This was our first stay on our first trip to Africa. And what a beginning! Clean and spaceous accomodation. Very well prepared food. Kind and caring staff. But all that wouldn't matter if the animals were missing. But they were not! Within 24 hours our ranger and spotter had foud everything we had wished for.Thank you so much to Master and AK for an unforgetable experience.
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Every 5 years we celebrate our anniversary somewhere special in the bush. Our previous visits have been so for our 30th we decide to spoil ourselves with a visit to Nxabega in the Okavango Delta. Apart from the weather, which was great except not for photography, we had nothing but praise for the staff and the camp.No detail is missed. The food is superb (although as usual more than can be eaten). The guides were awesome and we had our best leopard sighting we have ever had. A mother, firstly posing in a tree and the joining her young cubs on the ground. Too many other memories to mention but many many to remember.
We recently spent two wonderful nights at the andBeyond Nxabega Tented Camp as part of our 15 day safari through Botswana and South Africa. The tent was great; our front deck looked out over the water and the bed was very comfortable. When the staff turned down the bed at night they placed hot water bottles under the covers to make for a warm bed as we went to sleep. The game drives were outstanding (morning and night). The staff woke us up at 6am and we were on the road before 7. We returned each day between 11 and 12 and the staff had brunch waiting. The food was outstanding and the staff went out of their way to make sure we had everything we needed. We can't wait to return to Nxabega!
We stayed 4 nights in May 2015 and lived an incredible experience.
It's difficult to explain as it is just unbelievable, it is the perfect combination for "wild and relax".
No need to take any extra tour as everything is included. Just let the staff propose.
The only thing extra which is a must is the helicopter scenic tour.
My husband and I recently stayed 3 nights at the andBeyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp and had a wonderful time.
Nxabega, which is located in a 25 000 hectare (61 775 acre) exclusive wildlife concession on the edge of the Okavango Delta, bordering the Moremi Game Reserve is the ideal camp to combine all the exciting aspects of the Okavango –game viewing by 4x4 , on foot, by motorized boat and traditional mokoro.
The camp is small and exclusive with only 9 tents. The tents are set on raised wooden platforms underneath Ebony Trees. The tents are simple, but very comfortable with a kingsize bed, dressing table, chair, bedside tables and reading lamps, luggage rack and a standing fan (no ceiling fan or air conditioning). In the bathroom area at the back of the tent is a wardrobe with shelves and hanging space. The bathroom consists of a shower, toilet and basin – all open plan. The bathroom area can be closed off from the “bedroom area”, by canvas flaps.
The tents have plenty of towels as well as a sarong and a bathrobe(no slippers). The bathroom has all the usual amenities such as soap, shampoo, body lotion, showers caps etc. There is also a torch, hairdryer, air horn(for emergencies, as there are no in room telephones) & bug spray. There is no minibar in the room, but there is a cooler box with mineral water and if you want anything else, you simply write your request down and your butler will make sure you get it. The camp has electricity – powered by generator. This is switched off an hour after the last guest has gone to bed and switched on at around 04h00 the next morning. The tents each have a private veranda with 2 camp chairs and views overlooking the reeded floodplain. You are so close to the water, that at night you can hear the hippos eating the grass outside your tent and hear their splashing as they make their way back into deeper waters as the sun rises.
The guest area consists of an indoor dinning area and sitting area under thatch. There is also a seating area and dinning available on the deck with umbrellas for shade. Whilst there is usually someone on hand to assist with bar service, you are also encouraged to help yourself just in case – a great idea!
The pool area is lovely and has a decent size pool as well as a spacious deck, with loungers, towels and umbrellas. It’s the perfect place to refresh after a morning safari and to relax and take it the sights, sounds and smells of the Delta. Close by is the well stocked safari shop – which is a must! The lodge has a masseuse called Rose who is excellent and the massages are done in the privacy of your tent.
There is wi-fi in the guest area, so you can keep in touch. No mobile reception though.
