Luxury

andBeyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp

Botswana | all-inclusive, eco-friendly, family, group, honeymoon, safari, sustainable, tailor-made | safari-tented | national-park, river | luxury

andBeyond Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp is situated amidst the heart of the Okavango Delta, located within a 2500-hectare wildlife concession bordering the Moremi Game Reserve. Nxabega Camp overlooks expansive floodplains and winding delta channels, presenting unmatched scenery from the camps elevated location, offering atmospheric vistas over the surrounding landscape. A total of 10 units – 9 standard units and 1 family unit, subtly blend into the surrounding bushland environment, resulting in aesthetic and atmospheric quarters with which to reside. Accommodation is tastefully decorated and furnished with a host of modern amenities, such as en-suite facilities, a mini bar, fans, sala and various added extras meant to elevate the guest experience.

Botswana’s magnificent Okavango Delta is situated within the boundaries of the Moremi Game Reserve and exists as the world’s largest inland delta, exhibiting a labyrinth of deep lagoons, large lakes and hidden, meandering channels. Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp, a unique and exclusive African safari camp is situated in a private concession on the edge of the Okavango Delta.

Your adventure begins upon arrival at Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp as you are greeted by a host of friendly faces and a wealth of complimentary refreshments. Once settled into your luxury accommodation – consisting of standard double and family size tented units, you’re all set to go.

Start the day the right way with a freshly prepared continental breakfast before embarking on the day’s activities. Witness a host of iconic safari animals on guided game viewing activities, led by your own private and experienced guides, be it on foot, in open 4×4 safari vehicles, drifting through delta waters in a traditional style African dug-out canoe or motorised boats. The potential for a unique and atmospheric fishing experience attracts many patrons year-round, much the same with avid birders and nature enthusiasts, in addition to the immense stargazing potential inherent to the vast evening landscapes untarnished by light pollution.

Upon your return to camp, you’re free to indulge in a range of luxuriously prepared feasts and bottomless beverages, all-inclusive as standard. Atmospheric indoor and alfresco communal dining areas provide the perfect dining platform to indulge in sumptuous cuisine with friends and family, facilitating meals on request. In-camp facilities such as a bar, pool and spa serve to keep you thoroughly occupied between activities.

With around the clock camp security, you can rest easy knowing safety is top priority throughout the duration of your stay. Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp is the perfect location for private bookings for more intimate occasions such as weddings and honeymoons, facilitating small groups seeking the quintessential delta escape. Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp welcomes families with children of all ages. However, children must always be accompanied by an adult.

Game Drives

Guided game drives provide the opportunity to traverse expansive delta lands in open 4×4 safari vehicles. Thriving game populations within the concession make for ample wildlife viewing potential as you travel across open landscapes and merging eco systems. All the big cats await you, as well as the larger safari staples such as elephant, hippopotamus and buffalo, as do herds of giraffe, frolicking zebra, kudu and wild dog – to name only a few.

Guided Game Walks

Embark on foot across immersive delta lands in the company of experienced guides and friends alike. Lace-up for an adventure like no other and be sure to bring a camera, as you don’t want to miss the opportunity to photograph the expanse of exotic, meandering animals synonymous with authentic African Style safari game viewing. An area is chosen at the guide’s discretion, in keeping with safe distances from large herds of elephant and buffalo. The distance and area for each walk may differ depending on the season.

Catch and Release Fishing

Set sale for a fishing excursion like no other. The Okavango Delta and its surrounding lakes and lagoons provide the quintessential arena to unwind while you cast a line. Little compares to the sensation of calmly drifting through delta waters, soaking in the atmosphere of the surrounding bushland. Delta’s channels provide an abundance of seasonal fish such as tilapia and spotted silver catfish.

For a more intense fishing experience, test your hand against African pike – infamous fighters. Basic equipment is supplied, though avid fly-fishers are advised to bring their own equipment. Please note, catch and release fishing only.

