Starbed Safari

A classic six night Okavango safari with a dazzling and romantic twist- sleep beneath the stars on private star decks to the sounds of the African bushveld. A perfect blend of adventure and luxury without compromising on your safari experience. Visit two traditional luxury camps in the Okavango, each with a one night sleep out option – offering the best of both worlds. This is no rough and ready experience – high treehouse style structures complete with four poster beds on the open top deck and bathrooms below ensure comfort is never compromised. A complete range of land and water activities combined to ensure a fantastic all round Okavango safari – ideal for romantic holidays and intrepid travelers.

This six night itinerary is split equally between Kanana Camp the west and Sable Alley in the east Okavango, both private concessions with excellent game viewing year round. Both Kanana and Sable Alley have sleep out decks and this itinerary includes one night sleeping out under the stars at both camps. These are beautiful luxury tented camps, a perfect blend of vintage canvas and modern décor – both have a high standard of guiding and excellent personalized service.

This itinerary only runs in the dry season, from April-November.

Beginning in the west of the Okavango, at Kanana Camp set on the private Pom Pom concession, you will enjoy the full range of activities available to private concessions- game drives, off-roading, night drives, walking, mokoro and boating. Importantly, water activities are conducted year round here. This is a particularly pretty area of the Okavango with a string of islands and floodplains. Leopards are frequently found here, along with big breeding herds of elephants and superb birding. Lion and hyena are regular visitors too. The plains game is varied and interesting, the rare sitatunga is even found in the area.

Moving to the eastern Okavango, to the Khwai Private Reserve where you will stay at Sable Alley, and its sister camp, Skybeds. This is a huge private reserve, over 200k hectares of pristine wilderness bordering the famous and game lively Moremi Game Reserve. The area around the camp is beautiful, with pretty floodplains which lead to lush waterways and shady riverine forests. The game is good- lion and leopard are spotted regularly as well as elephant and a variety of antelope, including the beautiful sable after which the camp is named. Game drives, walking and mokoro excursions (water levels permitting) are offered here.

A wonderful itinerary for couples looking to experience a traditional safari with a touch of adventure!

Day 1 - Kanana Camp

On arrival in Maun, Botswana you will be met by a representative and assisted onto your light charter flight to Kanana Camp, a short flight of about 20 minutes. The Okavango is spectacular from above- keep a look out for the larger animals which you can view from the aircraft. Your guide will be waiting on arrival and will transfer your to camp, a game drive of about 30 minutes, depending on sightings along the way.

A warm Botswana welcome awaits. After some refreshments and having been introduced to the camp and team your guide will give you an introduction to the area and activities available at Kanana. You will have the chance to set off on your first activity or relax in camp after your long journey.

Kanana is set on the Pom Pom private concession and has access to permanent water, as such it offers an amazing array of safari activities- morning, afternoon and evening game drives, walking, boating and mokoro rides. Fishing is also available. You will discuss all your interests and preferences with your guide who will plan your days to ensure you make the most of your time here.

Setting out in the late afternoon for your drive or boat ride you will stop of sundowners as the sun sinks below the horizon and the nocturnal animals begin to stir. Returning to camp with a spot light you will look for cats as they begin their hunting and those smaller nocturnal animals which we rarely see without the spotlight like genet, bush babies and caracals.

The fire will be roaring as you return and dinner soon follows before your first night sleep in the Okavango.

Day 2 - Kanana Camp

The next morning you wake early with your choice of hot drink delivered to your tent, followed by a light breakfast. Then you are off to discover the wilderness around Pom Pom - herds of antelope graze the plains while cats stalk from the edges. Leopard are frequently seen here, as are lion and sometimes wild dog.

On this first full day in Kanana you will have the chance to explore deeper into the concession with game drives or some of the other wonderful activities. Game drives allow you to drive further into the concession, or closer to camp you will enjoy an informative guided walk or gliding through the waterways on a mokoro. Returning to the camp for brunch and siesta in the heat of the day you will again set off later in the afternoon for your chosen afternoon activity with your guide.

Returning to camp a roaring fire and dinner awaits. After dinner you will have time to freshen up and gather a few essentials for your night on the sleepout deck, your guide will then take you on a night drive to the sleepout deck, a drive of about 15 minutes, depending on sightings along the way.

You will see the camp twinkling in the distance. You home for the night is a double story treehouse structure, the top deck is open to the stars with a simple mosquito netting and the second level has a toilet and sink. A fire below the sleepout will welcome you to relax around the embers and enjoy a nightcap before retiring to sleep beneath the stars to the sounds of the African bushveld. Safely tucked up in your bed.

