Perhaps you picture yourself watching elephants on a morning game drive, or gliding between waterlilies in a mokoro canoe. You might be hoping for both, with a lovely camp to return to in between.
That is a wonderful place to start planning your Botswana safari. But once you begin looking at where to stay, the names can become a little confusing. Moremi, Khwai, Kwedi, Jao: what is the difference, and how much does it matter?
Each area offers a different combination of scenery, wildlife, and activities. You do not need to learn every name before you book. A little understanding helps you choose a safari that includes the things you are most looking forward to.
What Is a Private Safari Concession?
A private safari concession is an area of land where selected operators have permission to run safari camps and activities. Access is generally limited to guests staying at those camps, helping to keep visitor and vehicle numbers low.
For you, that usually means more space around sightings and greater flexibility in how you explore. Depending on the concession and camp, activities may include night drives, guided walks and carefully managed off-road wildlife viewing. “Private” refers to access to the area; it does not automatically mean you will have a vehicle or guide to yourselves.
Some concessions have extensive waterways, while others offer more dry land for game drives. That distinction is often more useful when choosing a camp than the concession’s name.
Start With What You Would Love to Do
Before comparing individual areas, think about how you would most enjoy spending your days.
- If wildlife viewing is your priority: Look for a camp with good access to varied habitats and rewarding game-drive routes.
- If you are dreaming of time on the water: Choose a camp offering mokoro excursions or boating during your travel dates.
- If you would love a little of everything: Consider a camp with both land and water activities, or combine two contrasting stays.
A mokoro is a canoe poled through shallow water by an experienced guide. It is a gentle way to notice the Delta’s smaller details, from tiny frogs on reeds to birds moving through the channels. Motorboat excursions use deeper waterways and offer a different perspective. Neither activity is available at every Delta camp, so location and water levels both matter.
Okavango Delta Private Concessions
If you are picturing winding channels, palm-covered islands and elephants moving through the floodplains, this is probably the Botswana you have in mind. The Okavango Delta contains several private concessions, each offering a different balance of wildlife viewing and time on the water.
You may come across names such as Kwedi, Jao, Qorokwe and Chitabe when looking at camps. Vumbura Plains, in Kwedi, is a lovely option for land and water activities. Jao offers beautiful wetland scenery, while Qorokwe and Chitabe are particularly appealing if you love spending your days on game drives.
There is no need to remember every concession name before planning your trip. Tell us what you would most enjoy, especially if mokoro or boating excursions are on your wish list, and we will match the camp to your interests and travel dates.
Places we love
- Wilderness Vumbura Plains – for a lovely balance of game drives and time on the water.
- Jao Camp – for beautiful wetland scenery and exploring the channels when water levels allow.
Moremi Game Reserve
For those who could happily spend hours watching wildlife, Moremi is a wonderful place to consider. The reserve protects part of the Okavango Delta, with woodland, lagoons and open floodplains bringing variety to every outing.
Moremi is a public game reserve, with night drives and off-road driving generally prohibited. That does not necessarily mean busy sightings, though. Remote camps can still feel secluded, and their locations make a considerable difference to your stay.
We would choose Moremi for its rewarding wildlife viewing, then consider what else you would love to include. Some camps offer seasonal water activities, while pairing Moremi with another Delta camp can give you more opportunities to explore by mokoro or boat.
Places we love
- Tawana – for its riverside setting and rewarding game drives through Moremi.
- Wilderness Mombo – for remarkable wildlife viewing and long mornings spent watching the animals.
Khwai
Khwai is a lovely option if you enjoy variety in your safari days. Alongside rewarding wildlife viewing, selected camps offer night drives and seasonal mokoro excursions, giving you different ways to explore the area.
There are two neighbouring areas here: Khwai Private Reserve and Khwai Community Reserve. Their names are similar, but access arrangements and visitor numbers differ. Community partnerships are an important part of both, so it is worth looking beyond the name to understand where you will stay.
Khwai Private Reserve offers controlled access and a small collection of camps, including the two below. Whether you prefer somewhere relaxed and intimate or a little more indulgent, we will help you choose a stay with the atmosphere and activities you would enjoy most.
Places we love
- Tuludi – for spacious tented suites and a private plunge pool to enjoy between game drives.
- Little Sable – for its intimate feel and relaxed approach to safari in Khwai Private Reserve.
Linyanti Wildlife Reserve: Beyond the Delta
Linyanti lies outside the Okavango Delta, but it is a lovely addition to a journey here, especially if elephants are high on your wish list. This northern Botswana reserve brings together woodland, lagoons and important wildlife corridors, with relatively few camps and a welcome feeling of space.
