Okavango Spirit

LOCATION:

Okavango Delta, Northern Botswana

NUMBER OF ROOMS:

7

PRICE RANGE:

From US$ 8,120 — 2 Nights Exclusive Use per night

DATES OPEN:

Year Round

LOCATION:

Okavango Delta, Northern Botswana

NUMBER OF ROOMS:

7

PRICE RANGE:

From US$ 8,120 — 2 Nights Exclusive Use per night

DATES OPEN:

Year Round

Overview

Switching off has always been top priority for us at Natural Selection and the sheer thought of exploring the pristine waterways of the Okavango Delta from the privacy of your bedroom, totally floats our boat! Okavango Spirit is an extraordinary Okavango houseboat experience offering eight comfy en-suite cabins, with sliding glass doors and private decks for total peace and tranquility in one of the most remote settings in the Okavango Delta. Here you’ll be thrown into a world of beauty, comfort and total serenity. Wake up each morning on the Okavango River, African fish eagles calling, coffee in hand. Weave between islands, dotted with pods of hippo and cruising crocodile, with the ever changing riverbanks your bedrooms constant backdrop. Think spectacular sunsets and extraordinary adventures. Game viewing on tender boats, an abundance of bird and wildlife, land activities exploring the unique surrounds, elephants drinking right in front of your window. As you can imagine, this truly is a houseboat safari experience that simply can’t be missed!

Why You’ll Love Okavango Spirit:

  • Moored on the serene waters of the Okavango Delta, recognized as being amongst the quietest and most peaceful in the Delta.
  • Spend your days and evenings taking in the breathtaking scenery and soaking up the peace and tranquillity.
  • Explore Tsodilo Hills, home to more than 4,000 San Bushman Paintings - probably the most important collection of rock art in Africa.
  • Experience the rich Okavango Delta bird life, and unrivalled views of the meandering waterways from the comfort of the houseboat.
  • Enjoy morning and afternoon game viewing boating trips, exploring the narrower waterways and islands nearby.
  • Watch the sun go down from your private deck, listening to the calls of the African Fish Eagle, sundowner in hand.
  • Lap up the night noises as you drift off to sleep!
  • Ideal for families and group booking of up to 14 guests.
  • Star-gaze from the privacy of your deck.

We recommend booking Okavango Spirit as part of a complete Natural Selection safari, but if you want to book it separately or just check availability, click here to select dates and book.

Interested in learning more about the prices? View Rates

Okavango Spirit

Okavango Spirit Accommodations

Okavango Spirit offers guests 7 comfy en-suite cabins, each with twin beds and a private viewing deck. You’ll enjoy the change of scenery as you cruise around the pristine waterways of the Okavango Delta from the comfort of your bedroom. The houseboat will spend its nights moored along the tranquil banks of the Okavango River in an area that is recognised as being amongst the quietest and most peaceful in the delta. Each cabin offers guests spectacular views of the crystal clear waterway, abundant bird life and is simply ideal when it comes to spotting wildlife along the riverbanks. There are a bountiful number of hippo and crocodile swimming nearby. Spend your days in privacy, comfort and style. The upper deck (3 meters high), has a stunning dining area where your meals will be served, a small comfy lounge for reading and relaxing, a well-stocked bar and stunning sundeck – perfect for game viewing and sipping afternoon sundowners, binos in hand.

Accommodation & Amenities

  • 7 cabins: 4 doubles / 3 twins.
  • Ensuite bathrooms with indoor showers.
  • 3 metre high viewing deck.
  • Wifi: Yes.
  • Hairdryers: No.
  • No plug points in rooms.
  • Battery charging facilities: In the main lounge area.
  • Child policy: we welcome children aged 6 years and older.
  • Disabled access: please enquire with reservations.

When to Visit Okavango Spirit

Okavango Spirit operates all year round.

