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Kwando Nxai Pan Camp

Our rating

8/10

Price guide

Highlights

- Unique wilderness area
- High quality guiding
- Abundant seasonal wildlife

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Overview

Kwando Nxai Pan is an upmarket yet good value safari camp with a contemporary feel, situated in the heart of Nxai Pan National Park, north eastern Botswana. Set in unique, isolated terrain renowned for abundant seasonal wildlife, Kwando Nxai offers charming, well-appointed accommodation and excellent guiding to just 18 guests.

Nxai Pan National Park is a remote, arid wilderness of flatlands and distinctive saltpans, dotted with acacia and mopane trees. In contrast to Botswana’s Okavango and Linyanti regions, the peak wildlife viewing period is during the November to May ‘green season’, when rainfalls fill the saltpans. While visitors should come prepared for some potential adverse road conditions, huge migrating herds of giraffe, zebra, springbok, elephant, and wildebeest, along with numerous predators, including lion, leopard, cheetah, and jackal are a superb draw, and birdlife during this period is exceptional.

The sole permanent camp in this area, Kwando Nxai is a one hour flight from Maun into the nearby local airstrip. The camp’s thatched and open-fronted main area is built on raised decking, and boasts great views over a nearby waterhole popular with elephants. Guest spaces comprise a light and airy lounge area with comfy sofas, a large communal dining table, a bar, and a small gift shop. Outside on the decked veranda is a refreshing plunge pool with loungers, and a tranquil fire pit area, perfect for after dinner drinks.

Activities focus on daytime game drives led by a guide and tracker, and guided walks led by native Bushmen. Note that due to national park regulations, night drives and off-road driving are not permitted. Also available are excursions to the famous Baines Baobabs, a striking cluster of ancient trees which tower above the salt plan, barely altered since they were painted in 1861 by the naturalist Thomas Baines.

The accommodation comprises eight spacious, thatched guest suites, including one family unit. Built on raised decking and linked by walkways to the main area, each airy suite comprises double or twin beds, and a comfortable lounge area. The pristine bathrooms are ensuite with twin washbasins, WC and both indoor and outdoor showers. All units have overhead fans. Sliding doors lead outside to a private veranda with seating, and delightful views of the bustling wildlife activity around the waterhole.

Children age six years and over are very welcome. There’s a two bedroom family unit comprising one double and one twin bedroom, a generous lounge area, and a spacious bathroom with WC, twin basins, and indoor and outdoor shower. Outside is a private veranda with seating. Note that families with children aged under 12 are obliged to hire a private vehicle, at additional cost, for game drives. Families have the option of hiring a dedicated member of staff who will provide young guests with a range of activities including arts and crafts, animal tracking and identification, and cooking. As the camp is unfenced and wild animals do roam through, parents are reminded that children should be supervised at all times.

What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 534 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • I was also just about to email you to thank you and the team for arranging yet again, another wonderful experience.

    Mount Kenya was spectacular and wild - I think I prefer it to Kili in many ways. The entire support team was professional, friendly and all round fantastic in making sure that we were safe, well fed and well looked after. In particular, we would commend Peter the guide as well as Paul one of the porters who doubled-up as his deputy on summit day. Our route was often shrouded in mist and rain that rapidly gathered in the valleys and moorlands, and we were very impressed at how Peter managed to navigate us safely through all of that notwithstanding. In addition, we loved learning about the history of Mount Kenya from him in the evenings. And ofcourse, I was blown away by the lovely birthday surprise at the end complete with balloons and a delicious cake that had journeyed with us from day 1. One thing we might recommend because of the sudden change in weather (it would sometimes get extremely cold and wet) is for the equipment list to be a little bit more detailed in terms of its recommendations e.g. layers to be moisture-wicking, walking boots be waterproof, doubling up on socks to avoid blisters etc.

    El Karama is a beautiful conservancy and the lodge a true labour of love. Great hospitality in a relaxed environment. Delicious, fresh food. We enjoyed the drives, even if we didn't see much wildlife as the heavens opened on us for the last two outings. However, since it was very much geared towards families, I am not sure if I would stay again without kids. That said, I think it was perfect for a 3d/2n stay post mountain, and a much better choice than flying to the masai mara given the limited time we had.

    Our transits were smooth. Samuel the driver was always on time, drove safely and kept the vehicle clean.

    So it was a brilliant experience and one which I certainly will cherish for some time to come. It was great to work with you for a third time, and I certainly hope it won't be the last

    MissingJuhae C reviewing Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek on 01 March 2024

  • Thank you, we had an absolute wonderful time, and everything was well-planned and as described. Carla was crying on the day of our departure from Ants Nest, she didn’t want to go home and for it all to end, and when I asked how much longer she would want to stay, she responded “four weeks”

    MissingLars B reviewing Best of South Africa for Families on 01 March 2024

  • We had the most amazing time. It exceeded all my hopes of what the trip would be. The guides, the hotels - everything was of such a wonderful quality. Thank you for organizing everything. I will absolutely recommend Tourdust and use you again.

    MissingClaudia L reviewing Luxury Desert Holiday on 11 January 2024

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