During the dry season, animals gather around permanent water, making it a particularly rewarding time to visit. Alongside the elephants, you may encounter lions, leopards and wild dogs on your game drives.
Linyanti combines beautifully with a Delta stay. You might spend a few days enjoying game drives here, then move on to a camp where you can explore the channels by mokoro or boat, with time to settle in and enjoy each place.
Places we love
- Wilderness DumaTau – for its lagoon setting and the elephants that move through the surrounding wildlife corridors.
- Wilderness King’s Pool – for peaceful lagoon views and rewarding wildlife viewing in the Linyanti.
For a wider look at how these areas fit into a journey, explore our guide to where to travel in Botswana.
What Activities Can You Enjoy in Each Area?
Game drives are a highlight of many Botswana safaris, but there are other lovely ways to explore. You might enjoy the smaller details on a guided walk, watch birds along a quiet channel, or head out after sunset to look for nocturnal wildlife.
- Okavango Delta private concessions: Game drives, night drives and, at selected camps, guided walks, mokoro excursions and boating.
- Moremi Game Reserve: Daytime game drives, with boating or mokoro excursions available at selected camps.
- Khwai: Day and night game drives, with guided walks and seasonal mokoro excursions at selected camps.
- Linyanti: Day and night game drives, with guided walks and seasonal boating at selected camps.
Activities vary by camp, water levels, and guide availability, and some have minimum age requirements. If there is something you would particularly love to do, tell us when we start planning so we can help you choose the right stay.
Do Your Travel Dates Affect Which Area to Choose?
Yes, particularly if you want to spend time on the water. The Okavango Delta’s seasonal flood is different from Botswana’s local rainy season. Water travels down from Angola, often spreading through the Delta during Botswana’s dry winter months. Its timing and extent vary each year, and individual camps experience those changes differently.
- May to August: Cooler weather, chilly early mornings, and seasonal floodwaters spreading through parts of the Delta.
- September and October: Rewarding wildlife viewing in Moremi, Khwai and Linyanti as conditions become drier and animals gather around water. October can be very hot.
- November to April: The greener months bring rain, fresh scenery and excellent birdlife, with a different feel to the dry-season safari.
We will help match your dates to the right camp, especially if water activities are on your wish list. For more seasonal advice, explore our guide to when to travel to Botswana.
Should You Stay in One Area or Combine Two?
One well-chosen camp can be a lovely introduction to Botswana, especially if you have a shorter trip in mind. With more time, we often suggest combining two camps that offer something different, giving you a broader experience without feeling that you are constantly packing up and moving on.
That might mean pairing Moremi’s wildlife viewing with a camp offering more water activities, or combining Linyanti’s elephant country with the Delta’s channels and floodplains. The aim is to give each stay its own place in your journey, with enough time to settle in and enjoy it.
Browse our Botswana safari itineraries for ideas, or take a closer look at our collection of Botswana camps and lodges.
Frequently Asked Questions About Botswana’s private safari concessions
How do private concessions differ from Moremi?
Private concessions generally limit access to guests staying at their camps and may offer night drives and guided walks. Moremi is a public game reserve with stricter activity rules, although its remote camps can still feel secluded.
Where should I go for a first Delta safari?
The best choice depends on what you would enjoy most. Moremi, Qorokwe and Chitabe are rewarding for game drives, while camps offering both land and water activities give you a varied introduction to the Delta.
Are mokoro excursions available year-round?
Availability depends on the camp, local water levels, and conditions. Some camps have more reliable water access than others. If a mokoro excursion is high on your wish list, we will help you choose a stay suited to your dates.
Is a private safari vehicle included?
Not automatically. Staying in a private concession may still mean sharing game drives with other camp guests. A private vehicle and guide can sometimes be arranged at an additional cost, which we can check when planning your stay.
Are the two Khwai reserves the same?
No. Khwai Private Reserve and Khwai Community Reserve are neighbouring areas with different camps and access arrangements. Both have community connections. Tuludi and Little Sable, featured in this guide, are in Khwai Private Reserve.
How many nights do I need in the Delta?
We generally suggest three nights per camp so you have time to settle in and enjoy several activities. Around six nights allows you to explore two contrasting areas without rushing, depending on your wider journey.
Let’s find your little corner of Botswana
If Botswana has been on your mind, we would love to help you get there. From watching elephants on a morning game drive to exploring the Delta by mokoro, tell us what you are looking forward to, and we will help you find the right places to stay.
Contact us today and let our team create a personalised Botswana journey, thoughtfully timed and beautifully tailored to you.