A typical day at Nxabega starts with a wake up at around 05h30. At 06h00 you meet for a cup of tea or coffee, with a light breakfast of yoghurt, fruit and pastries before setting off for the morning. Return to the lodge around 11h00 or so, depending on what you see. On arrival back at the lodge you sit down and enjoy a delicious brunch, which is in the form of a tray consisting of salads, , cheese, breads, fruit and a hot dish. If you prefer, you can order a hot breakfast, so eggs, bacon etc. After a siesta or time at the pool, you meet again at 16h00 for afternoon tea. Afternoon tea has a wonderful selection of sweet and savoury snacks, as well as some delicious iced tea or coffee. Return to the Camp around 19h30 for dinner under African skies. Dinner is rarely in the same place and over a 3 night stay, I enjoyed dinner next to the pool, in the boma and in the bush, which was magical.
Safari activities include a game viewing by 4x4. The vehicles all have individual bucket seats which are very comfortable and a canvas roof, which offers protection from the strong African sun. Off road driving (always done sensitively)allows you to get up close to the area’s exceptional wildlife. Afternoon drives continue after night, allowing for an opportunity to see the many animals that are more active at night.
Nxabega is able to offer mokoro and boat activities all year round. The motorised boats are lightweight aluminium boats which are able to travel easily through the water. Depending on how hot it is, the boats have canvas awnings for shade.
We enjoyed a great morning of fishing with Dave (the regional habitat & field manager) and exploring the hidden channels around Nxabega. Fishing in the Delta is seasonal and always on a catch and release basis. It’s great fun even if the fish aren’t biting and an ideal early morning or late afternoon activity.
The Delta is probably best known for its Mokoro rides. These sturdy boats used to be hand crafted out of large Delta trees, but most of the boats used in the Delta are fibre glass replicas, to prevent the cutting down and depletion of the Delta’s magnificent trees. Mokoros are a great way to go game viewing. As they are not motorized, they allow you to glide silently through the maze like channels and shallow lagoons of the Delta, allowing you to approach the wildlife silently as they are not scared off by a motor. A walking safari with a licensed guide is also available on request.
Helicopter flights can be arranged at an extra cost.
Nxabega means “Place of the Giraffe,”, and besides giraffe, there is a huge variety of game and birdlife to be seen. Animals include the semi-aquatic red lechwe and shy sitatunga, rafts of hippos, multicoloured reed frogs, elephant, buffalo, roan, sable, impala, elephant, lion and leopard. There is plenty of game in and around the camp as well, with monkeys, impala and bushbuck being spotted on the walk from the guest area to my tent. Even the elephant came for a morning visit and passed very close to the guest area. Enroute to the bush dinner the one night we spotted two huge male lions, with flowing black manes – who looked like the ultimate kings of the Delta. The Okavango is a haven for birding enthusiasts and whilst the Pel’s fishing owl remained elusive, but we did see a whole range of birds including the fish eagle whose call is iconic, wattled crane, saddle billed stork & african jacana to name a few. Thanks to Dave, we saw for the first time the greater swamp warbler and Retz’s helmetshrike. A highlight was on an afternoon drive while following wild dog tracks we happened to stop on a rise overlooking a section of the Delta when we saw a large crocodile take a reedbuck which was swimming across the channel –over in 5 seconds, but phew – very dramatic.
The staff at Nxabega were outstanding. Everyone, from the night security to the housekeeping was friendly and smiling. Our ranger, Fred and his tracker Kenny had a great sense of humor whilst our butler English, was never far away. Patrick, the manager is amazing and his genuine warmth, humor and hospitality shine through. His reputation precedes him throughout the Delta, as when I mentioned I was heading there next, previous Nxabega guests mentioned how much they enjoyed his company.
I will always remember Patrick’s greeting on arrival, when he greeted us with “ Welcome Home” . Nxabega felt just like that – home, and I miss it already!
We stayed at a total of 3 camps/lodges in the Okavango Delta in Botswana during this 10 day safari. Nxabega was hands down our favorite.
The best thing? The people. They were friendly, warm, and made us feel like we were staying with family, but with the finest service one could ask for. And we've stayed in the Peninsulas and Four Seasons of the world...this was some of the best service we've experienced. Special shout-out to Moses and our guide Kux, who we're now friends with on Facebook.
The camp is luxurious, but still in touch with nature. And the food? So outstanding you cannot believe you are in the bush. We live in Paris, and have not ever had that many consistently phenomenal meals. Everything is organic and homemade, from the desserts to the bread. Anyway, can't say enough about the experience we had with at Nxabega, except for that it was truly and uniquely special. Thank you!!
