Imagine a place tucked far away from the madding crowds in a wilderness expanse so vast and pristine it takes your breath away. Calm, crystal-clear water ebbs and flows as it has for aeons.
The sunlight dances upon the gossamer wings of the dragonfly as it lands gracefully on a waterlily. Every movement of the haphazardly hovering winged creature is reflected in the crystal clear and glassy waters of the lagoon. The overhead clouds cast dancing shadows on the lagoon’s surface as they glide across the sky.
Grassy islands are visible in the lagoon, linked together by deep green arms of papyrus. The swaying branches lazily wave, urging the balmy breeze to spirit away all your cares.
Ke a leboga! You are Welcome!
Unique and stunning, the Okavango Delta is a desert oasis springing from the seasonal rains in Angola. From a trickle to a torrent, the mighty Okavango River flows into a sea of sand – the Kalahari basin.
Instead of spilling into an ocean as most rivers do, the Okavango River is annexed by the ancient African Rift Valley system, transformed into a vast low-gradient alluvial pan spilling across the thirstland into the wild heart of the vast Kalahari Desert, one of the world’s oldest.
This annual flood gives rise to the utopian Okavango Delta, a delicate wilderness ecology sustaining Africa’s iconic wildlife. Elephants, buffalos and rhinos roam freely shadowed by iconic predators such as mighty swamp-dwelling lions, cheetahs and the rare African wild dogs. Botswana’s watery wilderness is a haven for birdlife. The summer months, December through March, herald the rainy season and provide a window of opportunity for viewing some interesting intra-African migrant birds. Other avian species include Vultures, Southern Ground-Hornbills, Yellow-billed Hornbills, Wattled Cranes and Slaty Egrets to iconic Delta-dwelling winged predators such as the African Fish Eagle and the Bateleur eagle. The splendid coral-coloured feathers of the Southern Carmine Bee-eater and purple-plumed Lilac-breasted Rollers mesmerise while lily-trotting Lesser Jacanas entertain.
Botswana has set aside 17% of its land for conservation-led, high-yield, low-impact tourism.
The hidden gems to look for
Best Wildlife Viewing in the Delta
Generous Sized Luxury Tents
Locally Sourced Produce
Locally Sourced Amenities & Decor
Environmentally Conscious
Solar Power
Every year, during the winter season, around June and July, the life-giving watery fingers of the Delta flood reach the bone-dry flats of the Kalahari basin, slaking their thirst. This iconic natural phenomenon swells to become one of the few inland deltas in the world. The extent of the floodwater depends on the seasonal rain in the Angolan highlands and its origin. Within weeks, the landscape explodes into life, transforming into a larger-than-life stage upon which Mother Nature hosts her annual wintery spectacle – the Okavango Delta in flood.
The community-owned NG32 private concession in the pristine southern reaches of the Okavango Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, provides an unspoilt backdrop against which Okavango Hidden Gems’ remarkable, untamed hospitality story unfolds. Here, authentic Batswana hospitality meets refined luxury.
Discover our unfenced Botswana lodges in Okavango Delta: Camp Maru, Little Maru, and Amber River Camp on a private concession in UNESCO’s natural paradise in the iconic landlocked country, Botswana.
Set along a permanent channel bordering the famed Moremi Game Reserve south of Chitabe in the 260,000-acre NG32 concession, we offer endless opportunities to encounter the enchanting spirit of this game-rich paradise on your Botswana safari. Animals can roam across the pristine landscape; sometimes, their game tracks take them through our camps, as they have done for millennia.
Explore our wilderness safaris in Botswana that await our wondrous, watery wilderness. Safaris brimming with beautiful moments that are yours forever.
Our Camps
Find the peace that seeks you out at Okavango Hidden Gems, our home, deep in Botswana’s pristine desert oasis, the iconic Okavango Delta.
Explore vast swathes of riverine forests and savanna grasslands intersected by a labyrinth of channels punctuated by small islands from our luxurious camps, Amber River, Camp Maru, and Little Maru, offering intimate and experiential stays in the Okavango Delta.