Kwando Lagoon Camp
Linyanti, Botswana
At a Glance
Day and night game drives
Wonderful fishing opportunities
Set on the banks of the Kwando River
8 en-suite tents – with inside/outside showers – including a twin room family unit
Evening boat cruises
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Best time to Visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
Botswana’s winter is May to October when the weather is hot during the day (not stiflingly hot) and cold at night. Botswana's summer months (November to April) can be hot and humid and there is a chance of rain. Botswana has one rainy season which runs between mid-December and runs through to mid-March.
Insider's View
Combine a stay in Linyanti with the Okavango Delta to experience some of the variety that Botswana has to offer.
Take a boat trip in Lagoon's double decker boat - the water is clear enough to see hippos passing beneath!
Call us on 020 3993 5269 to start planning your holiday to Kwando Lagoon Camp or take a look at our itineraries to Linyanti
Description
Kwando Lagoon Camp is a eight-room camp, lying on the shady banks of the Kwando River and set among tall and ancient African ebony and marula trees, overlooking the Kwando River with its resident pods of hippo, perfect for exploring by boat.
Kwando Lagoon Camp accommodates 18 guests in eight twin-bedded safari-style tents. Each tent looks out over the water and has en-suite facilities and modern amenities.
At Lagoon Camp, morning and night game drives are conducted by guides and trackers in open safari vehicles. This area is home to huge herds of elephant and buffalo; there are few places in Africa where such concentrated numbers of these animals exist, especially in the dry season, and a family of hippo and an elephant or three are regularly sighted from the tents, which contributes to the relaxed calm that prevails at Lagoon.
The predators are also well represented by lion, hyena, leopard, cheetah and wild dog. These animals are generally not disturbed by the close presence of vehicles, meaning the sightings are good; Lagoon's guides are exceptionally keen to show their guests the predators, sometimes at very close range. This style of guiding is not for everyone; but for the guest keen to get up close and personal and tick off their predators it works very well.
Boat cruises along the Kwando River provide excellent opportunities for bird watching and specialist fly fishing and spinner fishing for tiger fish and bream are also on offer.
Lagoon’s staff are there to look after you efficiently, and to ensure a peaceful stay. There is a guest pool in which to cool off during the hot months, and freshly prepared delicious meals are served in the thatched dining room overlooking the tranquil waters of the lagoon.
Accommodation
Accommodation is in eight en-suite tents – with inside/outside showers. There is also a twin room family unit.
Childcare
There is a minimum age of 8 years at Kwando Lagoon Camp. Those families who choose to book a ‘Family Safari’ have their own private vehicle with their own guide and tracker who will look after them both on game drives and in camp. The guide will also accompany them throughout their stay, moving with them through the Kwando camps. Caring for the children is a full time job and continues beyond the game drive and in camp, thereby allowing the parents some well earned rest!
The programmes vary for each family and are based on the ages, sexes and interests of the children. The guides’ aim is to not only keep the children entertained but ensure that they learn a great deal under their expert guidance. Generally, activities include spoor castings, using spotlights, fishing, mammal, bird and plant identification, identifying night sounds and making greeting cards out of natural materials.
Activities
Activities at Kwando Lagoon Camp include walking nature safaris (seasonal), guided game drives, specialist fly fishing and spinner fishing for tiger fish and bream are also on offer. Evening boat cruises provide the tranquil setting for some bird watching and to enjoy a sundowner before returning to camp. The specially designed Mokoro canoe gives you the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the ways of the indigenous people as you explore the low level waterways. There is also a swimming pool at the camp where guests can enjoy a relaxing swim in between safaris.
Reviews
Anna Hearn (Staff)
I first visited Lagoon Camp back in 2007, when the camp was much simpler and much more rustic than it is now; the tents were meru tents, and the main area quite small. After a huge rebuild in 2010, the camp has a more luxurious feel, with a beautiful main area with large bar, dining room, super deck with swing seats, a swimming pool and an upstairs library with great views. The camp overlooks the river and the floodplains beyond; the boat dock is in the main camp meaning no transfer to get to your boat safari. The staff at Lagoon remain the same; friendly, welcoming and efficient, and the guiding is really good, with a guide and tracker working together to find the best wildlife sightings; there is less radio talk than at some other camps which is refreshing. Several times during our first game drive the guide and tracker would get out of the vehicle and seek out footprints on the ground; we were eventually rewarded with a great sighting of a male and female lion as they padded through the bush. The guides are excellent at positioning the vehicle for photography, taking into account the light and shade, and we were able to get some amazing photographs of a female leopard and her cubs as they feasted on an impala kill wedged high in a tree. Refreshingly, and as with all Kwando camps, Lagoon is run by Botswanans, and the camp atmosphere is unfailingly cheerful; we were serenaded by Peggy at dinner before the meal was served, and taken to our rooms with bush babies hot water bottles to ward off the winter chill. All in all a lovely camp.
Experiences
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Boat safari in the Okavango Delta
Travel through the waterways of the Okavango Delta on a boat safari, exploring the papyrus reeds and hippo habitats with your guide. The smooth ride offers a soothing alternative to time spent in a vehicle. Always subject to water levels.
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Game Drives in Botswana
Viewing wildlife from a vehicle is the best way to get up close to big game. Allow your professional safari guide to cover ground to guarantee you some unforgettable sightings in Africa's premier safari destination.
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Helicopter ride over the Delta
The Okavango Delta is a vast patchwork of deep-water channels, shallow lagoons and date palm islands, fringed with the ubiquitous papyrus reeds. A doors-off scenic helicopter flight is an exhilarating way to take in these sights and a real treat, too!
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Mokoro trips in Botswana
Botswana's northern safari areas are full of water channels just waiting to be explored. Larger boats can be used to explore the wider channels but for the aficionado, mokoro trips into the smaller channels are a real treat. Always subject to waterlevels
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Walking Safaris and Nature Walks
Walking in the African bush with a professional safari guide is a fantastic experience. Enjoy a completely different perspective on foot than from a vehicle.
Holiday Ideas
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Botswana Safari in Green Season
Linyanti & Okavango Delta
from £4200 pp inc flights & transfers for 6 nights
- Travelling during the green season offers some wonderful wildlife opportunities along with fewer travellers.
- Enjoy a range of game activities, from game drives and walking safaris to boat trips and mokoro excursions.
- The green season is a great time of year to see recently born and young animals with their mothers.
Location & directions
Linyanti, Botswana
Lagoon is perched on the banks of the wild Kwando River, overlooking the Mudumu National Park in the Namibian Caprivi Strip.
How to get there
It is an 11-hour international flight to Johannesburg, followed by a 2-hour international flight to Maun. For Kwando airstrip its then a 30-minute flight in a light aircraft. From Kwando airstrip, it usually takes 20 to 30 minutes to reach Lagoon Camp with some game viewing on the way.
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