WELCOME TO OUR JOURNAL
We share stories from life at Semowi Nature Camp whenever there is something worth telling. From practical travel advice and seasonal flood updates to wildlife encounters and behind-the-scenes moments, our journal reflects life as it unfolds in the Okavango Delta.
Xakanaxa Campsite Booking Guide
Xakanaxa Campsite Booking Guide: How to Reserve Your Spot in Moremi If you’re planning a self-drive safari in Botswana, Xakanaxa campsite booking should be at the top of your list. Located deep inside Moremi Game Reserve, this campsite is a favorite among travelers for its wildlife-rich surroundings and authentic bush setting. Why Xakanaxa? Xakanaxa (pronounced Ka-ka-na-ka) is a prime campsite located near the permanent waters of the Okavango Delta. It offers access to year-round game viewing, stunning landscapes, and excellent birdlife. It's a favorite for seasoned overlanders seeking a deep bush experience. Step-by-Step Guide to Booking Xakanaxa Campsite 1. Who to contact for Xakanaxa Campsite Booking Xakanaxa is operated by Kwalate Safaris, which also manages Maqwee (South Gate) and...
What I Spotted This Week: African Fish Eagle Okavango Delta
Birdwatching at Semowi Nature Camp This week at Semowi Nature Camp, deep in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, I was lucky enough to witness one of Africa’s most iconic raptors—the African Fish Eagle. With its echoing cry and powerful presence, the African Fish Eagle Okavango Delta experience is something every birdwatcher dreams of. Spotting the African Fish Eagle in the Okavango Delta At Semowi Nature Camp, located along the beautiful Gomoti River, sightings of the African Fish Eagle in the Okavango Delta are a near-daily highlight. Whether you’re sipping coffee on the deck or listening to the dawn chorus from your tent, its haunting call—"weee-ah hyo-hyo-hyo"—often fills the air. This majestic raptor thrives in wetlands, making the Okavango Delta one of the best places in Botswana to see it....
Unforgettable Hippo Encounter in the Okavango Delta – A Self-Drive Safari Story
The morning air was cool and damp, laced with the earthy scent of wild sage and reeds. It was just after sunrise in the Okavango Delta, and the bush was waking up in its own majestic way. Birds flitted from tree to tree in flashes of colour, and golden light danced across the dew-kissed grass. I was on my first self-drive safari, camping near one of the lesser-known water channels north of Moremi Game Reserve, and nothing could have prepared me for my first unforgettable hippo encounter in the Okavango Delta. We had set up our rooftop tent the evening before on the edge of a seasonal lagoon. It was so peaceful—the water shimmered in the late light, reflecting the silhouettes of nearby water lilies and the overhanging branches of sausage trees. Our professional guide, Morgan, had warned...
Première fois au Botswana : Ce qu’il faut vraiment savoir avant de venir
Par Semowi Nature Camp – Novembre 2025 “Si c’est votre première fois au Botswana, il est normal d’avoir beaucoup de questions avant votre voyage.” Le Botswana fait rêver.L’Okavango, les lions, les éléphants, les couchers de soleil immenses…Mais pour une première fois, beaucoup de voyageurs imaginent quelque chose de très différent de la réalité. Dans cet article, je vous donne une vision honnête, simple et utile pour préparer votre tout premier voyage au Botswana.C’est un condensé de notre expérience quotidienne dans le Delta, en tant que lodge owners, guide, et personnes qui vivent ici toute l’année. Si vous souhaitez aller plus loin — avec des cartes, des itinéraires détaillés et tout ce qu’il faut pour organiser un safari en autonomie — rendez-vous la semaine prochaine pour l’épisode...
Moremi Self-Drive Tips | Botswana Safari Advice
Planning a self-drive safari through Moremi Game Reserve? You’re in for one of Africa’s most unforgettable journeys. Located in the eastern part of the Okavango Delta, Moremi offers wild beauty, remote landscapes, and rich wildlife—but it also demands preparation, especially for first-time visitors. Here are some tips to help you self-drive in Moremi. Here are our top tips to make your Moremi self-drive safari safe, smooth, and spectacular. 📍 Moremi Self-Drive Entry Points & Route Overview Moremi is best accessed from Maun, Botswana’s safari hub. The two main gates are: South Gate (Maqwee Gate) — closest to Maun, ~3.5 hours’ drive North Gate (Khwai) — connects Moremi to Chobe and Savuti Most self-drive travelers enter at South Gate and continue through the park toward Khwai or...
