If you like knowing where a camp gets its name, this one has the water channel by which it’s built to thank.
Kiri Camp is actually located between two rivers – the Kiri and the Boro. Perhaps the owners played rock, paper, scissors to decide which of the two the camp was named after. Whatever the case, it’s in a beautiful part of the world, regarded by many as one of the most attractive waterways in southern Okavango, thanks to the floodplains and forests of ebony trees.
But there’s more than a wonderful landscape to attract guests here, not least the quality of the facilities and the variety of activities on offer.
The camp’s ten tents are all built from wood, reed and canvas, each with a private wooden deck overlooking the floodplains. Tents are located on raised platforms, which certainly elevates the views. And someone’s had their measuring tape out and discovered that you get 73 square metres of space in a standard size 1-bed tent, and almost twice that in the two tents designed for families (these each have 2 bedrooms).
The beds are either twins or kingsize, the bathrooms have a shower, twin wash basins and a deep bathtub that gives you an opportunity to relax in bubbles while enjoying views the like of which you won’t get from your bath back at home. And each tent has a Nespresso coffee machine so you can start each day with a wonderful aroma wafting around.
Stays here are on a full board basis, so all meals are included, along with some alcoholic and soft drinks. There’s a dining area and bar in which you can enjoy your refreshments, or you can book special eating experiences out on the floodplains and under the stars if you wish.
Access to these communal areas as well as the lounge, library, curio shop, fire pit and plunge pool is via a raised walkway from your tent. Both lounge and library have open sides, so you can enjoy the views as you relax with a book. Massages and facial treatments are delivered by a specialist who’ll visit your tent to ensure your privacy.
An impressive range of activities: The camp makes the most of being close to two rivers in terms of the activities it offers.
On dry land, climb aboard a 4x4 and an expert ranger will take you to places where elephant, cheetah, lion, leopard, zebra, giraffe and buffalo are known to roam. Expeditions leave camp 3-times daily, in the early morning, late afternoon, and early evening. The late trip offers chances to experience nocturnal goings-on, with leopard particularly active after sunset, as well as porcupine and pangolin (although the latter is rarely seen).
You can swap 4 wheels for your own 2 feet on a walking safari, where smaller species take the spotlight – insects, plants and birds being the focus of adventures led by an experienced guide.
With water, water all around especially during peak flood season, motorboats and mokoro provide the means to explore waterways frequented by crocodile, hippo and bird life. You can fish too, as long as you agree to catch and release, although you can’t catch anything anywhere in Botswana in January and February as it’s the breeding season.
Being in the Okavango Delta (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) means Kiri Camp operates within a conservation ecosystem. Low visitor numbers and controlled access helps protect sensitive habitats, reduces traffic (boat and car) and supports conservation though tourism revenue.
While not recognised as a flagship sustainability leader, Kiri Camp does use solar and off-grid systems, supports the community and has a low impact on the surrounding areas.
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