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Welcome to the latest Odzala Observer – the first in a series of three, looking in more detail at each of our Camps in and around Odzala-Kokoua National Park. We’ll take you behind the scenes at each of our Camps and show you that while they are all equally wonderful, each is unique and offers a different – and unmissable – experience.

The character or ‘flavour’ of each Camp is largely determined by the habitats which surround them, and the different ways you can explore these.

Mboko Camp is the largest of the three Camps, and serves as our headquarters for Odzala.

Mboko is two hours into the Park, passing through an ever-changing mosaic of savannah and forest blocks – in essence, the drive is a mini-transect of the Park and gives a taste of each of the ecosystems that are represented. En route, look out for chimpanzees, and clouds of butterflies as you cross crystal-clear streams.

Mboko, which is situated in a savannah clearing, has a very different feel to the dense rainforests of Ngaga. The Camp’s twelve rooms overlook the clear-running Lekeni River, which rushes and burbles by before joining the chocolate-brown Lekoli River just beyond the Camp.

The centrepiece of the Camp is the large, airy main deck with the restaurant and star deck – the perfect place to gather for sundowners. Mboko was carefully sited between Odzala’s iconic termite mounds to give expansive views out across the meadow-like grasslands. The warm glow of the lights can be seen from some distance away across the savannah at night – a beacon of wonderful hospitality.

Mboko was the last of the three Camps to be opened, but the first to be 100% solar-powered, meaning that a hot shower there has not only the pleasure of luxury in a remote and wild place, but is also entirely guilt-free! The two family rooms mean that your children can share in the magic of Mboko, too.

Mboko takes its name from two tribes who settled in this to pursue the salt trade. The Mboshi and Kota people were drawn to Odzala’s bai areas and fragments of their distinctively-marked pottery can still be found in the Park, especially when the river levels are lower.

Along with the name of the Camp, their most significant legacy might just be the lime trees they planted along the river – but more on that later.

During 2015 we took the significant step of converting Lango Camp into one of Africa’s most eco-friendly safari accommodations. Lango bai, like all Odzala’s wetland habitats, is both essential to life in the Park and extremely fragile. We now operate Lango as a satellite Camp from Mboko which allows us to share the wonders of the bai and its wildlife with you, while minimising our footprint there.

Mboko boasts a formidable guiding team in the shape of Alon Cassidy, Teske Erasmus and Kerri-Lee du Preez. Alon is now the longest serving guide at CCC – the length of his time here rivalled only by that of his beard. Rumour has it that he won’t cut it until he leaves Odzala, so we’re happy to see it getting ever longer! Alon is practically a local in the forests of western Central Africa, having grown up at his parents’ lodge in the neighbouring Central African Republic. Kerri and Teske learned their trade in South Africa and brought not just their professional skills, but wonderfully infectious energy and curiosity with them to Odzala.

A real highlight of any stay at Mboko is the chance to explore the Lekoli River by boat or kayak. Kayaking is ‘Lekoli unplugged’ – nature at its most elemental, viewed and overheard as you drift silently along.

The wildlife which frequents the riverbanks is unfazed by the bright orange kayaks, letting you watch them go about their business. This can be a great way to spot monkeys in the trees that overhang the river.

Boating allows you to head further afield, peering into riverside clearings to spot sitatunga, forest elephant and even bongo. Towards the end of the day, fresh-picked limes from the riverside trees adds a unique taste to your sundowner gin and tonic…

Back on terra firma, the Mboko guides are always looking to add to our network of forest trails in their quest to reveal more of the magic of Odzala. Their inventiveness is matched only by that of the Mboko kitchen team, led by safari veteran chef Saju. If a hot shower after an Odzala walk is an unexpected luxury, then a chocolate samosa for dessert should be an impossibility – and yet they make it happen, and much more besides.

After dinner, fall asleep to the gentle sounds of forest elephants rustling by just metres from your room, or the ruminations of Ferdi, an old forest buffalo bull who seems to have adopted Mboko and regularly sleeps beneath the main deck.

View Mboko Camp information on Africa Discovery website:

http://www.africa-discovery.com/congo/camps/odzala/mboko-camp.php

Contact us @ Africa Discovery:
1 800 886-7321, (415) 444-5100
or Email us

Desert & Delta Safaris has great pleasure in announcing that the construction of the new Camp Okavango is now completed and we welcomed our first guests back to our Okavango Delta paradise, on Nxaragha Island, on April 14, 2016.