Maun to Kasane Drive: Ultimate Botswana Road Trip Guide
Planning a Maun to Kasane drive? This new ebook is your ultimate guide to one of Botswana’s most iconic self-drive adventures. Whether you’re taking the wild route through Moremi and Chobe National Parks or the easier tar road via Nata, this guide gives you everything you need to plan the journey with confidence—from maps and park fees to accommodation tips and driving advice. Why Take the Maun to Kasane Drive? Driving from Maun to Kasane isn’t just a route, it’s an experience. From sandy tracks full of elephant prints to tar roads crossing salt pans and veterinary fences, this journey takes you deep into the wild heart of Botswana. This ebook covers everything you need to know, whether you’re a seasoned overlander or a first-time self-drive explorer. What You’ll Find Inside the Ebook ✅...
Lodge au Botswana : À quoi s’attendre pour un premier safari
Première fois au Botswana : comprendre les lodges avant de réserver Les lodges sont au cœur de l’expérience safari au Botswana. Ils font rêver, mais ils peuvent aussi dérouter lorsqu’on ne connaît pas leur fonctionnement. Pour beaucoup de voyageurs, un lodge évoque un hôtel dans la nature. Mais ici, c’est un tout autre univers, avec ses codes, son rythme et sa manière bien à lui de vous plonger au cœur du bush.Ce guide vous aide à comprendre ce qu’est vraiment un lodge, ce qu’il inclut, comment il fonctionne et comment le choisir pour un premier voyage. Pour une première fois, comprendre ce qu’est un lodge au Botswana évite les mauvaises surprises et permet de profiter pleinement d’un safari. Pourquoi le Botswana propose-t-il des lodges aussi particuliers? Le pays a adopté un modèle de...
Living in the Okavango Delta
Living with the flood in the Okavango Delta: Stories from the people of the Delta When the floodwaters of the Okavango Delta arrive, they don’t come with warning signs or loud waves. They come quietly trickling through papyrus reeds, creeping across the land, filling dry channels with life. For the people who call the Okavango Delta home, the flood is not a disaster to escape, but a blessing to embrace. It shapes their movements, their meals, their moods, even their memories. At Semowi Nature Camp, guests find themselves not only surrounded by wildlife, but also welcomed into the rhythm of a community of Shorobe, Mochaba and Matsaudi villages whose life flows with the seasons where old wisdom, respect for nature, and resilience run as deep as the waters themselves. The Water Brings More...
How to rent a 4×4 to self drive in Botswana
Today I would like to talk about self-driving in Botswana. This one is mainly for people who have never done it before and don’t even know it’s an option. I’ve been getting this question a lot from my friends, especially those from the United States. In Botswana, you can rent fully-equipped 4x4 cars. But make sure you get a 4x4, not a 4x2 – the latter won’t work for the terrain. So, which car should you rent? It depends a bit on the season. If you’re visiting during the rainy season, please choose a Land Cruiser or a Land Rover. You’re going to need it for driving through water – they are much more powerful and reliable. If you’re coming at the end of the dry season, a 4x4 like a Toyota Hilux or similar would work well, as it’s better suited for sand. Next, consider how many people will...
First Time in Botswana, Africa – What You Really Need to Know
Planning your first trip to Botswana?Welcome! you’re about to discover one of the most extraordinary, untouched wildernesses left on the planet. But Botswana is not a typical African destination. Distances are long, the wildlife is truly wild, and the rhythm of travel is very different from the safari stereotypes you may have seen online. This article gives you a clear, honest, and simple introduction to help you understand what to expect before you choose between lodges, self-driving, or camping. Whether you are dreaming of the Okavango Delta, the vastness of Chobe, or your first lion sighting, this guide will help you prepare with confidence. 1. Botswana Is Wild — Really Wild Botswana has no fences in most of its wilderness areas. Wildlife moves freely between villages, farms, roads,...
