Kweene Trails

Kweene Trails is a four-night expedition through one of the most remote corners of the Okavango Delta, on the Kweene River in the Abu Private Reserve, a 30,000 ha private concession in the western Delta. There is no airstrip and no other operator: you arrive by helicopter, and for four days the only people you are likely to see are your own group and the team looking after you.

The safari moves between two seasonal camps. The first two nights are at Kweene River Camp, on the southern reaches of the river, where the floodplains flood only occasionally and the rich grazing draws large herds and the predators that follow them. The journey north to Magwegwe Camp, in the seasonal swamp, is a full day of exploring by vehicle, on foot or by mokoro, with a packed lunch along the way while the back-up team moves camp ahead of you. At Magwegwe the river floods every year, and the floodplains, wooded islands and year-round water are classic Okavango.

Days are planned around your interests: game drives on a deliberately limited track network, walks through country with no vehicle tracks at all (ages 12 and up), and mokoro trips along the channels when the water allows, usually from May to September. Scenic helicopter flights, a visit to the Tsodilo Hills rock art and a day at Habu Village can be added.

The camps are simple and comfortable. Each walk-in Meru tent has twin or double camp beds with Egyptian cotton linen, mesh walls that open to the bush, and an en-suite bathroom with a bucket shower, compost toilet and basin. Meals are cooked over an open fire, and the bar carries premium spirits, beer and South African wines chosen with the winemakers.

There are two ways to go. An Exclusive Safari gives a private group of four to ten guests the camps, guide, vehicle and team to themselves, and children of all ages are welcome. A Shared Safari joins a scheduled departure of up to ten guests aged 12 and over, with the day's activities chosen by the group.

Beagle Expeditions is a family business run by Simon and Marleen Byron, with more than 30 years in Botswana's safari industry between them. They contribute three hundred pula per guest per night to the Wild Entrust and the Habu Elephant Development Trust, and a conservation levy on every stay funds community projects in Habu Village and the reserve's anti-poaching unit.