The wilderness area around the Khwai River, Botswana makes this destination a true African safari gem. It extends from the mighty Okavango River all the way to the north of the country where it forms the boundary of the Moremi Game Reserve.
With Chobe National Park at the other end, this nearly 200 000 hectare wildlife-rich expanse includes the Khwai Community Concession and the Khwai Private Reserve. The area is dominated by grasslands, permanent flood plains and large areas of Mopane forests. There are no fences and the unrestricted movement of large herds of animals makes for spectacular sightings of elephants, buffalo, lions, wild dogs and plains game like zebras and rare antelope, like sable.
The diversity of habitats ensures impressive birding opportunities, with egrets, cranes, vultures and different species of eagles counting among the more than 500 species present in the area. Eco-tourism ventures in the Khwai Concession serve as an economic driver for the local community with the income distributed via the Khwai Community Trust.
There are a variety of ways for the intrepid traveller to explore the Khwai River region, Botswana as the abundance of fauna and flora species offer prime wildlife viewing. From game drives and guided bush walks to gliding along on mokoros and observing from above in a helicopter, a safari to Khwai is a once-in-a-lifetime trip. The lifeline that is the Khwai River makes the area a wild haven as this stable water source also lies along a seasonal migratory route. Visitors can rely on a full Botswana mokoro experience between April and October when the levels of the Khwai River rise and the many channels are passable.
This is also when regular sightings of wild dogs occur in Khwai with these plucky predators denning in the area. The summer months (December to March) will delight avid birders as this is when the visiting migrant species are out in full force. A visit to Khwai village, to see the impact of the various eco-tourism ventures on the livelihood of the local community and how this, in turn, impacts sustainable conservation, can also be arranged.
To stay near this area, visit Hideaways Mogotlho Safari Lodge, Khwai River.
