Okuti

Location

Okuti sits within Moremi Game Reserve at Xakanaxa, where the Maunachira River flows into the reserve’s eastern floodplains.

This position offers a rare privilege: year-round lagoon access that supports both mokoro and motorboat activities even during periods when other camps become land-bound. You’re inside the reserve itself, not a private concession, meaning game drives traverse Moremi’s famous wildlife densities leopard, wild dog, cheetah, and 800-strong buffalo herds, without boundary fences.

The immediate area includes the Xakanaxa Lagoon, known for hippo pods and resident lechwe, and the camp’s guides maintain long-standing relationships with the local Bayei polers who have navigated these waterways for generations.

Rooms

Okuti’s seven tents include five standard units and two dedicated family tents, accommodating a maximum of 18 guests—a capacity that ensures intimacy rare in the Delta. The tents are the camp’s architectural signature: curved, thatched structures designed to evoke pied kingfisher nests, each elevated on wooden stilts above the floodplain. Canvas walls meet reed weaving, creating natural ventilation while keeping interiors cool. Each tent opens onto a private veranda with sunken seating that puts you at eye level with passing elephants and lechwe. Inside, king or twin beds are dressed in crisp linens with mosquito nets, while the en-suite bathroom features both indoor and outdoor showers (the latter open to the sky, surrounded by reed screens for privacy) and flush toilets. Solar-powered lighting and charging stations handle cameras and phones, though high-voltage devices aren’t supported. The tents are well-spaced along a raised boardwalk ensuring privacy, with numbers 1, 5, and 6 offering the most seclusion at either end. Note that children must be at least eight years old to stay, and the camp’s small size means exclusive-use bookings are common.

Communal Areas

The main area is a soaring thatched structure that feels like a stylized interpretation of a traditional African boma, open-sided to catch breezes off the lagoon. Polished concrete floors, deep leather sofas, and a well-stocked bar create a convivial heart where guests gather between activities. The dining table hosts communal meals under a chandelier of hand-blown glass fishing floats, with menus that blend pan-African flavors—perhaps sesame-crusted bream from the Delta or braised warthog with baobab chutney.

Below the main area, a small swimming pool (enclosed for safety from wildlife) offers relief from October heat, surrounded by acacia shade. A fire pit becomes the evening’s focal point, where guides share stories of tracking the resident Xakanaxa leopardess or the day’s lion dynamics. The camp’s small library includes field guides and histories of the Delta, while a curio shop sells baskets woven by the women’s cooperative in nearby Khwai village.

Activities

Game Drives: Conducted in custom-fitted, open-sided 4×4 Land Cruisers, these twice-daily excursions explore Moremi’s mosaic of habitats—floodplains, mopane woodland, and riparian forest. Morning drives depart around 06:00, often with a thermos of coffee and rusks for sunrise, while afternoon drives leave at approximately 15:30 and extend into the evening, returning after dark with spotlights for nocturnal sightings. All guides are KPSGA-certified, with an average of 12 years’ experience at Okuti alone, meaning they know individual leopard territories, wild dog den locations, and the seasonal movements of the 800-strong buffalo herd that frequents the area. The vehicles feature photographic beanbags, reference books for in-field identification, and a strict “no more than three cars at a sighting” policy to minimize pressure on wildlife. Night drives—permitted because you’re inside the reserve—reveal a different cast: servals hunting in the headlights, genets in the trees, and the eyeshine of hyena patrolling the plains.

Mokoro Excursions: The signature Okavango experience, available year-round thanks to Xakanaxa’s permanent channels. Guests glide silently in traditional dugout canoes, poled by Bayei guides from the community who have navigated these waterways since childhood. These 2-3 hour journeys move through narrow papyrus channels where you’ll pause to watch painted reed frogs, watch African jacanas walk on lily pads, and observe malachite kingfishers dive for tilapia. The polers share traditional knowledge—how to read water depth by plant species, which channels harbor hippos (they avoid those), and how to harvest water lily roots. Each mokoro carries two guests maximum, plus the poler, ensuring intimacy and stability. The experience is particularly magical at dawn when mist rises from the water and the first fish eagles begin their haunting calls. The camp provides padded seats and waterproof bags for cameras.

Motorboat Cruises: When channels are deep enough, Okuti’s aluminum-hulled boats with silent electric motors explore the broader lagoons and connecting waterways. These cruises, typically 1.5 hours, access areas unreachable by mokoro or vehicle, offering perspectives on hippo interactions, crocodile behavior, and the incredible birdlife—slaty egrets, pel’s fishing owls, and African skimmers. The boats are equipped with cushioned seating, life jackets, and a canvas canopy for sun protection. Sunset cruises include gin and tonic as you watch the sky turn amber over Xakanaxa Lagoon, with hundreds of waterbirds returning to roost in the reeds. The guides work closely with local fishermen, respecting their nets and sharing knowledge of fish movements.