Kanana Camp – Okavango Delta – Botswana
Ker & Downey
Kanana Camp is by far one of the most wonderful camps I have ever had the joy to manage.
Every aspect of the camp has been laid out to perfection, from the position of the guest tents, the views each of these has, the view from the main and dinner decks, where the swimming pool lies, access for guests to either land or water based activities and the atmosphere in the main area.
The airstrip where you will land is a short drive from the camp and about a 45 minute flight from Maun. If you are coming from another camp your flight may be longer, however, it will be well worth it.
The flight itself is stunning, winter or summer, no water or plenty of water in the Delta. The views of the Okavango Delta from the air are magical, wonderous and gives you, the client, such an immersive experience. It’s much Like the Victoria Falls, unless you see it from the air, it’s really difficult to get a decent perspective of this natural wonder of the planet. So, my advice, for Victoria
Falls and the Okavango, get up in the air to fully appreciate where you are.
Back to Kanana…
As you can see this is what the guest tents look from the water. And yes, I was on a boat taking this photograph. When you’re standing on the small deck of your room the views stretch quite a distance over the Xudum River and I often saw Giraffe, Elephant and Lions crossing from distant parts. The sun also sets in that direction so if you are sitting in the main area, on your deck, around the fire or where the dining table stands, the sunset views are spectacular!
I also really like that the camp is small. By small I mean that the farthest tent, the Family Tent, is not miles away from the main area. And this can sometimes be the case in safari camps which makes it really difficult and quite inconvenient.
Both mokoro and motorboat activities leave the camp from right in front of the fire area you see in the first image, water levels dependent of course. I would highly recommend doing all the activities available at this camp. Game drives, morning, afternoon and night drives, a walking safari, a motorboat trip to the Heronry and a silent cruise through the Papyrus lined channels in a
mokoro. Even if you visit Kanana at low water you are going to get a very superior experience.
Big game sightings have always been good here and include Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Wild Dogs, Hippo, Buffalo, Crocodile, Giraffe, Hyena. Nocturnal predators such as Civet, Genet and Serval can be seen if you are fortunate.
I had a pack of Wild Dogs come through Kanana late one afternoon and they killed two Impala, one at the main grass area and one right at the fireplace and in front of one of our staff members – it was quite the sighting.
This is an image of me after the pack had devoured the Impala. I was really curious to see what they would do if I approached supine as I’d had a similar encounter in the Luangwa Valley years ago where I was growled at as I got too close. This pack seemed more curious than anything and I received no warnings from the pack leader – the lady with the broken ear. I checked with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, and they confirmed that what I did in no way contravened their rules.
Kanana is one of the few camps whose rooms I absolutely love.
They are spacious and warm and feel very inviting. Your bathroom looks like it came out from a Vanity Fair article. I think it would be a great addition to have a bath in there too but water restrictions (yes, even in the Okavango Delta) do not make this possible. The bathroom is at the back of the tent and accessed on the left side of the below image.
And even though your tents are canvas, you are not only completely safe, but you get to hear all the nocturnal sounds too! It was always hair raising being the manager on duty that had to walk the last guests back to their rooms at night. The tents are all under a grove of Ebony trees and once I had dropped off the last guest I would radio Keletso and ask him to switch off the generator. As soon as the genny went off everyone (all the animals) knew it was bed time and safe to come out. This meant that my walk from the guest tents to my house (800 meters distant) could be really exciting. I came across a Hippo once that
gave me a baleful sidelong glance, an Elephant that wanted some fisticuffs and once a Lion that lay right in the path and wouldn’t move until some choice words came out of my mouth and he darted back into the bush!
Suffice it to say that I walked backwards all the way home after the Lion encounter.
Kanana is also one of the few camps where it is relatively safe for guests to walk to and from their tents without having to ask for an escort.
Of course you have to stop outside your tent before walking to have a good look around but there are plenty of safe places along the path where you could hide of something big or hairy met you along the way.
We often had Elephant in camp due to the fruits from the Ebony trees’ and these were great sightings for guests as they were always so close to us. Sometimes sidling along the side of the main area and you could lean down and touch them. And believe it or not, Elephants have very sensitive skin. They know immediately they have been touched, even lightly.
The swimming pool is slightly hidden behind a fence for some privacy and it’s the perfect location for a romantic candlelit dinner. We would do this fairly often for couples that had come along on honeymoon or any other sort of special occasion. It’s also close to the main area and a short walk from all the tents.
I was very fortunate to manage Kanana with an excellent team of Tiny Hiri, John Mattys, Shabba and Tebogo. We always made sure to have fun while working, we communicated well, kept the whiteboards updated and would laugh and joke with one another all day.
Your guides at Kanana are all professional guides and extremely informed of their surroundings. The Setswana peoples mostly grow up in the bush so they are intimately familiar with the vibe the bush gives you, bird calls and all the larger mammals.
Some feel good facts about Kanana Camp…rebuilt and refurnished in 2025; private concession; 100% solar powered; fishing from March to September; open all year round and has limited WiFi.
There is also a “sleep out deck” and for those of you with a keen sense of adventure, this is your thing!
The deck is located a good distance away from the camp on the fringes of quite an open area. This makes for fantastic sightings in the early evening. Your guide will drive you there and then he will sleep in a tent in close proximity to the deck. You are given a 2-
way radio for reassurance. However, this is never needed. The deck is high, safe and sealed off at night once you have been dropped off there.
As you can see from the image, this really is an experience you would not want to miss out on.
As you can read from these words I loved managing Kanana Camp. The lush green trees, the water close by, the Heronry and all the land mammals you could think of.
So, if you are considering Botswana and the Okavango Delta for your next safari to Africa, then include Kanana Camp in your itinerary. She will not disappoint you!
Pierre
African Safari Experts
www.africansafariexperts.com
pierre@africansafariexperts.com