The reedbeds really come alive from August to October, during the annual “Barbel Run” when the rains have stopped and the flood waters have usually arrived. When the dropping water levels force huge shoals of catfish out of the floodplain areas and into the main river, causing a fish and bird feeding frenzy. For bird lovers, this truly is an exceptional time to visit and a phenomenon to encounter.

Okavango Spirit Activities

There are a hive of exciting activities to enjoy from the houseboat. Each day you will have the opportunity to get onto our smaller game viewing boats, taking you to the various activities in the area. These include bird watching, boat safaris and a visit to Tsodilo Hills – an absolute must see!

Tsodilo Hills is a World Heritage Site and is about 50km southwest of Shakawe, in a dry, bush-covered and softly undulating landscape. The site consists of four hills that rise abruptly, to about 400m, from the dry expanse of Bushveld. Having been inhabited for about 30,000 years, they’re one of the world’s oldest historical sites. The Hills are home to more than 4,000 San Bushman paintings – probably the most important collection of rock art in Africa. Perhaps even more remarkable is the resonant atmosphere of spirituality that inhabits Tsodilo Hills. Several walking trails provide helpful routes around the painting sites. Among the interesting paintings are paintings of whales and penguins that suggest contact between the San Bushman and other people.

You’ll end each day with an afternoon sundowner cruise on the river. As the water ebbs and flows, keep an eye out for elephant eating papyrus shoots on the riverbanks surrounding you. Or spend an evening on one of the nearby islands, enjoying your dinner under a blanket of a billion stars.

Scoot across to Namibia for a morning game drive in Bwabwata National Park (trip dependant on Namibia’s Covid testing requirements). Here, you’ll find an abundance of wildlife in the park, like elephant, buffalo and several antelope species including greater kudu, roan and sable antelope. All big cats are present and there have been many sightings of wild dog as well. Some of the species that have been re-introduced here include red lechwe and the semi-aquatic sitatunga. Returning to the houseboat by mid-afternoon.

  • Enjoy daily boating safaris (early morning and evening).
  • An excursion to Tsodilo Hills, a World Heritage Site, with possibly the richest concentration of San Rock art in Africa.
  • Phenomenal Bird-watching opportunities all year round.
  • Guided walks on smaller islands.
  • Try your hand at a spot of fishing (01 Mar – 31 Dec); fishing is not permitted from January to February due to breeding season).
  • Dinner on one of the islands, under a blanket of stars.
  • A trip across the border into Namibia to do a morning game-drive in Bwabwata National Park.
  • Relaxing in the solitude and soaking up the serenity of this beautiful Okavango River.

Okavango Spirit Landscape & Wildlife

 

Landscape

Okavango Spirit operates in the “Panhandle” area of the Okavango Delta, Northern Botswana. To get on to the houseboat you will either fly directly from Maun (380km away) or take a 5 hour drive around the Okavango, weaving your way through small villages before getting to Shakawe, where Okavango Spirit is moored on the crystal-clear waters of the Okavango River.  This area is recognized as being amongst the quietest and most peaceful in the Delta, due to its remoteness. There are only a handful of permanent camps and boats operating in this wilderness area, which make it ideal for our discerning guests.

Wildlife

Up here, the scenery is truly breathtaking. The iconic waterways are bustling with birdlife and wildlife, and as the water weaves its way around channels dotted with islands, you’ll discover endless riverbanks of papyrus, grasslands, lagoons and backwaters covered with water-lilies and seasoned sandbanks, beautiful trees all bathed in sunlight and the big African sky, a constant back drop. On the riverbanks, keep a look out for grazing hippo or sunbathing crocodile. Animals, like kudu and buffalo make their way to the waters edge for a drink. Ellies often drink there and play, rubbing themselves against a tree or two along the way. This is also a birders paradise. From heron, to kingfishers, bee-eaters to eagles, plovers to the Pel’s fishing-owl – you could spot up to 200 incredible bird species in one day.

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