Second stop on our Botswana African safari: Khwai Leadwood Camp
After an amazing three days at Linyanti, we were driven back to the remote dirt air strip and said goodbye to our guide, Chief. We boarded another prop engine plane for a short flight to Khwai. All of these flights and transitions were planned by our tour company Go2Africa:
Here we stayed at another African Bush Camps lodge, called Khwai Leadwood. We initially selected African Bush Camps because they prioritize sustainability and have minimal impact on the environment. Their camp designs are modern yet blend seamlessly with the land around them. They offer three levels of camp experiences – expedition, signature, and icon – each catering to a different level of luxury. In addition to aligning with their mission, we later came to fall in love with their unmatched hospitality and warm staff.
Khwai Leadwood sits within the Okavango Delta’s Khwai Concession, which is run by the local community. This camp is along the Khwai River, which separates the concession from the iconic Moremi Game Reserve. Hippos and elephants can be observed crossing the river right in front of the main lodge or even from your own tent’s patio. This is an intimate modern camp, featuring six standard tents and one family unit, decorated in a contemporary African style.
Our guide, Dutch, is renowned within Botswana and an incredible wealth of knowledge. We learned a lot from one another, as we also shared our wildlife experience with him over the many hours together in the safari truck.
Khwai’s plentiful wildlife meant we got up earlier and stayed out later than all the other guests. We wanted to take advantage of every minute exploring Moremi and the concession. We were able to see hyena cubs playing and nursing, a pride of lions with cubs, and huge herds of elephants. Khwai is also an incredible birding location, with a large variety of bird species drawn to the waters of the Okavango. Night drives are allowed in this area so we were able to have up-close experiences with some of Africa’s nocturnal species, including leopards and hyenas.
In addition to our standard game drives, we enjoyed a guided walking safari, with one guide leading and one guide trailing us for protection. This gave us a unique perspective as we walked on foot through a dead forest, keeping an eye out for wildlife, with occasional deadfall as our only barrier for protection. There’s nothing quite like the rush of having bull elephants pass you by while on foot.
A second helicopter ride once again gave us beautiful views of the winding Okavango Delta waterways and lush greenery. We spotted hippos swimming underwater as well as giraffe foraging.
Back at camp, gourmet meals were served in the open-air dining area of the main lodge or in an adjacent boma, with the local staff performing traditional songs and dance. From local to international cuisine, every dish was perfectly prepared. And after nightfall, the campfire became a focal point for storytelling and reliving the day’s events.
Three days here was simply not enough, and we were sad to say goodbye to Dutch and the rest of the incredible staff. Our time at Khwai Leadwood truly captivated our hearts.
If you’re looking for close encounters with wildlife and a deep connection with the natural world, we highly recommend Khwai as part of your Botswana African safari. The team at Go2Africa will make your dream a reality!
Our next stop: Victoria Falls Zimbabwe.
Also, check out our post on packing tips for an African safari!
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