Bird Watching

Birders flock to Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp from every corner of the globe, all eager to view the over 450 species of exotic avian life that call Botswana home. Traverse delta lands with experienced and knowledgeable guides who will point out the various indigenous species for you to view. Be sure to bring your set of complimentary Optik CL Companion 8×30 binoculars, as not to miss some of the rarer bird species such as African fish eagle, wattled crane or African jacana (just to name a few).

December to April is the optimum time for birders as migrants fly inland for breeding

Mokoro Excursion

Embark on a tranquil, culturally enlightening maritime safari experience as seasoned guides paddle you peacefully through calm delta waters in a traditional style African dugout canoe – colloquially known as mokoro. Embark before the dawn of a day’s adventure and watch the sun rise over the horizon while calmly drifting down delta channels in search of neighbouring islands and aquatic game.

Motorised Boating

Set sail for the river delta in this once in a lifetime safari adventure. Traverse open waters in hard bottom aluminium boats as professionally licensed guides take you on a journey through the winding channels of the Okavango Delta in search of neighbouring islands and aquatic game, ensuring a truly remarkable maritime safari experience. Boats are equipped with comfortable seats, a foldaway canvas roof and life jackets as standard.

Massage and Spa Treatments

What better way to unwind after a day’s adventure than reminiscing on activities with a relaxing massage, available from the comfort of your own private deck or tented accommodation and carried out by a host of licenced massage therapists, rejuvenating you for tomorrow’s adventure.

andBeyond’s Impact Model

Since 1991, andBeyond’s company ethos has been “Care of the Land, Wildlife & People.” Always looking for ways to contribute to wildlife spaces and local communities and reducing their environmental impact, without compromising the guest experience. Each of their lodges have a “sustainability champion” who looks for ideas “to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions, recycling initiatives, conservation awareness drives, water efficiency, addressing erosion and re-greening.”

Exclusive experiences are created for guests whilst showing lasting benefits which are meaningful for the communities around their camps and the natural environment. Currently andBeyond have 59 awards recognising their sustainability impact.

Care of the Wild

andBeyond protects endangered land and marine species in the areas they operate, focusing on a minimum of at least 3 endangered species in each area. In Botswana they support the Rhinos Without Borders initiative which so far has translocated 87 rhinos from South Africa to Botswana to keep them safe from poachers.

They also help maintain biodiversity by actively managing the wildlife populations in the areas they operate. To help care for the wildlife andBeyond educate local communities in conservation, over 18,000 lessons on conservation have been taught.

Care of the Land

andBeyond understands that to protect the land they operate on they need to implement ecologically friendly and sustainable initiatives. One of the aims is to reduce their direct carbon footprint by 8%. Thus far, all andBeyond lodges have been audited with an average sustainability score of 88%.

Another way they are caring for the land is by resourcing and using their water sustainably, 96% of lodges use water sourced from water bottling plants and they are currently 85 litres per head better than their target of 500 litres per head. A target for andBeyond is zero plastic water bottles through their camps and so far, 740,000 plastic water bottles have been eliminated per year.

Care of the People

andBeyond “Maximise our localised shared value opportunities through economic benefit, capacity building and social service infrastructure.” They have created 101 jobs in the communities they operate within, offering life changing opportunities to local people.

Through social service infrastructure initiatives, over 56,000 people from local communities now have access to clean water through water access sites and 4724 Hippo Water Rollers, which assist in water transportation. A total of 532 school students have been provided with an opportunity for higher education in 285 new or renovated classrooms.

Rhinos Without Borders

andBeyond has 23763 hectares of conservation land under their care, meaning that all this land, and the nature that inhabits it, is protected. andBeyond is also working with Great Plains Conservation for their collaborative project, Rhinos Without Borders. On average, one rhino is killed every eight hours by poachers who are seeking rhino horns.

To help combat this, Rhinos Without Borders relocate rhinos from high-risk poaching areas in South Africa to Botswana’s wilderness areas. At present, Rhinos Without Borders has been able to translocate 93 rhinos, who as a result will be far safer from poachers.

