Reviews of Kwando (From 3 Acclaimed Safari Experts)

Expert

Dale R Morris –

ZA

Visited: Summer

Dale is a multi-award-winning writer and photographer with more than 500 published magazine articles featured in magazines such as National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, Travel Africa, and CNN Travel.

A million miles away

Overall rating

5/5

Wildlife:

Bush Vibe:

Scenery:

Birding:

It's incredible how a slight delay can lead to some unforgettable moments. Our landing at the Kwando concession camp In Northern Botswana was anything but ordinary. Instead of the usual routine, we found ourselves circling above, waiting for a herd of reluctant elephants to clear the runway. Despite this minor setback, I couldn't help but appreciate the extra time in the air.

The landscape below was wonderful— a patchwork of emerald-green swamps, woodlands, and golden-brown grasslands; the serpentine curls of the Kwando River snaking through it all.

“Look a pod of hippos,” said the pilot, pointing below. “Oh, and look at the size of that crocodile. What a monster!”

A safari to Botswana is rarely anything but fantastic, and at Kwando, you get the added bonus of being in a genuine wilderness with very few other people around. There are just a handful of small, stylish fly-in camps in this vast 2,300 square kilometer concession.

The icing on the cake comes in the form of regular wild dog sightings. We saw them every day. We also saw cheetahs, lions and a leopard as well.

And as for the elephants? Well, they were everywhere. In the forests, in the swamps, and even on the path outside of my chalet. When it came to leave, the herd was back on the runway again, as if suggesting I stay a little longer. I really wish I could have.

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Expert

Harriet Nimmo –

ZA

Visited: February

Harriet is a zoologist with more than 20 years’ experience. She has the privilege of working with the world’s top wildlife photographers and photo-guides.

1 person found this review helpful.

Wild Botswana

Overall rating

5/5

Wildlife:

Bush Vibe:

Scenery:

Birding:

This is a vast private concession with just two lodges. It is one of the wildest, most pristine places I have had the privilege of visiting in all of Africa. The two lodges have different settings: Lagoon has a beautiful position overlooking water and Labala borders more open grasslands. Kwando’s emphasis is on game viewing and quality service with superb guides, rather than ostentatious, luxury frills. The scenery is very varied, with stunning watery lagoons, riverine forest, tree islands and patches of woodland savannah. There are good numbers of predators, including lion, leopard and some of our best ever wild dog sightings. However bear in mind that with (thankfully) so few vehicles out on game drives, the guides work hard to find the sightings. Watching their superb tracking skills was one of the highlights of our stay here.

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Expert

Emma Gregg –

UK

Visited: November

Emma is an award-winning travel writer for Rough Guides, National Geographic Traveller, Travel Africa magazine and The Independent.

4 people found this review helpful.

Unforgettable riverside wilderness

Overall rating

4/5

Wildlife:

Bush Vibe:

Scenery:

Birding:

Northern Botswana is one of the very best regions to see African wild dogs, and Kwando, a magnificent region of wetlands, forest and floodplains west of Chobe, is one of their key strongholds. Large herds of buffalo, giraffes, hippos, antelopes and crocodiles also abound in this large, lush and marvellously varied concession, particularly in the dry season, when the River Kwando (a continuation of the Chobe / Linyanti River) provides much-needed water.

For me, the main reason to come here is specifically to enjoy Kwando’s excellent fly-in camps, which are wild, remote and exclusive but refreshingly informal, with fantastic guided day and night game drives, river cruises and bush walks.

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