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Nokanyana Lodge
Where the Khwai meets the Mababe — and the game walks past the deck.
From our guest surveys — how we gather evidence
The lodge at the meeting of two rivers
Nokanyana takes its position seriously: the camp stands on the bank where the Khwai River runs into the Mababe, and the water in front of it works like a stage. Elephant cross in the shallows, hippo grunt through the night, and giraffe and kudu file down to drink while you're still at breakfast — guests here regularly see more from the deck than many camps manage on a drive. The main area faces it all: an open deck for meals, a firepit for the evenings, and the kind of team guests name individually in their reviews — the welcome song on arrival and the goodbye song at the end are the camp's own tradition.
The name means “little river” in the local language, and the camp keeps that scale: ten tents along the bank, unhurried days, and a warmth that reads as family-run because it is run that way.
Ten tents facing the water
The tents are big, light and contemporary — canvas rooms on timber decks with the river view doing the decorating. Each holds a four-poster king under a mosquito net, a safe in the open wardrobe, and a bathroom built so you miss nothing: double sinks facing the bush, the loo and shower in their own private sections, and two large rain showers — one inside, one out on the deck. Soft furnishings run to quiet earth tones; the light and the space do the rest.
The three family units sit a short way from the main area and the other tents — two bedrooms and a bathroom behind one door, taking two adults and two children, with room for a fifth bed when needed.
Private ground, and the patience it buys
Two activities run daily, and the private traversing of the Mababe River Private Reserve is what sets them apart: when your guide finds lions, you stay as long as the lions do. Morning and afternoon drives work the floodplains between the lagoons and out into the Kalahari sand country — lion, leopard and wild dog are regulars here, with roan antelope and ground hornbill among the area's rarer sightings. Birding drives, bush and nature walks and a cultural visit to the neighbouring community complete the picture, with mokoro trips arranged when the water allows.
The reach is the other advantage. Nokanyana sits within striking distance of Moremi, Khwai and Savuti, and the camp runs full-day safaris into all three — out at dawn with a packed brunch, back at dusk, an entire reserve covered in a day.
Most guests work the private ground around camp — rightly — but the full-day trip into Savuti is the one to add if you have three nights or more: terrain and a predator dynamic you won't see from the Khwai side, without moving camps to get it.
Nokanyana means “little river” in the local language — an understatement with a wink, since the little river in question is the Okavango Delta's final reach, and the junction in front of camp is its meeting with the Mababe.
A camp that means it about families
Nokanyana welcomes children of all ages — rare in this part of Botswana — and is built for it. The three family units stand slightly apart from the rest of camp, so early bedtimes and early risers trouble no one, and the camp arranges children's experiences on request. A swimming pool with sun loungers takes care of the hot middle of the day.
Two things to plan around: families travelling with children under ten book a private vehicle for the stay, at an additional cost — which in practice buys you a family safari on your own schedule — and under-12s sit out the mokoro trips and walking activities.
The eastern edge of the Delta's water
Nokanyana stands where the Khwai River — the Okavango's last reach — meets the Mababe, on the north-eastern edge of the Delta system with Moremi Game Reserve across the water and Chobe's Savuti country to the north-east. Light aircraft from Maun land at Khwai Airstrip, with a game-drive transfer to camp; the lodge can also be reached by road from Maun, around 120 kilometres away.
What it costs.
Rates are per person per night, based on two guests travelling together (sharing).
The river junction that works for everyone
Nokanyana solves a problem most Botswana itineraries trip over: how to take children on a proper big-game safari without compromising it. The private traversing keeps the sightings unhurried, the wildlife keeps arriving at camp along the river, the family units keep everyone comfortable — and for couples the same arithmetic holds, minus the children. Add the day-trip reach into Moremi and Savuti and it earns its place on any route through northern Botswana.
Is this for you
- ✓You're travelling as a family — any ages — and want a camp set up for it
- ✓You want private-ground game viewing with the freedom to linger at sightings
- ✓You like the idea of covering Moremi, Khwai and Savuti from one unhurried base
We were received with song and dances. The chef put great effort in preparing the food, meals served was excellent and the pastries freshly made. Smile was always on the staff faces
Tell us your dates and who's coming — we'll build the journey around Nokanyana, from the flights to the family units to the Savuti day.
The fine print.
- —All meals
- —Local-brand drinks
- —Two scheduled safari activities daily
- —Return Khwai airstrip transfers
- —Flights to and from Khwai Airstrip
- —Premium-brand drinks
- —Inter-camp and other transfers
- —Sustainability levy (charged per person per night)
- —Private vehicle hire
- —Travel and medical insurance
- —Gratuities and items of a personal nature
Children of all ages are welcome. Families with children under ten book a private vehicle for the duration of the stay, and under-12s don't join mokoro or walking activities. Children's experiences can be arranged in camp.
By light aircraft from Maun to Khwai Airstrip, then a game-drive transfer to camp — or by road from Maun, around 120 kilometres.
The camp is unfenced and wildlife moves through to the river day and night — hippo and hyena provide the soundtrack, and staff walk you to your tent after dark.