Kwando Concession – Overview

The Kwando Concession covers a vast, wild region. With only two upmarket lodges (Lagoon and Lebala Camps, run by Kwando Safaris) in the area, a visit here is a special experience. Kwando offers some of the best wildlife viewing and birding in northern Botswana, and sightings are rarely attended by more than a handful of other safari vehicles. Expect excellent guiding and a large range of activities.

Best Time To Go

June to October (Best wildlife viewing)

High Season

July to October (Higher rates apply but it’s not busy)

Size More info

2,320km² / 896mi²

Altitude More info

934-1,024m / 3,064-3,360ft

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Pros & Cons

• Excellent wildlife viewing with four of the Big Five (no rhino) easily spotted
• Varied habitats include the Kwando River and Linyanti Marshes
• Off-road driving is permitted, which enables high-quality sightings
• Game drives, night drives, walking safaris, boat trips and fishing trips are all available
• Very exclusive private reserve with luxury lodges and excellent guiding
• Only expensive, all-inclusive packages available
• There are no accommodations for budget travelers

Wildlife

The Kwando River and Linyanti Marshes attract big herds of animals in the drier months, from June to October. Four of the Big Five are present (rhino is absent). Elephant, buffalo, zebra and wildebeest are prolific. There is a good variety of other herbivores, including impala, red lechwe, kudu, tsessebe and giraffe. Lion, leopard, spotted hyena and wild dog are all possible, but cheetah is rarely seen.

Scenery

This big private reserve is a wonderful African wilderness. Its centerpiece is the wild and beautiful Kwando River, which is lined with riverine forest. Ebony and marula trees are just some of the impressive species you’ll see. Farther south, near the Linyanti Marshes, the scenery is dominated by vast floodplains, borassus palms, tree islands and patches of wooded savannah.

Activities

As a community-run concession, Kwando allows many more activities than are permitted inside Botswana’s national parks. In addition to daytime guided game drives, other activities include night drives, walking safaris and boat safaris. The boat safaris include both powered boats and mokoros (dugout canoes poled by hand).

Weather & Climate

The Kwando Concession experiences a distinct Dry season (April to October), characterized by clear skies and a gradual drop in temperatures until August, when they begin to climb again. The Wet season (November to March) does little at first except settle the dust, as intermittent rain begins to fall. But for the first three months of the year, when the storms arrive, the rains give the landscape a good drenching.

Best Time To Visit

Large numbers of herbivores spend long periods within the boundaries of the concession. They’re drawn here in the Dry season (April to October), from June onward, by the park’s reliable rivers and marshes. This is also when visitors are attracted to this and other wildlife areas in Botswana, so expect high-season prices. Birders will want to visit from November (when migratory birds arrive with the rains) through to April (when they leave).

Want To Visit Kwando Concession?

• Kwando Concession Safaris & Tours
• Tour Operators for Kwando Concession