Vast, remote, wild and on the border with Namibia, Kwando encompasses a variety of habitats from mopane to riverine forest and extensive floodplains with islands.

The Kwando concession is named after the Kwando river which forms the eastern border of the concession and the northern border of Botswana; Namibian territory begins on the other side of the Kwando river.  The Kwando concession is a vast 232 000 hectares or 2300 square kilometres of private concession and this is an extremely wild and remote area.

The eastern boundary close to the river has a band of riparian forest.  The west consists of large expanses of mopane woodland which is less productive for game viewing and naturally the two camps in the concession are situated along the Kwando river.  The south of the concession has more open areas of floodplains with palms and tree filled islands.

Animals

Red lechwe, impala, kudu and tsessebe are common antelope here.  You will encounter large wildebeest and zebra herds from June to November.  Big breeding herds of elephant are found in the Kwando River’s vicinity in the second half of the year.  Be aware that the elephants in this area are known to be much more aggressive than those in Chobe where they are more habituated to vehicles and people.  Expect to see lion and leopard, especially around the Kwando riverbanks.  From June/ July onwards game moves into the Kwando Concession to access the waters of the Kwando River as the areas to the south and west dry out.  Crocodile and hippo frequent the Kwando River.  On night game drives, you might encounter aardwolf, genets honey badgers and bushbabies.

Birds

See Linyanti Concession: the birdlife is varied and takes in water and plains birds.  Look out for the rare rufous-bellied heron.

Plantlife

The north of the concession around Lagoon Camp and the Kwando River has the larger trees characteristic of riverine forest such as sausage tree, leadwood and knobthorn.  Lebala Camp to the south is more open and scrub-like with patches of wild sage and further south the terrain becomes even more open with more mokolwane palms and morula as well as the candle pod and camel thorn vachellia.

Best months:  As for the Chobe riverfront and the Linyanti, game concentrations are highest in the dry season when wildlife relies on the water of the Kwando River.

Access: This is a private concession and a highly inaccessible area.  Self-driving to the camps is not advisable.  Guests arrive by light aircraft to one of the two airstrips near Lebala and Lagoon Camps.

Camps: Lagoon Camp, Lebala Camp