Nxamaseri Island Lodge

Okavango Panhandle and Tsodilo Hills

Nxamaseri Island Lodge is a unique African experience on a private island in the permanent waters of Botswana’s Okavango Delta. A small, exclusive lodge, it is one of the oldest in the Okavango Delta. The distinct style of Nxamaseri Island Lodge showcases the beauty of the permanent swamp that is it’s home and subtly expresses the rich vibrance of the indigenous people.

MOTORISED BOAT SAFARIS	Guided excursions through the deeper channels and lagoons of the Okavango Delta in hard-bottom aluminum boats. The boats are equipped with comfortable seats, a foldaway canvas roof and life jackets.
MOKORO (CANOE) EXCURSIONS	Guided mokoro excursions in traditional dug out canoes. Guests experience the shallower channels and floodplains of the Okavango Delta.
GUIDED BUSH WALKS	Bush walks on the surrounding islands offer the opportunity to track the larger species that inhabit the water wilderness.
FISHING	Nxamaseri Island Lodge is a prime destination for lure fishing from March to December. Tiger fish are indigenous to the area and provide thrilling angling for both experienced and novice fishermen.
TSODILO HILLS CULTURAL TOUR	Enjoy a guided tour of one of Botswana's greatest treasures, the Tsodilo Hills.

LODGE FACILITIES

FAMILIES	Accepts children 6 and older
ROOMS	Six twin/double chalets, two triple chalets & one family chalet.
PILOT/GUIDE	1 x Pilot/Guide chalet (not the same standard as guest rooms).
DINING	Buffet style 3-course meals are served in the outdoor dining area. Private dining is available on request.
CAMP FIRE	Situated on the main deck with beautiful views of the panhandle.
SWIMMING POOL	Set in a secluded location at the lodge.
BAR	Fully stocked bar.
CURIO SHOP	Accepts cash and credit card payments.
LAUNDRY	Daily, inclusive laundry service available.
WATER	Reverse osmosis water treatment plant supplies drinking water (bottled water on request).
ELECTRICITY	The lodge power supply is a 220v generator that charges batteries through an inverter, allowing the lodge to have electricity 24 hours a day. Electronics can be charged at any time.
WIFI	Limited WiFi is available at the lodge. Wi-Fi is via remote satellite link up and constant connectivity is not guaranteed.
TELEPHONE	No telephone communication available. The lodge has a satellite phone and radio for emergencies.

ROOM FACILITIES

RAISED DECKS	Spacious chalets set on raised teak platform connected to the main area.
PRIVATE VIEWING DECK	Each chalet has a private viewing deck set beneath the indigenous forest.
EN-SUITE BATHROOM	En-suite showers, hand basin and toilet facilities.
FANS	Fans are available in all rooms – there is no airconditioning in the rooms.
POWER	220V multi adaptor plugs for charging photographic equipment. 24 hour power available in the room via the battery bank.
SAFE	A small pass-code protected safe for storing valuables.
BATHROOM FACILITIES	A range of bathroom amenities including bio-degradable soaps, shower gels etc.

THE LODGE

Nxamaseri Island Lodge is one of the oldest camps in the Okavango Delta. It was established in the early 1980s by PJ and Barney Bestelink. PJ, an experienced guide, spent months exploring the permanent water channels of the delta in search of a perfect location for his home and camp. He favoured the Nxamaseri Channel for its beauty and seclusion, and eventually elected to build his lodge on a large shady island hidden in the Nxamaseri waterways.

Locally inspired, Nxamaseri Island Lodge celebrates the colourful vibrance of the Botswana culture. Enjoy incredible views of the panhandle from the lounge area which has comfortable seating and plenty of good books to browse.

Desert & Delta Safaris offers one of the most comprehensive fly-in safari circuits on Botswana and the inclusion of Nxamaseri in the Desert & Delta Safaris portfolio adds a new attraction to our luxury circuit.

With the lodges relatively easy access by road, Nxamaseri is the perfect Okavango Delta inclusion for self-drive travellers exploring the depths of Botswana. For those travelling through Namibia to Victoria Falls, Nxamaseri is a welcome inclusion offering a complete contrast to Namibia’s desert environment.

ACCOMMODATION

Nxamaseri is a secluded lodge with a total of nine chalets all set beneath forest canopy. Each chalet is privately situated on its own teak deck. Bedrooms are quiet havens with open access to a seating area on a private deck. Each evening will see guests’ beds turned down and if there is a chill in the air, hot water bottles are tucked in under the blankets as a welcome surprise for tired guests. A safe is provided in each room and at reception for guests’ valuables.

WILDLIFE & ACTIVITIES

The traditional method of transport along the waterways and over floodplains in Botswana is by mokoro (dug-out canoe). There is no better way to experience the stillness and beauty of the Okavango Delta than to be poled on the water silently, gliding just inches above the crystal clear surface, eye-level with dragon flies, reed frogs and water lilies and within touching distance of the myriad of colourful fish that swim just below the surface.

Nxamaseri Island Lodge has spectacular birding throughout the year. The most exceptional birding months are from September to February, before the new water arrives. The Lodge provides unrivaled water bird viewing, having a large variety of kingfishers, herons, storks and water fowl. The area also has an impressive number of woodland and riverine forest species that occur on the islands and the seasonal floodplains beyond the camp.

Guided walks are offered on nearby islands, accessed by boat or mokoro, giving you the opportunity to experience the intimacy and piece of unspoiled Africa. Exploring the islands on foot is an effective way of relaxing and finding the more timid, forest-dwelling birds.

Owing to its prime delta location fishing is a one of the lodges primary activities from March – December. Tiger fish are indigenous to the area and, as one of the world’s most dramatic freshwater game fish, it provides thrilling angling for both experienced and novice fishermen.

One hour from Nxamaseri Island Lodge is one of Botswana’s greatest treasures. The mystical and spiritual Tsodilo Hills rise out of the dry desert landscape, forming the highest point in Botswana. These hills are sacred to the San people of Northern Botswana and are adorned with over 4000 ancient San paintings. A visit to these hills affords one the privilege of being able to see and feel, however briefly, the essence of an ancient culture, fragile and increasingly threatened in the face of pressure from the Western world.

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