Oceans Without Borders

andBeyond recognises the threat posed to the world’s oceans and marine resources. Efforts to combat the peril of ocean degradation have inspired a partnership with fellow bastion of ecological awareness, Africa Foundation. In addition to the over 3.6 million hectares (9 million acres) of protected wildlife sustained through the Care of the Wild initiative, andBeyond’s footprint now covers an additional 2000 km (1242 mi.) of African coastline, striving to conserve and enlarge Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

andBeyond seek to apply their trilogy philosophy to their marine operations in order to better care for/impart a positive ecological effect on the areas of ocean under their jurisdiction.

This philosophy is comprised of Protecting Reefs, Protecting Marine Species and Community Empowerment, which have thus far, through the facilitation of partnerships with likeminded institutions, proven initial levels of success and sets optimistic targets for future projects.

Green Technologies

In 2018, a solar photovoltaic (PV) plant and a Tesla Powerpack Battery-Energy Storage System (BESS) was installed at Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp. Generator time has been dramatically reduced, with 80% of Nxabega’s total energy consumption now supplied by this ‘green’ technology. Eco friendly alternatives such as this facilitate a lesser dependence on environmentally detrimental energy sources such as those requiring conventional fossil fuels, resulting in a profoundly positive impact on the eco systems, wildlife and landscapes in which these lodges Operate.

Building for Efficiency

In line with andBeyond’s stance on ecological sustainability and streamlined efficiency mandate, there currently exists a wealth of initiatives and protocols designed to mediate the ecological impact on areas built upon and utilised for means of ecotourism. For instance, careful site selection ensures that the areas chosen for the construction of all andBeyond properties are compatible with the surrounding landscapes, ecosystems and wildlife.

The implementation of repurposed and recycled construction materials greatly benefits the ecology of the land, negating the need to source and haul industrial quantities of lumber and other construction materials vast distances through otherwise undisturbed ecosystems. Minimal foundations and excavations are achieved using steel frame structures atop the designated areas of construction, minimalising the imprint on the immediate environment.

Energy efficiency is maintained through the architectural use of very wide eaves, covered external terraces, cross ventilation and maximised insulation. Heat pumps have been used to heat the pools, with gas used for water heating, greatly reducing the carbon footprint of these operations. State-of-the-art wastewater and sewer treatment systems enable all wastewater to be effectively recycled for irrigation.

Effective Water Management

Above-ground wastewater treatment plants work on an environmentally friendly accelerated aerobic and anaerobic digestion process. Up to 57% of all andBeyond lodges now contain water treatment plants. Additionally, an ever-increasing number of andBeyond lodges have seen the installation of Hydraloop grey-water treatment systems, used to purify wastewater for gardens, irrigation and cleaning solar panel banks.

At andBeyond Phinda Mountain Lodge, more accurate water measurement systems have been implemented to trial more efficient water management practices that hold the potential for wide-scale implementation across all andBeyond ecotourism destinations.

Innovative water management initiatives are being rolled out across a variety of andBeyond properties. This is achieved through identifying the locations that would best benefit from these cutting-edge installations and trailing solutions to assess viability for future rollouts in equally afflicted areas. andBeyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is currently testing an above-ground wastewater treatment system which will utilise laundry water to wash safari vehicles and flush staff toilets, saving 160 000 l (42 267 gallons) of water monthly.

Reducing Plastic Water Bottle Consumption

Recognising the profoundly negative ecological effects that plastics pose to the environmental welfare of the sensitive ecosystems of Southern Africa, andBeyond have implemented ambitious measures prohibiting the use and importation of plastic bottles to all its properties – derived from the original target of installing water bottling plants at 100% of their lodges.

A target of reducing plastic water bottle usage by 90% was set for 2020, yet this figure was surpassed the year prior with a collective reduction of up to 99% spanning all andBeyond properties. In Southern Africa, all lodges utilise glass water bottles as opposed to plastic, reaping the many ecological and environmental benefits inherent to the change. Glass is 100% recyclable and has an unlimited recyclable life span, making it the most sustainable, if not conscious alternative, posing an inherently smaller carbon footprint and environmental impact.