Having hosted travelers to the Okavango Delta for over 35 years, in November 2015 Camp Okavango said goodbye to its last guests and made way for the new Camp Okavango.  This remodeled Camp promises to continue the traditions for which the original camp is renowned, but now from a newly designed eco-sensitive camp.

The rebuild of Camp Okavango took a total of 5 months which began with the complete removal of the original camps infrastructure. The new camp has moved to the edge of the Nxaragha Island to take advantage of the impressive delta scenery, but has remained within the original camps general location to ensure there was minimal impact on the environment during construction.

AN ECO-CONSCIOUS DELTA CAMP 

In staying with our sustainable tourism objectives, Camp Okavango has been built using a variety of modern, non-invasive, building techniques. Along with the eco-friendly design of the lodge, it is now run solely on renewable solar energy. The seventy kilowatt solar power plant provides the camp with twenty four hours of clean, green energy.

In addition to this initiative, we have further reduced the impact on the environment by installing a state of the art water treatment plant that can provide approx. 20,000 liters of environmentally friendly waste water a day. This water is now used to irrigate the camp environment as well as Camp Okavango’s private grass airstrip. Previously this water was extracted from the Delta, but this new technology now allows it to be pumped into our irrigation system to maintain the natural grass surfaced airfield which guests use to access the lodge every day.

LAYOUT & DESIGN

Perfectly positioned on the edge of the Nxaragha Island, Camp Okavango’s expansive main area has been built on elevated wooden decks with interconnected walkways linking the two lounge areas, dining room, library, self-service bar and curio shop. In front of the thatched lounges sweeping ramps lead to the lower decks with two open-air fire pits and comfortable seating areas to relax and take in the natural surroundings. There is a third deck which leads off from the main area which has a secluded rim flow swimming pool and thatched lounge for those warm summer days.

GUEST ACCOMMODATION

Camp Okavango has twelve rooms, accommodating a maximum of 24 guests, eleven intimate safari suites and one family suite. All rooms are on elevated wooden platforms and are connected with the main lodge via a wooden walkway. Each of the guest rooms have been thoughtfully placed beneath the natural Okavango Delta vegetation offering impeccable views over the delta. Inside, the expansive open-plan rooms have a bedroom (double or twin), lounge and en-suite bathroom. The en-suite bathrooms have double vanities, double shower and a separate water closet. Through the large stack away sliding doors the rooms open onto a private viewing deck to take in the spectacular scenery.

The new family unit has two separate bedrooms both with en-suite bathrooms with interconnected doors for easy access between the rooms. With the addition of a family room, Camp Okavango now forms part of our new Ultimate Family Safari Packages which offer families the opportunity to experience the diversity of Botswana on an easy to book and flexible itinerary.

THE CAMP OKAVANGO EXPERIENCE

With its location deep in the heart of the Okavango Delta, Camp Okavango focuses mainly on exploring the natural wonders of the delta. Our experienced guides take guests out to explore the intricate waterways of the delta in a modern motorboat or the old-fashioned way, in a traditional mokoro (dugout canoe).

For those hoping to get closer to nature, guided bush walks are conducted on the many nearby islands, offering an opportunity to track some of the larger land-based species that inhabit this water wilderness. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Okavango Delta is one of the world’s last true remaining wilderness regions. The new Camp Okavango allows visitors the opportunity to truly immerse themselves into this water wilderness environment from a modern eco-sensitive camp which boasts the traditions of the original Camp Okavango and Desert & Delta Safaris.

 THE DESERT & DELTA SAFARIS PORTFOLIO

Desert and Delta Safaris is unique because our properties in Botswana are strategically located within the key wildlife areas of Botswana. A combination of these areas allow for possibly the best safari circuit within the destination.  Another key advantage to the Desert and Delta Safaris circuit is the fact that every property is totally different to the next. We have specifically avoided using the same building styles, furnishings, decor and even cutlery and cookware for a reason. Every destination should be seen and experienced for its own merits and atmosphere and although our high service levels are maintained throughout all of our properties, the physical lodge or camp experience is different.

For more information on Desert & Delta Safaris and Camp Okavango:

Contact us @ Africa Discovery:
1 800 886-7321, (415) 444-5100
or Email us