Lebala Camp
Lebala Camp is a tented lodge surrounded by the floodplains of the Kwando River in the remote Kwando Concession of the Greater Linyanti region.
Lebala Camp is a great game viewing camp with possibilities to see a full range of predators including wild dogs. Lagoon Camp (sister camp 2 hours’ drive to the north) tends to be a little more guaranteed for wild dog sightings, but as a consequence we find the ambience and schedule a little more relaxed at Lebala, which suits many travellers a lot more.
The Kwando Reserve offers genuine exclusivity and wilderness, and game viewing from Lebala is a very exclusive business. Accommodation at Lebala is comfortable and spacious, without being overly luxurious, whilst food and hospitality are very good without being the prime focus of the camp. Fundamentally, Lebala offers a great all round big game experience, with good guides, and provides four star comfort and hospitality.
Rooms
Lebala caters for 20 guests in nine tented suites, including a family tent which consists of a double room and second twin room, with shared bathroom facilities. Each tent is raised onto wooden platforms and has an en suite bathroom with a free-standing bath and separate toilet. To the rear of the bathroom, sliding doors lead to double outside showers. To the front of the tent is a deck with views out across the grassland.
Central Areas
The central areas are built under canvas and include a main bar, lounge and dining area, with indoor and outdoor dining. There is also a camp fire area, raised hide and a small swimming pool and sundeck overlooking the plains.
Facilities
Wi-Fi – No
Power for charging – Yes
Swimming pool – Yes
Habitat & Wildlife
The Kwando concession is a remote region of northern Botswana, following the western side of the Kwando River as it heads southwards to join the Linyanti River. The habitat of the concession is a mix of mopane and savanna woodland, scrub bush, open grassland and floodplain, and the area around Lebala tends to be more ‘open’ that other parts of the concession. The region is known as a big game area and animals that are likely to be seen include elephant, buffalo, lion, cheetah, leopard, wild dog, hippo, eland, kudu, impala, zebra, tsessebe, giraffe and a variety of other smaller game. Nocturnal species such as serval, genet, African wild cat and porcupine are also seen often on night drives.
In particular, wild dogs are regularly seen, though Lebala’s sister camp Lagoon, located two hours north of Lebala, tends to offer more regular sightings. The birdlife is prolific and the many varieties of kingfishers, bee-eaters, eagles, ducks, egrets, plovers, herons, cranes, storks, geese, woodpeckers, shrikes, thrushes, buntings, chats, owls and parrots are just some of the many different species found.
Activities
Activities focus around game drives by day and night, though walking and boating are also possible. Night drives can be productive.
Seasons
Lebala Camp is open all year round, though game viewing is best from June through to early November.
Lebala Camp accepts children from six years and upwards but families with children under 12 years old must pay for a private vehicle (unless they are a family of five or six when it is provided automatically). The family unit is also super for families who wish to all be under one roof as children must be over the age of 18 years to stay in a room without an adult. However, due to the remote nature of the camp and the focus on big game, Lebala is probably best suited for adventurous families with older children.
Guests at Lebala Camp have the option to contribute to the Lady Khama Charitable Trust (LKCT) which supports several initiatives throughout Botswana with Kwando Safaris (owners of Lebala) pledging to match each guest’s contribution.
Kwando’s Bucket Project was created for Botswana’s 50th anniversary of independence in 2016 whn Kwando staff sourced donations of household supplies and gave the items out in buckets to rural villages. This practice now takes place twice each year.
Kwando are also sponsors of Mummy’s Angels, a project which supports and empowers mothers and their new-born babies in Maun who do not have financial or family support. Mummy’s Angels started out donating their children’s clothes and baby essentials and now Lebala guests are invited to bring some of the requested items with them on holiday. For each item donated, Kwando pledges to match with something similar. Along similar lines, Kwando is also a member of Pack for a Purpose where guests may use spare space in their suitcases for donations of much needed supplies for Mummy’s Angels.
