Kwetsani

Kwetsani Island is a large, elongated island surrounded by enormous open plains in Botswana's Okavango Delta. It is located in the private Jao Reserve, an area of 60,000 hectares to the west of Mombo and the Moremi Game Reserve. The island is heavily wooded with palm, mangosteen and fig trees. The water levels around the island change each year, depending on the magnitude of the annual floods from central Africa. The water levels at Kwetsani are at their highest from April or May to September each year. Kwetsani Camp is a small, intimate, ten~bedded luxury camp and is raised on wooden decks above the lush ground vegetation. The five spacious and lavish "tree~house" chalets are built under thatched roofs and have canvas and pole walls. En suite facilities under thatch include a shower, flush toilet and basin, with an additional outdoor shower. The rooms have an open, airy feel about them, with a superb view of the surrounding plains. The dining room, lounge and pub area is situated under cool thatch.

Hippo, Sitatunga antelope and Crocodile reside in the deeper permanent lily~filled lagoons of the area. Lion, Leopard, Wild Dog, Cheetah, Tsessebe and Lechwe are among the major game attractions at Kwetsani. Nocturnal animals such as Porcupine, Aardwolf, Serval, Genet and Bushbaby can be observed on the night drives (water levels permitting). Kwetsani offers superb land and water activities ~ with much of the focus depending on the water levels from the region's annual flood. In addition to stalking game by mokoro, you will also be able to enjoy exploring palm~fringed islands on foot. Day game drives are a highlight, enabling guests to experience varied and diverse game viewing. Guests have excellent chances of spotting predators during the day as well as on night drives.

The Owners - Dave and Cathy Kays and Kingsley Mogalakwe

Cathy and David Kays and their families, and Kingsley Mogalakwe are the long~term leaseholders of Jao Reserve. The Kays are one of Maun's oldest families. David's great grandfather first came to Ngamiland in 1887. In 1912 the Kays family settled in Tsau, at that time the headquarters of the Batawana tribe (Maun was not yet founded). When the Batawana tribe decided to establish a new village at Maun and move its headquarters there in the mid~twenties, the Kays family moved with them. David's father, Ronnie, was instrumental in advising the Batawana Tribal Authorities on the formation of Moremi Game Reserve and assisted in the demarcation of the reserve's boundaries. Kingsley Mogalakwe is from a prominent and well~known Maun family. His uncle, Montsho Mogalakwe, was also instrumental in the formation of Moremi Game Reserve and has now retired from service in Maun as the deputy chief for Ngamiland. Like all families raised in and around the Okavango, wildlife was in their blood, and they spent most of their lives out in the bush. When they won the rights for the Jao Reserve in the recent tender process, they were determined to make this Botswana's finest reserve. They turned their backs on hunting, even though it is allowed in this reserve. They are only the second reserve in Botswana not to hunt, when hunting is allowed. They have decided to focus all their efforts on developing Jao into a superb photographic reserve, but in the process they lose about US$300,000 in hunting revenue every year to ensure great game viewing and a superb wildlife product in the long term. The two camps they have built ~ Jao and Kwetsani ~ are two of the top camps in the Okavango.







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Kwetsani

Kwetsani Island is a large, elongated island surrounded by enormous open plains in Botswana's Okavango Delta. It is located in the private Jao Reserve, an area of 60,000 hectares to the west of Mombo and the Moremi Game Reserve. The island is heavily wooded with palm, mangosteen and fig trees. The water levels around the island change each year, depending on the magnitude of the annual floods from central Africa. The water levels at Kwetsani are at their highest from April or May to September each year. Kwetsani Camp is a small, intimate, ten~bedded luxury camp and is raised on wooden decks above the lush ground vegetation. The five spacious and lavish "tree~house" chalets are built under thatched roofs and have canvas and pole walls. En suite facilities under thatch include a shower, flush toilet and basin, with an additional outdoor shower. The rooms have an open, airy feel about them, with a superb view of the surrounding plains. The dining room, lounge and pub area is situated under cool thatch.

Hippo, Sitatunga antelope and Crocodile reside in the deeper permanent lily~filled lagoons of the area. Lion, Leopard, Wild Dog, Cheetah, Tsessebe and Lechwe are among the major game attractions at Kwetsani. Nocturnal animals such as Porcupine, Aardwolf, Serval, Genet and Bushbaby can be observed on the night drives (water levels permitting). Kwetsani offers superb land and water activities ~ with much of the focus depending on the water levels from the region's annual flood. In addition to stalking game by mokoro, you will also be able to enjoy exploring palm~fringed islands on foot. Day game drives are a highlight, enabling guests to experience varied and diverse game viewing. Guests have excellent chances of spotting predators during the day as well as on night drives.

The Owners - Dave and Cathy Kays and Kingsley Mogalakwe

Cathy and David Kays and their families, and Kingsley Mogalakwe are the long~term leaseholders of Jao Reserve. The Kays are one of Maun's oldest families. David's great grandfather first came to Ngamiland in 1887. In 1912 the Kays family settled in Tsau, at that time the headquarters of the Batawana tribe (Maun was not yet founded). When the Batawana tribe decided to establish a new village at Maun and move its headquarters there in the mid~twenties, the Kays family moved with them. David's father, Ronnie, was instrumental in advising the Batawana Tribal Authorities on the formation of Moremi Game Reserve and assisted in the demarcation of the reserve's boundaries. Kingsley Mogalakwe is from a prominent and well~known Maun family. His uncle, Montsho Mogalakwe, was also instrumental in the formation of Moremi Game Reserve and has now retired from service in Maun as the deputy chief for Ngamiland. Like all families raised in and around the Okavango, wildlife was in their blood, and they spent most of their lives out in the bush. When they won the rights for the Jao Reserve in the recent tender process, they were determined to make this Botswana's finest reserve. They turned their backs on hunting, even though it is allowed in this reserve. They are only the second reserve in Botswana not to hunt, when hunting is allowed. They have decided to focus all their efforts on developing Jao into a superb photographic reserve, but in the process they lose about US$300,000 in hunting revenue every year to ensure great game viewing and a superb wildlife product in the long term. The two camps they have built ~ Jao and Kwetsani ~ are two of the top camps in the Okavango.