Your guide will be stationed in a nearby tent for your peace of mind.

Day 3 - Kanana Camp

The dawn chorus and gentle light will most likely wake you before your guide does – tea and coffee will be simmering on the fire below. Once you have enjoyed a hot drink you will return to Kanana camp for an early breakfast and once freshened up you will continue with your morning activity.

The rest of the day will follow the same daily schedule, with your morning activity running until mid-morning after which you enjoy a heart brunch and siesta before setting off on your afternoon activity. Game drives, bush walks, mokoro rides, boating and fishing mean you will certainly have plenty to do as you explore this beautiful area.

This evening over dinner in camp your guide will advise you of your flight time to Sable Alley the next day, and plan your morning activity accordingly.

Day 4 - Sable Alley

This morning you will enjoy one last activity at Kanana before setting off at the time agreed the day before with your guide for your 35 minutes flight to the Khwai Reserve. Your guide will be waiting on arrival to transfer you to camp, a 30 game drive.

Having met the team you will have a chance to settle into your room and relax a little, perhaps by the beautiful swimming pool before high tea in the late afternoon. Your guide will discuss the area and activities on offer and you will chat about your particular interests and plan your activities for the following days.

The Khwai Private reserve is vast, and home to abundant game. Morning, afternoon and night drives are the main activity here as well as guided bush walks-mokoro excursions are offered when water levels permit, and this area has a good track record for running these year round.

Setting off for your first activity that afternoon you will begin to explore the stunning riverfront area and the beautiful open plains. Impala, kudu, sable, zebra, wildebeest, tsessebe, giraffe and others wander these plains. And the predators follow!

Enjoying a drink as the sun sets you will return for dinner and begin to plan your activities for the following day with your guide.

Day 5 - Sable Alley

This morning an early morning wake up call starts the day, followed by a light breakfast and then you’re off on your morning game drive. Tracking any interesting movements from the cats overnight or perhaps investigating areas where you may have heard sounds in the night!

Returning for brunch you will then have a few hours to yourself to enjoy this beautiful camp. Either relaxing on your private deck, by the pool, in the lounge or horizontal on your bed recharging from the early morning wake up calls! There is always something happening in the lagoon opposite the camp so if you can keep your eyes open why not set up for a sofa safari on your deck and enjoy the comings and goings from camp?

Around 4pm you set off for your afternoon activity, following up on sightings from earlier in the day or perhaps enjoying one last water safari with a mokoro ride. Stopping for a sundowner drink and snack to enjoy the beautiful sunset you then return to camp with the spot light- keeping an eye out for the nocturnal animals as they begin to stir.

Day 6 - Skybeds

By now you will be familiar with the early morning wake up call, though perhaps it may not be getting any easier! After a light breakfast you set off on your morning activity returning for brunch around mid-morning. You guide will discuss your departure time the day before, so you are packed and ready at the appropriate time to transfer to Skybeds for your final night in the Okavango, below the stars!

At an agreed time you will be transferred to Skybeds, a 2 hour game drive into the northern section of the reserve. The mopane forests around here are a favourite spot for elephants so keep your eyes out! Passing by a photo hide you will have an opportunity to watch animals up close and personal as they come to drink at the waterhole, it is impossible to take a bad photo from this angle!

Arriving at Skybeds in the late afternoon you will have a chance to settle into your treehouse home before gathering onto the raised viewing deck overlooking the waterhole to enjoy the sunset. Dinner is served on a simple raised platform to the sounds of the bush.

Finally, you return to your sleepout deck for your final night in the Okavango. Snuggle into your comfortable bed, complete with duvet, hot water bottle and mosquito net and enjoy the fabulous stars. A private en-suite bathroom with a shot shower, sink and toilet are below deck.

The waterhole often has elephant visiting throughout the night and the sound of them drinking and purring to each other is the perfect way to fall asleep – and a great end to your safari.

Day 7 - End of Safari

The time for your flight to Maun will be finalised the day before and your guide will advise you what time you will be leaving camp. The flight will always be schedule to connect with any onward travel arrangements. Depending on the time of departure, as discussed with your guide, you will enjoy on final morning activity and brunch before bidding farewell to the Okavango. The flight to Maun will take approximately 30 minutes, depending on stops along the way. On arrival a representative will meet you to ensure you connect to your onward travel arrangements.

Map View

Kanana Camp

Kanana Camp

Kanana Camp

Sable Alley Camp

Sable Alley Camp

Khwai Skybeds

Khwai Skybeds

Water Level

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