&BEYOND XARANNA OKAVANGO DELTA CAMP – OKAVANGO DELTA

&Beyond Xaranna nestles deep in the heart of Botswana’s game-rich Okavango Delta. With sweeping views opening up onto a seasonal lagoon this light and airy camp enjoys luxurious solitude on its own Delta Island within an exclusive 90,500-hectare wildlife concession.

Xaranna has just nine air-conditioned ensuite safari tents that luxuriously combine canvas, soft drapes and bleached timber. The overall atmosphere of the camp is cool, light and airy in keeping with the gentle beauty of its environment. Taking inspiration from the Delta’s profusion of water lilies, the camp’s pastel colour tones are a delicate spectrum of olive greens, lily pinks and a chic yellow hue.

Enjoy a variety of activities to really make the most of the Okavango – game drives, night drives, walking safaris, mokoros and boating (in season) and children are well looked after with the WILDchild programme of activities.

LOCATION

&Beyond Xaranna is located in the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana.  Access is by scheduled charter flight into the Okavango Delta followed by a road and boat transfer to camp.

CAMP

Taking its inspiration from the water lily, Xaranna is a delightful camp with just nine airconditioned ensuite safari tents that combine canvas and bleached timber. The overall atmosphere of the camp is cool, light and airy in keeping with the gentle beauty of its environment.

The safari tents are organic in design and are delicately decorated in shade of khaki and soft lily pink. Each tent boasts a romantic outdoor sala, private plunge pool, indoor bathtub and al fresco shower outside.

The guest areas are all carefully designed to make the most of the sweeping views out across the channels and the lounge has a spacious reading area – perfect for afternoon relaxation.  The elevated dining area features shady verandas with outstanding views, which lead out onto an open-air boma where exotic candlelit dinners are served beneath the stars. A fully-stocked Safari Shop offers outdoor gear, African art and jewellery.

ACTIVITIES

A maze of sparkling lagoons, meandering channels and overgrown islands teeming with wildlife – Botswana’s Okavango Delta lies like a sparkling jewel at the heart of the Kalahari Desert. Known as the river that never finds the sea, the Delta’s crystal-clear channels spread over the Kalahari with their papyrus-fringed banks and fertile floating islands. Adapted for a life in and out of water, the elegant red lechwe and shy sitatunga are found in this watery wilderness. Lion, cheetah, leopard and African wild dog share the floodplains with large herds of elephant and buffalo.  Hippo inhabit the deeper channels and lagoons while honey badgers can be seen in broad daylight. Tall termite mounds are homes for families of dwarf and banded mongoose.

Game Drives – your game drives at Xaranna are wonderfully remote and secluded with a few other &Beyond safari vehicles sharing the private concession. Afternoon drives continue after sunset with the chance of seeing elusive species like leopard and serval that are active after dark.

Guided Walking Safari – examine the often-overlooked aspects of the natural world and experience this private concession on foot. Observe and learn as your guide expertly interprets the signs and sounds of the bush.

Catch and Release Fishing – seasonal catch-and-release fishing excursions take place where the Okavango River feeds into the labyrinth of channels and lagoons that make up the heart of the Delta wetland. Try your hand at catching an engaging variety of fish that include the predatory tiger fish. March to December.

Scenic Helicopter Flight – with many of the Delta’s remote areas generally inaccessible an aerial perspective is one of the best ways to get a true feeling for the Delta’s vast land-water spaces. Keen photographers can choose to have the doors removed for unrestricted views. Extra charge.

WILDchild programme – designed especially for children visiting &Beyond safari lodges and camps in Africa this programme is filled with fun, interactive activities that offer opportunities to learn and discover new experiences and cultures. Deeply rooted in the love for the African bush it not only creates a series of unforgettable moments for the whole family but forges strong bonds between our young guests, our planet and its people.

Seasonal mokoro safaris – glide through a maze of clear channels and lagoons on traditionally made mokoro boats, once carved out of ancient Delta trees, but now made from environmentally friendly fibreglass. Discover the Delta sitting centimetres above the water as you silently pass along channels. At the heart of the Delta lies a secluded network of waterways and islands where life slows down even further. Encounter grazing herds of elephant and red lechwe on palm islands and crocodiles and hippos wade in the shallows.

Seasonal boating – explore the Okavango Delta’s intricate network of winding channels and glassy lagoons onboard a sleek, motorised boat that covers great distances, showcasing magnificent views of the watery landscape. The unique perspective from the boat offers great sightings of water birds, herons, colourful bee-eaters, owls, fish eagles and kingfishers. Tiny reed frogs cling to stilt-like grasses creating colourful dots along the water’s surface.

&BEYOND XARANNA  IS OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND

THE CAMP WELCOMES FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN OF ALL AGES.  

CHILDREN 5 YEARS AND YOUNGER CANNOT PARTICIPATE IN GAME DRIVES OR NATURE WALKS. CHILDREN AGED 6 TO 11 CAN PARTICIPATE IN GAME DRIVES AT THE LODGE MANAGER’S DISCRETION.  CHILDREN AGED 12 AND OVER CAN PARTICIPATE IN GAME DRIVES AND CHILDREN AGED 16 AND OVER CAN PARTICIPATE IN NATURE WALKS