Between NG30, NG32 and Moremi stands a fairly small photographic reserve, just off the southwest side of Chief’s Island. This was the first area of the Okavango where tourism really took off in volume, and it’s now very interesting to see it making the transition to smaller numbers of visitors, and more upmarket camps.

Getting there and away
Although years ago safari operators used to offer boat transfers up the Boro River from Maun to here, now flying in is really the only way. There are several airstrips, including Delta airstrip (GPS: DELAIR 19°31.840’S; 23°05.430’E), which is closest to both Oddballs and Delta Camp, and about 4km southwest from there is Xaxaba airstip (GPS: XAXAIR 19°33.220’S; 23°03.510’E).

When to visit
Though open all year, these camps rely primarily on mokoro trips and so are certainly at their best when the sun is shining and the sky blue. That is between April and November. If you’re camping out then it makes for a better trip if it’s not too cold at night, thus my favourite months for visiting here would be around May–early June and September–October time.

Flora and fauna highlights
The Boro River and its associated floodplains dominate this reserve. In a recent land survey (1996) they estimated that only about 4% of the whole reserve was permanent swampland, but 75% was classed as seasonally inundated swamp and grasslands. The remaining 22% is dry land: riverine forests and grasslands on the islands. So this is a very seasonal environment, which changes annually with the floods.

<< Click on the left menu for much more detail on the flora, mammals and birdlife in this area.

What to see and do
Though these camps differ slightly in their activities, they are essentially water-camps from which you take guided mokoro trips along the Boro River, and out onto its associated floodplains.
Most also offer walking trips on the islands – just as camps here have for decades. These generally use the bush-wise local polers as guides, whose local knowledge can be excellent (even if their communication skills in English are more variable). They will almost never be carrying any firearms for protection, so see my general comments about Walking trips and safaris in Chapter 6, for a further discussion of the safety issues raised by this approach.

Where to stay
There are a number of camps within this area, including Delta Camp, Oddballs, Gunn’s Camp, Semetsi, and the upmarket Eagle Island Lodge.

<< Click on the left menu to read more about all of these.