’s ten canvas tents. Settled on the ground, only a walk away from the river, the tents mingle with the population of knobthorn, bushwillow and leadwood trees that flourish on the riverbank. Most significantly is the gorgeous growth of the sycamore fig tree, Machaba’s Setswana namesake, and the abundantly-spawned species that populates the Okavango area. This profuse woodland contains ecosystems and habitats for a spectacular variety of animals that guests at Machaba will be invited to observe on daily game drives in the area. A quieter afternoon invites those who delight in the remoteness of the bush and possess the patience for observation, to spend a few silent hours in the camp’s hide that overlooks the river and the activity that surrounds it.
The camp embraces the era of the 1950s African safari. Pull-back canvas covers reveal the leafy plethora within which the camp is constructed. His and Hers basins receive water from tall, steel spouts, and detailed, wooden desks and tables remind one of decades passed. Immense sofas and plump duvets adorn the spacious interiors, while vibrant mats add colour to the neutral fabrics and dark wood. Private concrete verandas dressed with a table and chairs for two expand the interior floor space, producing a tranquil vantage point for the animal escapade that takes place daily afore the camp.
The Khwai area, overlooking the Moremi Game Reserve, offers a big game experience, introducing to guests four members of the Big Five, alongside zebra, wildebeest and giraffe. The dense wooded areas are home to the photographic favourite, the leopard, while African wild dog is resident. Cheetah, spotted hyena and black-backed jackal add to the superfluity of predators in this splendorous location.
The months of July to October bring the dry season in Botswana, and as the pans and rivers cease to flow, the animals rely on the permanent wet of the Delta. A visit to Machaba Camp during the winter will revive one’s gratefulness for the African kingdom with the sounds of five hundred species of bird overhead and the sights of an abundance of wildlife. Contact us to arrange an unforgettable safari based at Machaba Camp in Botswana’s prestigious Khwai Concession.
