Luxury Lodges · Okavango Delta, Botswana
Wilderness Chitabe
Overview
Highlights
- Prepare for thrilling predator sightings of leopard, lion, cheetah, wild dogs and impressive prey densities, which are attracted to the diverse habitats all in close proximity.
- Explore a dramatic mix of untamed Kalahari and Okavango wilderness and wildlife on private conservation land.
- Permanent water from the channels ensures spectacular year-round game-viewing.
- A wildlife photographer's dream. Our highly trained Chitabe guides help guests capture unforgettable wilderness memories.
Destination: Wilderness Chitabe is a renowned predator hotspot, ideally located on 28,000 hectares of private conservation land in the south-east of the Okavango Delta, and bordered on the north by the famed Moremi Game Reserve. Here Botswana’s seasonal Gomoti River brings an ebb and flow of ever-changing wildlife across a mosaic of habitats – woodlands, wetlands and grasslands – that surround the camp, delivering some of the best wildlife sightings on Earth.
Experience: As a predator stronghold, Chitabe produces truly intense and rewarding wildlife encounters during day and night game drives. Take a guided nature walk with one of our knowledgeable guides, who all read the land like a book and entertain guests with their wonderful storytelling and profound love of the area and wildlife. A day excursion to Tsodilo Hills, a World Heritage Site, to see the rock art and listen to traditional music are a must, as is a helicopter ride* over the jewel-like Delta. Closer to home, enjoy an early morning workout in our bush gym, followed by refreshing swim. At night spend memorable evenings around a crackling fire with friends old and new.
[*additional costs apply]
Purpose: Chitabe supports Wild Entrust Africa, the umbrella organisation for all large predator conservation research in Botswana – including lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas and African wild dogs. Our local employees also benefit from life-enriching school education donations and generous profit-shares.
Wildlife: This unique area harbours a massive variety of habitats within the concession, giving rise to a rewarding diversity of sightings of Africa’s iconic animals. In this famed predator-prey wilderness, look out for cheetah, wild dog, spotted hyena, and leopard, often seen draped over tree branches. Lion prides can also be found patrolling their territory. Elephant, giraffe, buffalo, red lechwe, tsessebe and impala are seen on game drives or nature walks with our professional guides.
Birding is excellent and varies throughout the year, depending on water levels and season. Species to tick include African hawk-eagle, ground hornbill, scarlet-chested sunbird, red-billed hornbill, gabar goshawk and red-billed francolin.
Wilderness Chitabe: Nestled on a beautiful old tree-island, the Meru-style luxury tents set a quintessential African safari tone. Inside, the rich, earthy colours and African décor ground you in the bush – as do the striking wildlife photographs of Chitabe co-owner, internationally acclaimed photographer Dave Hamman.
The shared spaces, built on elevated decks, include a thatched dining area, bar, pool and lounge, and offer prime wildlife viewing. Watch elephants make their way across the channel, buffalos grazing on the floodplain and more than likely a couple of male lions patrolling their territory.
Suites & Rates
Choose how you stay
Standard Twin/Double Tent(s)
Set on a beautiful tree island on a private concession, Wilderness Chitabe offers an exceptional blend of creativity and comfort, perfectly suited to the extreme temperature swings of the Okavango Delta: spacious tents feature...
Details
Good to know
Ideal for
Birding, Nature, Wildlife
Property facilities
Bar, Library, Pool
Accommodation & amenities
Electrical Outlets, Fan, Internet Access (Complimentary), Laundry Service (Complimentary), Lounge Area, Mosquito Nets, Outside Shower, Safe, Tea / Coffee, Verandah
Services
Credit Card Facilities, Private Vehicle (Available)
On-site activities
Bird Watching, Game Drives, Night Drives, Walks (Guided)
Nearby activities
Cultural Tours, Helicopter Scenic Flights
Location
Where you'll be
Video
See the stay
Wilderness Chitabe: Encounter the Extraordinary
Unrivalled, year-round wildlife, renowned, world-class guides, and the warmth of a family home... Wilderness Chitabe brings you much more than a safari. In a journey that's equal parts adventure, heart and luxury, Chitabe showcases one of the richest, most spectacular places in Botswana's Okavango Delta.
We Are Wilderness
Discover Earth’s ultimate, untamed places with Wilderness. Let us take you on an unrivalled journey through a collection of the world’s most iconic wild destinations. Our company exists to make sure the world will always have a version of its iconic wild places that is unfenced, wild, unpredictable. It’s not our reputation as one of the first, or the largest, in the conservation tourism space that makes us Wilderness. It’s our determined push to keep going. To keep protecting, exploring and expanding Earth’s ultimate, untamed places. To then bring guests to discover the beating pulse of each one.
Discover Botswana: A Wildlife Haven
Heed the call of the wild on an exclusive Botswana safari. Explore outstanding landscapes and witness astonishing wildlife in one of the world's wildest destinations. A safari in Botswana will see you journey to one of the world’s most astounding wildlife destinations. Meet Botswana’s warm people and delight in the thrill of exploring vast landscapes. Glide across the magical waters of the Okavango Delta or gather around a campfire telling stories old and new. At night, listen to a chorus of frogs and other performers. An African sky, exploding with stars.
Activities
What you can do
Wilderness Chitabe – Behind The Scenes
Wilderness is committed to combating climate change by implementing various sustainable energy solutions. One of these is reducing dependence on fossil fuels, with the aim of being carbon neutral. Take a tour "back of house" to see the solar operation in action, and uncover more about our eco-friendly practices.
Wilderness Chitabe – Birding
The birdlife is excellent and varies throughout the year, depending on water levels and season. Species include African hawk-eagle, ground hornbill, scarlet-chested sunbird, red-billed hornbill, gabar goshawk and red-billed francolin.Wilderness Chitabe is part of an internationally recognised IBA – Important Birding and Biodiversity Area – making birdwatching a very rewarding activity.
Wilderness Chitabe – Game Drives
Game drives reveal the rich wildlife of the area, from predators to their prey. Diverse habitats characterised by acacia and mopane woodland in the east, and typical Okavango habitats in the west: palm-dotted floodplains, wooded islands, tranquil waterways and dry woodland – make this a wildlife experience few other locations can match. Key mammal species include giraffes, buffalos, lechwe, tsessebe, elephants, lions, leopards, spotted hyaenas, cheetahs, and African wild dogs.Wilderness Chitabe’s guides – masters of their craft, many with over two decades of experience in this area – read the land like a well-worn map. They don’t just track predators; they anticipate their every move. They don’t just drive; they navigate the Delta’s tangled paths with instinct and precision. Every game drive, every golden-hour sighting is shaped by years of deep respect for the land and its wildlife. The game is relaxed, at ease in the presence of vehicles – an unspoken testament to the guides’ respect, patience, and years of ethical wildlife viewing.Many of Wilderness Chitabe’s guides are enthusiastic photographers. They are trained not only to offer wildlife photography advice, but to interpret wildlife and put guests in the best position to make the most of their photographic safari.
Wilderness Chitabe – Guided Nature Walks
Walking safaris with skilled guides offer you the exciting opportunity to come across wildlife on foot, as well as observing the small wonders you might miss when travelling by vehicle.
Wilderness Chitabe – Night Drives
Afternoon to evening drives provide opportunities for you to see nocturnal mammals such as civets, genets, and bushbabies; as well as owls and perhaps leopard.Every game drive, every golden-hour sighting is shaped by years of deep respect for the land and its wildlife. The game is relaxed, at ease in the presence of vehicles – an unspoken testament to the guides’ respect, patience, and years of ethical wildlife viewing.
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