Beagle Expeditions
BEAGLE EXPEDITIONS IS a high quality adventure experience IN an exclusive concession IN SOUTH-WEST OKAVANGO DELTA.
Operating within the private Abu concession, Beagle Expeditions offers a uniquely exclusive and authentic experience. Accommodation is in two simple but sophisticated tented camps located in two locations about 14 kms apart along a remote section of the Kweene River in the south-west Okavango. Safaris are often four nights in duration, with two nights spent in each location, but can be longer. The hospitality, food and guiding are first class with attention to the finest detail, and the accommodation, whilst having a light footprint, is very comfortable. However, Beagle is not suitable for those who require luxurious facilities, or who lack a spirit of adventure. The magic of the experience is getting back to the core values of a true safari – location, guiding, hospitality and truly immersing yourself in the natural world. Although the camp itself is no longer ‘mobile’ (guests now move between two separate camps), the ethos is very much the same and Beagle Expeditions offers a uniquely authentic, off-grid tented experience in a private concession which allows a range of activities including walking and/or mokoroing (if water levels allow it) between the two camp locations. For those interested, walking can form a significant part of this safari. It is necessary to helicopter in and out of camp, which adds to the feeling of remoteness and exclusivity.
Whilst the region is generally good for big game sightings, the focus will also be on learning about the ecosystem from the experienced guides, appreciating more specialist sightings and at times simply soaking up the peace and tranquillity of the location. This safari offers the chance to genuinely escape reality and lose yourself in nature. While camps can be booked on a shared basis over selected dates, they are usually sold on an exclusive use basis, which we would recommend where possible.
Rooms
A stay with Beagle Expeditions will usually include a stay at both of their Kweene Trails camps – Kweene River Camp and Magwegwe Camp. An expedition can either be booked on a private basis with flexible dates; or on a shared camp basis for a four night safari on certain scheduled dates.
Each camp provides accommodation for a maximum of 10 guests in up to seven meru style tents which are equipped with bed rolls on camp beds and have sides that open up with gauze mesh to allow the feeling of being surrounded by nature. Solar lamps are provided in the tent but we would highly recommend bringing your own head torch. Each tent has an en suite bathroom with compost toilet, bucket shower and basin.
Central Areas
The main mess area of each camp includes a dining table and camp chairs, carpeted area with scatter cushions, and a hammock, where you can relax across the middle of the day, and a tea and coffee station and bar. The campfire, of course, is the main focus for pre and post dinner drinks.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – No
Power for charging – Yes
Swimming pool – No
Habitat & Wildlife
The Okavango Delta is a stunning wilderness area comprising open plains, permanent water channels and lagoons, papyrus swamps, palm islands, riverine, savanna and mopane woodland and extensive flood plains. It is home to all kinds of African wildlife from elephants, hippo, giraffe and buffalo to the full range of predators and nocturnal species. Birding is fantastic.
Beagle Expeditions operates in a private 30,000 hectare concession, within the Abu Concession in the south-western reaches of the Delta, exploring a remote and beautiful section of the Kweene River system, moving between two camp sites. Whilst the area has a genuinely wild feel and game viewing can therefore never be totally predictable, the region is home to the full range of wildlife found in the delta, including good quantities of elephant and buffalo and all the main predators – lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dogs.
The Kweene River camp site is on an occasional swamp habitat with a more arid landscape – as the plains do not receive floodwater annually, the grass species support a healthy population of plains game, elephant and buffalo, as well as predators including lion and wild dog.
The Magwegwe camp site is location in seasonal swamp habitat which receives the annual delta flood waters and comprises floodplains, wooded islands and water all year round attracting plenty of diverse wildlife.
Activities
Activities include day and night game drives and guided walks. Mokoro excursions are available seasonally, depending on water levels. The ‘moving’ day between camps will be a full day out in the bush using vehicles and a combination of walking and/or mekoro – depending on the season, water levels and guest preferences. Access is by helicopter only which naturally gives a wonderful scenic experience arriving and departing, but ‘doors off’ early morning helicopter scenic flights, or longer scenic flights exploring further afield in the Okavango Delta can also be arranged as an extra activity (at extra cost).
Seasons
Beagle Expeditions is open all year for private bookings (on certain months of the year there may be a private booking at each camp), and the shared camp experience can be booked on certain set dates between April and November. The best season for game-viewing in the Okavango Delta is usually from May to November, though December to April can still be productive depending on how much rainfall is received. The flood season in the southern Okavango Delta is usually late June to early September.
For shared departures there is a minimum age limit of 12 years to ensure that group activities are not limited. Whilst children of any age are accepted for private bookings, we feel the adventurous nature of the camp will naturally suit families travelling with older children, who can partake in the full range of activities available. For families, it is possible to put two tents close together and connect via an open air corridor between the bathrooms, but there is no internally connecting accommodation (although triples are possible). For older, adventurous families, particularly if booking a private expedition, Beagle Expeditions would offer tailored flexibility and the experience of a lifetime.
Beagle Expeditions make a nightly contribution for each guest to the Wild Entrust. Guests are also invited to match this same amount, should they wish to make a larger impact towards the efforts being made by Wild Entrust in conservation, community and education.
The Wild Entrust was founded and is managed by Tico and Lesley McNutt. Together they have been at the forefront of predator conservation in Botswana and have been intimately involved in the Okavango conservation story. The Wild Entrust has been an incubator and facilitator of the Habu Conservancy created by the Habu Elephant Development Trust. Wild Entrust and the Habu Elephant Development Trust have several community conservation initiatives in and around the Habu Village which is the closest village to Beagle Expeditions.
Beagle Expeditions only operates mobile camps which have a very light footprint – at the end of each safari the camp sites revert back to their natural wilderness state. Power supply to the camp is provided completely by solar. With bucket showers, stand basins and compost toilets, water usage is minimal. Drinking water is obtained from well points and filtered with each guest being allocated an aluminium drinking bottle for the duration of their stay, negating the need for plastic bottles. Around half the Abu concession has been set aside for walking only, preserving the pristine wilderness as much as possible, with road networks being sensitively developed only where necessary.
