Okavango Shindi

deepwater channels
offer year-round
boat safari

At around 350 square kilometres, the Okavango Shinde Concession is a high quality safari area.

The concession is restricted to 54 guests in four small camps, owned by two different safari operators. Guest density is 6 square kilometres per person, which is relatively high by local standards.

This is a classic Okavango Delta area, containing a wide range of ecosystems including a very extensive network of deep-water lagoons and channels, shallow seasonal floodplains and stands of hardwood forest, plus some limited areas of permanent grasslands. In parts it is extremely scenic. This diversity means that there is an excellent range of animal species here.

The area usually experiences a strong and reliable flood during the middle and later parts of the dry season, creating a lovely network of floodplains for water-based safari Jun-Oct. There are deepwater channels in the area year round.

Walking safari is offered at all camps but is the main event at Footsteps Camp.

The downsides to the area are the high prices, the simplicity of some camps and the complicated seasonality.

When it comes to trip shapes and durations in Botswana, most visitors combine 2, 3 or 4 lodges by light aircraft over 6-12 nights, one or two of which will usually be here in Okavango Delta, combined with the Linyanti Waterfront and/or Makgadikgadi areas.

These trips are often done in combination with further nights at the Victoria Falls and/or down in the Cape.

The usual stay duration here on the Shindi Concession is 3-4 nights.

Seasonality

The May-Jun flood season is a period of transition from the hot wet summer to the cool dry winter and is a great time to visit, with lots of baby animals around and the magical arrival of the floodwaters.

Temperatures can drop towards freezing during the night, but this has little adverse effect on safari, the days are gorgeous and there are virtually no insects around.

The majority of camps are also significantly discounted during this time.

On the Okavango Shinde Concession the various camps have very different activities and so are affected differently as the seasons change.

The two northerly properties, Camp Okavango and Xugana Island Lodge, are both very much focused on water-based activities, with motorboat safari and mokoro canoe safari both usually being available throughout this season. Some limited walking safari is also possible on the various islands.

The two southerly properties, Shinde Camp and Footsteps Camp, both have vehicles and therefore offer a wider range of activities. The presence of permanent deepwater channels means that motorboat safari is available year round. During this season mokoro safari usually only becomes possible once the floodwaters have started to arrive. Vehicle safari tends to be reasonable rather than strong.

The Jul-Sep dry season is the classic time to visit the Okavango Delta and is considered the best time for wildlife viewing, as many animals are drawn to water from the surrounding area.

During Jul-Aug the cooler temperatures at night can continue but it is great for safari.

This is very much the high season in terms of prices and visitor numbers.

The two northerly properties, Camp Okavango and Xugana Island Lodge, are both very much focused on water-based activities, with motorboat safari and mokoro canoe safari both usually being available throughout this season. Some limited walking safari is also possible on the various islands.

The two southerly properties, Shinde Camp and Footsteps Camp, both have vehicles and therefore offer a wider range of activities. The presence of permanent deepwater channels means that motorboat safari is available year round. During this season mokoro safari is usually strong, but reduces through August as the floodwaters recede. At the same time the vehicle safari tends to improve, with more dry land available and animals increasingly clustering on the southern plains.

The Oct-Dec hot season represents the transition period between the peak of the dry season and the start of the rains. Temperatures can become uncomfortably high in advance of the rains, particularly in Oct-Nov.

Boating activities may be unavailable except for those camps with access to permanent deepwater channels.

If significant rainfall does arrive, it usually comes in short sharp showers and generally has little negative effect on safari conditions. The rains may cause some animals to disperse but sightings remain strong.

The majority of camps are significantly discounted during this period.

The two northerly properties, Camp Okavango and Xugana Island Lodge, are focused on water-based activities, with motorboat safari and mokoro canoe safari both usually being available throughout this season. Some limited walking safari is also possible on the various islands.

The two southerly properties, Shinde Camp and Footsteps Camp, have vehicles and therefore offer a wider range of activities. The presence of permanent deepwater channels means that motorboat safari is available year round. During this season mokoro safari is usually no longer possible. Vehicle safari tends to be at its best, with more dry land available and animals increasingly clustering around the few remaining waterholes.

The period Jan-Apr is the main green season in the Okavango Delta, when the area experiences the majority of its rainfall, with Dec-Feb period threatening the greatest chance of rain.

The temperatures and humidities are usually higher than usual but overall, conditions are pleasant enough.

The majority of camps are significantly discounted throughout this season so it is a very smart time to travel, particularly towards April.

The two northerly properties, Camp Okavango and Xugana Island Lodge, are focused on water-based activities, with motorboat safari and mokoro canoe safari both usually being available throughout this season. Some limited walking safari is also possible on the various islands.

The two southerly properties, Shinde Camp and Footsteps Camp, have vehicles and therefore offer a wider range of activities. The presence of permanent deepwater channels means that motorboat safari is available year round. During this season mokoro safari is usually no longer possible. Vehicle safari also tends to be slightly weaker, since the wildlife is more dispersed, but there remains a good amount of resident wildlife to be seen.

Getting there

All of the camps in the Shindi area are usually accessed by light aircraft into the local bush airstrip. There are daily flight connections between all the camps in Okavango, Linyanti, the main airport at Maun and Kasane.

a very strong flood arrives in Jun-Sep