African Bush Camps run small, under canvas camps with a strong focus on guiding and the wildlife experience. Senior Travel Consultant, Monique Dean, recently visited a number of their properties in Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Botswana is a popular choice for first-time visitors to Africa, while Zimbabwe appeals more to adventurous travellers. It’s well worth noting, however, that the guides in Zimbabwe are some of the best in the business! Zim guides study on the ground for a minimum of six years before they are able to qualify. Many of them also have personal experience as kids growing up in the area, and these experiences shine through when they are sharing their passion with their guests.
Khwai Tented Camp & Khwai Leadwood
Lying adjacent to Moremi Game Reserve, the Khwai Conservancy is a patchwork of lagoons, grass plains and woodland forests. Their first drive in the conservancy was great with excellent game viewing and great birdlife too.
“At our sundowner stop we could see an elephant, leopard and hippo – all within 200 metres of where we stood sipping our drinks. Amazing!”
At the time of Monique’s visit Khwai Tented Camp was being revamped. The mock tent looks good and sits on raised wooden decks. Close by is Khwai Leadwood Camp, which will be a good choice for families.
Khwai Accommodation
- Khwai Tented Camp: 6 tents
- Khwai Leadwood: 4 tents (including 2 family tents)
- Activities: Game drives, walking, bird watching and night drives. Mokoro safaris when water levels allow.
Liyanti Bush Camp & Linyanti Ebony
Bordering Chobe National Park, the Linyanti region is known for excellent dry-season game viewing with large herds of elephant and plenty of predators too. Monique travelled in November, at the end of the dry season and a devastating drought. They hadn’t had rain in about a year and the Linyanti plain, usually filled with water, was dry.
“The game viewing was phenomenal! Because of the drought, animals had to walk long distances to water – where predators lay in wait. We saw huge herds of easily 70 or 80 elephants, lions mating, and the most incredible chase of two lions taking down a zebra!”
Linyanti Bush Camp includes a helicopter flip of around 30 minutes. Monique opted for a 20-minute game viewing flight, and then a 10-minute helicopter transfer to the airstrip (cutting out the drive along a bumpy road).
Linyanti Accommodation
- Linyanti Bush Camp: 6 tents
- Linyanti Ebony: 4 tents (including 1 family tent)
- Activities: Game drives, walking, bird watching and night drives. Scenic helicopter flight, boating, fishing and mokoro safaris when water levels allow.