I am planning a 6-night trip to Botswana in mid-to-late April 2010. After researching this forum, I am leaning towards 3 nights in Lebala and 3 nights in a camp in the delta. Although I would like to do some water activities, I would like to be at a camp in the delta with game drives as an option. Right now I am looking at Xigera/ Chiefs Camp / Xakanaxa as possible options. Are these good choices for water and land based activities? Or, would you recommend some other camps? Also, does anyone know if these camps charge single supplements?
Thanks in advance for your insights….

Waxwing

water and land - given current delta flood results in recent times, I'd say most delta areas will be land/water.

Lebala - and the single supplement. If I remember correctly, they extended the green season into April or May. So, there won't be a SS.

Game viewing shall depend on how wet the summer months are going to be!

Hari, I was expecting to see you recommend Kwara for that time of year. What do you think about Kwara in April?

Waxwing, you could certainly request a SS waiver for this low season. Given that we have not entered booming economic times yet, it might go. I think SSs are the general rule in much of Botswana. Some of the AndBeyond properties offer waivers in plans something like stay 4 nights and SS is waived for 3. You could suggest a similar plan.

April is not usually the best wildlife viewing time. Here's what a frequent Botswana visitor had to say about Chief's and April, though, which is encouraging.
<i>
"In my opinion and experience the roads around Chief's camp in April will definitely be better than in June. So if you like going there I will recommend early April. You still can have the odd shower but most of the time the weather will be fine and in most of the cases you can still reach Boro West, a place tamed with wildlife. Chief's camp is no option in June, believe me. People who visit it for the first time can't tell because they don't know the area but for repeat guests it's easy to tell."</i>

With changing weather patterns, who really knows.

I think the camps you listed would give you land and water activities. Xigera is mostly water. Chief's is mostly land but they offer mekoros. Most people who go to Chief's probably don't do a lot of water activity because there are other camps with water activities that do not have the wildlife-rich location of Chief's. At Chief's the focus would be on land viewing because the exclusive location is why the cost is higher than some other places.

Have a great time.

Lynn,

It all depends on the floods ............ from year to year. If Tsum Tsum can be accessed from Kwara - I say, definitely the place to go to!

Thanks Hari and Lynn for your input.
I just reserved Kwara (3 nights) and Lebala (3 nights) for late April 2010. Green season rates and no single supplement for accommodations.

Let's hope the rains and floods aren't as dramatic as these past two seasons.

I'm considering Botswana (Chobe River area and then onto Vic Falls) for the first week of March 2010 - better weather than later in April? Thanks!

Weather really is unpredictable. For example., they had some freakish rains in June or July this year which was really very abnormal.

The rainy season is generally the summer months (Dec - March) with the heavier rains in Jan and Feb.

Vic Falls will probably be at it's best around that time - not too sure about Chobe River front. But, I'm sure you will have a good time regardless .......... Try to go to the Savute marsh in the Chobe NP. Could be good out there.