Driving a 4×4 in Botswana: Sand, Water & Self-Drive Tips
A self-drive safari in Botswana is about much more than getting from one destination to another. Once you leave the tar roads and head toward places such as Moremi Game Reserve, Khwai, Mababe or Savuti, the drive itself becomes part of the experience. Deep sand, changing tracks, seasonal water and unexpected road conditions are normal parts of travelling through northern Botswana. A route that was easy a few weeks ago can become much more challenging after rain or as floodwaters move through the Delta. For experienced off-road drivers, this is part of what makes a Botswana self-drive adventure so rewarding. For first-time visitors, however, a little preparation goes a long way. Why You Need a 4x4 A proper 4x4 is essential for many of the wilderness areas around the Okavango Delta and...
Conseils pour un self-drive à Moremi | Safari au Botswana
Conseils Self-Drive Moremi : Préparez votre aventure safari au Botswana Vous envisagez un safari en self-drive à travers la réserve de Moremi ? Attendez-vous à vivre l’une des expériences les plus inoubliables d’Afrique. Située dans l’est du delta de l’Okavango, Moremi offre une nature sauvage, des paysages isolés et une faune exceptionnelle — mais elle demande aussi une bonne préparation, surtout si c’est votre première fois. Voici nos meilleurs conseils self-drive pour Moremi afin de vivre une aventure sereine et sécurisée. 📍 Conseils self-drive Moremi : itinéraires et points d’entrée La réserve de Moremi est généralement accessible depuis Maun, le centre touristique du Botswana. Les deux principales portes d’entrée sont : South Gate (Maqwee Gate) — la plus proche de Maun (environ 3,5...
Comment louer un 4×4 pour un safari au Botswana
Bonjour, bonjour ! Nous sommes mardi et je suis de retour pour vous parler d’un sujet qui vous intéressera certainement : comment louer un 4x4 pour un safari au Botswana. Aujourd’hui, je vais vous expliquer ce qu’il faut savoir pour bien choisir votre véhicule, où vous pouvez en louer un, et surtout, les éléments essentiels à vérifier. En anglais, on parle souvent de “self-drive”, ce qui signifie que vous louez un 4x4 pour conduire vous-même, mais attention, ces véhicules sont généralement bien équipés pour l’aventure. Moi, je vous conseille vivement de louer un 4x4 complètement équipé pour être prêt à affronter tous les défis du terrain ! Choix de l’agence de location Au Botswana, il n’y a pas énormément d’agences de location, mais si vous avez besoin de recommandations, laissez un...
Botswana Lodge: What to Expect on Your First Safari
First Time in Botswana: Understanding Lodges Before You Book For many first-time travelers, the word lodge brings up an idea somewhere between a hotel and a tent in the wilderness. In Botswana, it is something else entirely. A lodge is not just a place to sleep; it is a complete way of experiencing the bush, following a rhythm shaped by wildlife, light, and the season.If this is your first safari, understanding how a lodge works will help you choose the right one and avoid surprises. Why Lodges in Botswana Are So Unique Botswana has adopted a low-impact, high-quality tourism model. This means: • fewer visitors• vast protected areas• limited infrastructure• lodges often far from towns or roads Most lodges are isolated, surrounded by nature instead of buildings. They function almost like...
Animal Tracks in the Sand: Who Visited the Campsite Last Night?
There is something special about the early mornings at Semowi Nature Camp. Before breakfast begins and before the camp is fully awake, animal tracks in Botswana's soft sand can reveal what happened during the night. Around the tents, beneath the trees and along the sandy paths, tracks appear overnight. Some are easy to recognize. Others make us stop, look more closely and wonder: who came through camp while we were sleeping? Reading Animal Tracks in Botswana's Sand One morning, tracks appeared in the soft sand near one of our safari tents. They were broad, with the distinctive marks of an animal that had moved slowly through camp during the night. The visitor was a porcupine. Porcupines are mainly nocturnal, so guests are much more likely to find evidence of them in the morning than to...
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Shorobe/Maun, Botswana
19°45’27.1″S 23°38’52.7″E
(GPS: -19.757528, 23.647972)