Dinaka
Dinaka is situated in an exclusive private concession bordering the northern edge of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
Dinaka is an exclusive and relaxed tented lodge offering a classic Kalahari bush experience. The camp is very comfortable, efficiently run and has a lovely feel with friendly staff and a warm, communal atmosphere. The camp overlooks a water hole that attracts game throughout the year, but especially in the dry season (May to early November). The private reserve is home to the full range of Kalahari species, set within a typical Kalahari landscape, and offers a wide range of activities. In addition to game drives and walking safaris, night drives are possible to seek out rarer desert species and cultural excursions with San bushman offer an insight into the cultural history of the land. There are also a couple of photography hides overlooking active water holes, a sunset deck with huge views over the bush, and a sleep out deck for nights out ‘under the stars’. If you have time, Dinaka makes a great combination with camps in Chobe and the Okavango Delta, adding real diversity to your Botswana experience.
Rooms
Guest accommodation is provided in eight spacious twin or double-bedded safari tents, all raised on wooden decks and with views over the permanent water hole. Each tent has an en suite bathroom comprising an indoor and outdoor shower, hot and cold running water and a flush toilet. One of the units is a two bedroom family tent which includes a main bedroom and a second smaller twin bedroom, sharing a spacious bathroom. The tents and central areas are connected by wooden walkways and two of the tents are accessed by a ramp rather than steps and so making them suitable for wheelchair users.
Central Areas
The large central thatched area houses a lounge and dining room, and there is also an outdoor dining deck and a swimming pool. The central areas (and all tents through the trees) overlook an active water hole.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – Yes
Power for charging – Yes
Swimming pool – Yes
Habitat & Wildlife
The Central Kalahari is an area of semi-desert, where trees, bushes and grass do exist within an otherwise hostile desert environment. This allows a variety of birds and animals to exist in the region, including the rare brown hyaena, lion, cheetah, leopard, wild dog, giraffe, oryx, red hartebeest, eland, kudu, wildebeest, springbok, steenbok, black-backed jackal, meerkat, ostrich and a variety of smaller game including the nocturnal species such as aardvark, aardwolf, honey badger, bat-eared foxes, serval, caracal, porcupine, African wild cat and genet. There are no elephant, hippo or buffalo in the region (very occasionally an elephant wanders through, looking a bit out of place). The Dinaka Concession is large and private, and excellent for game-viewing, with good lion and white rhino populations. Birdlife is superb and varied, and night drives offer the chance to come across rarer species.
Activities
Activities include morning, afternoon and night game drives taken in open safari vehicles. Alternatively, guests can learn more about the Bushman culture through an interpretive walk or explore more of the reserve on foot with guided bush walks. An underground bunker and a hide, both overlooking water holes, offer excellent photographic opportunities. Birding is particularly good at Dinaka with over 200 recorded species. At an extra cost, there is the opportunity to spend the night on a sleep out deck, which operates from 1st April until the 30th November (located about 20 minutes from camp overlooking the plains – pre-booking is essential to guarantee availability). The deck has a bed ‘under the stars’ and basic bathroom facilities (flush loo and hand basin). Your armed guide sleeps in a tent a short distance away. For guests particularly keen on walking, at extra cost it is possible to book a specialist walking guide to focus on exploring the area by foot (a walking adventure can be combined with a night at the sleep out deck).
Seasons
Dinaka is open all year and in contrast to most areas in Africa, game viewing is pretty consistent throughout the wet and dry seasons. During the green season the game avoids the thicker bush and congregates in the more open areas where they feel safer and there is plentiful grazing, often making it easier to see the animals. During the dry season when the landscape is more barren, game spreads out, however animals are much more reliant on limited water holes which brings different opportunities. This is one of the big advantages of Dinaka – whilst the main Central Kalahari Game Reserve is best visited during the rainy season from December to March, Dinaka can offer superb game-viewing year round, including during the long dry season.
Children from seven years and above are welcomed and there is a dedicated family tent with two bedrooms sharing a bathroom. Ker & Downey, the camp’s owners, operate an excellent Young Explorers’ programme which can be booked at extra cost and includes a specialist family guide to host the safari with flexible activities focusing around the needs of the children whilst allowing the adults to learn about the bush and also get some well-earned relaxation time.
Ker & Downey Botswana, owners of Dinaka, supports Maun-based NGO Bana Ba Letsatsi (Children of the Sun) which assists northern Botswana’s orphaned and vulnerable children by providing them with food, clothing, education and counselling as well as sporting, art and musical activities. Ker & Downey provide monthly donations to the organisation based on a percentage of their safari sales. The children also regularly attend the BBL Wildlife Club which is run by Ker & Downey’s specialist guides who encourage them to develop an interest and respect for their wildlife. Bana Ba Letsatsi has been introduced to the Pack For A Purpose organisation which means that Ker & Downey Botswana’s guests may use the space in their luggage to bring in donations of clothes, toys and educational materials for the children.
Ker & Downey also support Rhino Conservation Botswana where a donation is included in each booking fee for one particular camp.
