Fodor's Expert Review Kanana Camp

The simple, natural charm of solar-powered Kanana makes you feel part of the Delta, not cocooned away from it. Game drives, glass-bottom mokoroing, boating, and bush walks (nearby islands host resident Pel's fishing owls) are all part of the experience, but a visit to the Thapagadi Lagoon is a must. The lagoon is home to a fantastic heronry, where maribou, open-billed, and yellow-billed storks nest with all kinds of herons, cormorants, pelicans, darters, and egrets—you'll never forget the sounds of this avian community. Game viewing on land is similarly impressive with elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards, wild dogs, and cheetahs all roaming the palm-studded landscape. Roomy safari tents (where tea and coffee are brought at dawn by a cheerful staff member) with wooden decks overlook dense reed beds and a papyrus-thick floodplain. Dark wood furniture is complemented by colorful rugs and throws, while the bathroom features a walk-in shower and twin basins. You'll fall asleep to the sound of hippos munching, squelching, and splashing outside your tent and awake to tumultuous birdsong. Public areas are built around a massive, ancient fig tree, with an open dining deck where imaginative silver-service dinners are served under the myriad twinkling stars. With 360-degree views of the surrounding floodplain, the über-romantic, raised sleep-out deck located a short drive from camp is an unforgettable experience.