I am considering a 4 or 5 night stay at Xakanaxa Camp in mid-April immediately prior to departing on a mobile safari.

The mobile includes 2 nights Nxai Pan, 2 nights in a housebout on the Zambezi, 1 night in Livingstone, 3 nights Chobe (Serondela/Savute), 2 nights Moremi (Kwai), 2 nights Xaxanaka (campground in this instance) in the Delta and a final night in Maun.

I would like to have a fixed stay experience as well, and based on availability and moderate budget, I am leaning towards Xaxanaka Camp. 5 nights, single occupancy, including air transfers is approx $2300 US. My first choice was Savute Safari Lodge because of the tme of year(and affordability), but I can only get 2 nights there and I would strongly prefer to stay put.

What say you experts about this choice for a first-timer???

I don't have an idea of what the rates are, but you can try splitting the 5 days with Savute Elephant Camp. It's about 600 metres away as the bird flys.
http://www.orient-express-safaris.co...troduction.jsp

In April/07, discounted rates at Savute Elephant Camp are $806 USD per night, single occupancy, vs. $460 USD per night, single, at Xaxanaka Camp and $394 USD, single at Savute Safari Lodge.

So to reiterate my question: Is Xaxanaka Camp a good choice for a 4 or 5 night stay on a moderate budget or would there be better moderate budget choices in April?

Thanks kindly for any input.

I would say no, the area is very small and not the most productive. Considering you can stay at Kwando Lebala for $300 a night i would be interested to know how you are pricing these lodges?

Secondly, i assume that you are starting in Livingstone? It would be strange to go Nxai pan all the way to LVI. Look at Hwange, excellent game viewing in April at Hwange's Makalolo or Linkwasha, better than Moremi and Savute.

Prices seem to have syrocketed for April 2007 and beyond. Kwando Safaries and other S Africa based operators (e.g. e-gnu) quoted me $725 US per night single for April at Lebala and transfers of $630 USD return to Maun.


It would have been much much cheaper before March 31st but alas I have already booked and paid for a South Africa tour between March 27 and April 15 and booked and paid for a Botswana mobile Apr 21-May 5th.

I am ticketed into to Maun on Apr 16th and pick up a mobile safari in Maun Apr 21st.

To lbj, please let me know where I can book Lebala for $300/night in April and I'll book immediately.

And to answer your question, the mobile starts in Maun, then to Nxai Pan and then by road via Nata and Kazungula to Mabova village in Zambia for the houseboat on the Upper Zambezi, a day and night in Livingstone, and then 7 nights camping in Chobe , Savuti, Moremi and the Okavango, and a final night in Maun.

smacdvanbc,

What company is the mobile with? What an interesting and diverse itinerary.

The company is a UK based adventure tour company called Explore (www.explore.co.uk). The tour is "Botswana Wildlife Safari". The land only cost is 1305 GBP plus $300 US local payment. It's a 'comfort camping' trip. No participation, camp beds with linen and blankets. Explore has a good reputation and draws serious travellers (rather than party people)mostly from Britain, Australia, NZ, and Canada.

I was basing the prices on e-gnu up until march 31st. Selinda's rack rates are $495 plus a single supplement of 175. Perhaps email them direct. My only other suggestion would be to try a few more agents. this one is based in Maun;

www.thebookingcompany.net

I don't have a great idea on pricing, the person to ask is rocco.

on selinda, email direct an open negotiations on the single supp

If budget gets to be an issue, you can try one of these camps. No recommendations.
Leroo La-Tau Bush Lodge www.africansecrets.net/llt_home.html
Meno A Kwena www.kalaharikavango.com
Mankwe Bush Lodge www.mankwe.com

Thanks luangwablondes. Appreciate your suggestions.

I have been considering Meno a Kwena. It is reasonable, $365 US single sup incl in April and road transport from and to Maun is included too. I am particularly impressed with the camp's commitment to community development. I wouldn't hesitate in the dry season but I think it might be somewhat peripheral as far as game viewing in April so more than 2 nights might be too much.

During April,Leroo La-Tao is open only to those who wish to participate in christian community prayer and reflection.

I am now pretty much set on spending 4 nights in one place in the Delta and Xakanaxa Camp still seems the best value option for me, based mostly on feedback from other travel sites, particularly Trip Advisor.

I work for a non-profit (Canada's largest AIDS charity) and simply can't afford the luxury camps which most fodorites are inclined to recommend.

Staying at Xakanaxa would be for me a real splurge. It is twice as much per day as I'm paying for the mobile safari and almost 3 times as much per day as I'm paying on an 18 day tour of South Africa.

You can do something a little different. I realize that this isn't part of the sit and chill thing. Take the 2 day reservations in Savute. Rent a 4x4 in Maun. Stay 1 or 2 nites Mankwe fully catered, luxury tent, with activities at P1170. Or P625 if no activities. Drive to Savute for the 2 nites and then last nite at Mankwe. Mankwe would take you around Kwai River probably if you do the game drives with them.

You get a Veronica Roodt Map and borrow a gps. The map has coordinates of places and intersections, so you can't get lost, even game drives in the park. Its easy to navigate. There are even some signs to get you to Mankwe and the track to Savute.

There are some variations naturally, but it is a less expensive alternative. If you are into the camping thing, you can camp at the public campsite at Savute b4 or after the Savute Safari Lodge. That would rein in your spending a lot. But then you would need to do your own catering and sleep in a roof tent. The vehicle would come with the necessary kit and you just stop at the store in Maun for supplies. The Savute campsite is on the same Savute Channel a several hundred metres away.

Wow luangwablondes! More great and interesting ideas. I'm impressed with your creativity. Thanks for your efforts on my behalf. Even more options to think about. Decisions, decisions!!