With a design inspired by Botswana’s local fishermen, safari specialists Great Plains have developed this intimate and boutique camp in one of the most scenic parts of the Okavango Delta. This peaceful location, with just three tented suites, offers mainly water-based activities and combines well with a visit to one of the company’s other luxury camps for more traditional land-based safari activities. The camp is named after the rare sitatunga antelope, which can be seen here, along with an abundance of wildlife that include elephants, crocodiles, hippos, and countless species of birdlife.
All the building materials have been salvaged and repurposed, allowing the camp to blend seamlessly into the natural environment. Set on a deck high in the ebony trees offering both shade and optimal wildlife viewing, the camp has been built using thick recycled woods, traditional thatch, and canvas in a style that echoes the oversized baskets used by the local fisherman. The main camp includes a communal lounge, dining area, bar, firepit, boutique selling local crafts, and swimming pool, while solar-powered air conditioning and fans keep guests cool.
This is a wonderful photographic location, and each suite offers the complimentary use of a professional camera and high-tech binoculars. At the end of the stay, photographs are downloaded for guests onto a USB. The Private Island Suite also includes a personal guide and boat, so guests can enjoy total flexibility and independence. Walking safaris accompanied by an expert guard, provide close contact with the island’s plant, insect, and birdlife. Guests can also enjoy the wildlife from the waterways, traveling in either a mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe, or a flat-bottomed motorboat with swivel chairs, ideal for wildlife spotting and tag and release fishing expeditions (March to December). For an aerial perspective, scenic flights are available for an additional charge.
Two of the suites are located at the main camp and sleep up to two guests each, while the Private Island Suite offers the ultimate in seclusion and is set away from the rest of the camp. It sleeps up to four adults or a family of two adults and three children. Children must be at least 6 years of age but please note that walking and mokoro canoe safaris are only available to those over 12 years old. All the accommodation is spacious, and each of the two suites includes a bedroom, separate lounge, bathroom with copper bathtub and shower, private deck, and plunge pool. The Private Island Suite comprises two ensuite bedrooms linked by a shared lounge. Expect comfortable beds with premium linens, a well-stocked fridge, flush WC, and hairdryer. Each suite also includes a fitness area with yoga mat, weights, and training equipment. In-room massages can be booked for an additional charge.
Guests can enjoy sumptuous indoor and outdoor a la carte dining in various camp locations, while guests in the private suite have the option to eat within their own space. After dinner, the firepit is a cozy spot under the night's sparkling sky to discuss the day’s sightings and activities over a glass of wine from the well-stocked cellar.
