Nxamaseri Island Lodge

Nxamaseri is a small, privately owned luxury lodge built on a heavily wooded island in one of the world's most renowned wilderness areas.

This camp is situated in the so-called "Panhandle" of the Okavango Delta. The Panhandle is surrounded by tranquil river channels and expansive floodplains. The lodge affords guests a fantastic and very affordable way to experience all the gifts the Okavango wetland system has to offer, and the specialities of camps along the Panhandle are angling and birding.

Nxamaseri 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 and lodge owner, spent months exploring the permanent water channels of the Delta in search of the perfect location for his home and camp. He favoured the Nxamaseri Channel for its beauty and seclusion, and eventually elected to build his camp on a large, shady island hidden in the Nxamaseri waterways. PJ, an avid fisherman, used Nxamaseri Island Lodge to pioneer fly-fishing in Botswana. He remains one of the most experienced fly-fishermen in Southern Africa and the camp is Botswana's premier fly-fishing destination.

The main lodge complex is centrally situated, with spectacular raised views over the Nxamaseri channel and surrounding floodplains. Wooden boardwalks lead to six private brick and thatch chalets with outside decks overlooking the waterways. Bathrooms are en-suite with flush toilets and hot and cold shower facilities, and three-bed chalets are also available.

Three meals a day are offered, with times depending on the activities organized for the day. In addition, the lodge has a fully stocked bar, which includes a good wine list.

For those seeking the ultimate in tranquillity, a morning or afternoon activity on a mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe, is a must. This is a great way to explore the smaller channels and backwaters of the Okavango. Fishing and birding remain the specialities at Nxamaseri Island Lodge and there is a renewed focus on excursions to the sacred San site, Tsodilo Hills.

For non-fishermen, Nxamaseri is still a perfect destination to experience the soul of Africa. With new emphasis on décor and cuisine, the Lodge provides an exclusive and revitalizing getaway for the traveller wanting to experience the tranquil and unique nature of Africa.

In addition to birding, fishing, excursions to Tsoldilo Hills and mokoro trips, Nxamaseri offers excellent guided walks on nearby islands, accessed by boat or mokoro, giving you the opportunity to experience the intimacy and peace of unspoiled Africa. Exploring the islands on foot is an effective way of relaxing and finding the more timid, forest-dwelling birds in this area.

Self-driving to the Lodge is permitted; there is a car park just off the main road and the staff will meet you there with a 4x4 vehicle for the 30 minute transfer to the Lodge. During the flood season from May to September, there is no access to the island by vehicle or foot and guests are transferred from the airstrip or car park by boat.