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Xigera

Xigera (pronounced Keejera) is one of the Okavango and Botswana's best kept secrets. Built in one of the most beautiful corners of the Okavango, Xigera Camp is is situated on "Paradise Island" within the Moremi Game Reserve. Xigera is in an area which has permanent water all year round, which makes it the perfect water and land activity camp. It is one of the only Okavango camps to offer mekoros and boating trips, foot safaris and game drives in total privacy, with the main emphasis being on water activities.

Xigera was rated as one of the top destinations of the 'Ultimate Safari' in the March 1999 issue of Conde Nast Traveler.

The new Xigera opened in April 2000. The old camp has been completely torn down and a wonderful new camp has been built on a new and better site on the island. The camp takes a maximum of sixteen guests in superb and comfortably furnished tented rooms. En suite bathrooms indoors have showers, flush toilets and an outdoor toilet and shower. The rooms are built within a shady grove and overlook a floodplain and waterhole which is often teeming with Red Lechwe and other animals. Meals are enjoyed in the dining room overlooking the main river, which, along with the pub and lounge area, is under thatch. Raised walkways connect the rooms to the dining area. There is a plunge pool.

Game Viewing

Xigera has excellent birding. Pel's Fishing Owl, Wattled Crane, African Skimmers, Slaty Egret, Rufousbellied Heron, Swamp Boubou and a host of eagles, vultures and raptors will keep the bird~lover fully occupied. The rare Sitatunga antelope are at their highest density in the Okavango in the Xigera area. Stalking Sitatunga silently by mokoro is an experience never to be forgotten. The wooden foot bridge, which connects this island to the next, is often used by Lion and Leopard to move between islands. Many a guest has enjoyed Lion viewing from the dining room. When water levels permit, game drives are an attraction. Some years we can drive throughout the year. If there has been a very high flood, we can only usually drive from late September to April.

Xigera has something for everyone, in an area where there are no other Moremi camps. Great scenery and activities in a totally private setting make Xigera a wonderful area. The quiet waterways offer perfect mokoro opportunities ~ some lucky guests have even seen Leopard from their mekoros. Game drives give guests a different perspective of the area. Boating takes one further afield, and the walks offer the opportunity to get close to wild Africa. When the new park rules come into effect in 2001 or 2002, night drives will also be allowed. To get the best wildlife experience, we suggest you mix your activities.

The Owners - Hennie and Angela Rawlinson

Hennie and Angela Rawlinson are a well~respected couple from Maun, with incredible experience in the Okavango Delta. Hennie built the original Xigera way back in 1986. Prior to his Xigera days, he was one of the region's best camping safari guides. Hennie is a commercial pilot and runs a charter operation in Maun. Angela met Hennie while he was managing Xigera in the 1980s and the area has a very special place in their hearts. When the lease at Xigera came up for tender in 1998, they focused all their attention on winning the lease. Hennie and Angela reckon that it was their passion for the area which showed in their writing and won them the tender. They now have this prime site within the Moremi Game Reserve for the next 15 years and they have a built a superb camp which is an absolute winner.

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Toka Leya Camp

Overlooking the mighty Zambezi River and some of its islands is Toka Leya Camp, consisting of 12 spacious en-suite safari-style tents. Wooden walkways snake between the units and main area, limiting our footprint on this pristine area.

Tent interiors boast cool wooden flooring, tasteful, uncluttered African decor in earthy hues, climate-control for a cool summer sanctuary, expansive wooden deck from which to soak up the views of the Zambezi River, often to the sights and sounds of birds, elephant and grunting pods of hippo.The islands in front of camp are intriguing and form part of the braided channel of the Zambezi River with several rapids, a main channel and dense vegetation.

The eastern side and main area of camp is under a shady canopy of jackalberry, knobthorn and waterberry trees. The western side is in a more open setting - an ancient baobab tree is the focal point and panoramic Zambezi vistas. Family units are positioned to offer quiet seclusion.

The camp's dining, lounge and bar areas offer ample space for relaxation and are complemented by an infinity pool, with meals served on the sundeck, the pool deck and dining room all overlooking the Zambezi. The novel pizza oven is a great hit with our younger visitors! A curio shop exhibits a fine selection of local crafts.

Activities include a tour of the Victoria Falls on the Zambian side, game drives within Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, river cruises, fishing excursions and guided nature walks. Tours of Livingstone town and museum and visits to Mkuni Market and Simonga Village are all outstanding ways of learning about the people and culture of this part of Zambia. Other activities on offer in the area at an additional charge include sunset cruises, helicopter flights, micro-lighting, canoeing, jet boating, and white water rafting.

Game drives into the Mosi-oa-Tunya Park offer sightings of general game species such as buffalo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and impala. There is rich birdlife here too, including several sought-after species such as African Finfoot, Half-collared Kingfisher, African Skimmer (seasonal), Schalow's Turaco and Rock Pratincole (seasonal). Good birding can be enjoyed within the confines of the camp itself, on boat cruises and out on game drives.

The Zambezi River offers some fishing opportunities and tiger fishing is an unforgettable challenge for keen fishermen, particularly during the warmer months (October - December). There are several varieties of bream (Tilapia) which are a good catch.



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