Chitabe Lediba Camp
Chitabe Lediba is situated on an elevated island within the Chitabe Reserve. This fairly dry area lies towards the south of Botswana’s Okavango Delta, largely surrounded by the Moremi Game Reserve, and is generally regarded as good for game year-round. The camp’s focus is solely on drives rather than water activities.
In contrast with areas further north in the Delta, the Chitabe Reserve is largely mixed forest: an interesting mosaic of mopane and acacia woodlands. However as the reserve is bordered to the north and east by the Gomoti River and to the south-west by the Santantadibe River, you will also find riverine forests, lagoons and lush channels. Chitabe Lediba shares the Chitabe Reserve with its larger sister camp, Chitabe Camp as well as the Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge.
Chitabe Lediba has just five secluded tented chalets, set on low decks and shaded by large trees. Each has a veranda at the front kitted out with comfortable chairs, a couple of footstools and a table. From here, sliding double glass doors lead into the bedroom, with polished dark-wood floors and rattan rugs. The décor is smart and airy, but not overdone.
Comfortable beds (or, in the honeymoon room, a four-poster) sit under a mosquito net, and are flanked by bedside tables with reading lamps. A writing desk plays host to stationery, magazines and bottled water, and the adjacent strip of universal plugs is handy for charging batteries – though not suitable for hairdryers. A standing fan helps to keep the tent cool and the mosquitoes at bay, while meshed windows enable a cooling breeze to flow through.
Two of the chalets are family units, consisting of two en-suite bedrooms – one with an outside shower. Both rooms share a balcony and one unit has an interleading hallway, well suited for families with younger children or friends travelling together.
Chitabe Lediba’s main area is accessed from the chalets by wooden walkways raised about a metre off the ground – low enough to keep you at one with nature; high enough to keep some of the creepy-crawlies away! It’s a beautifully designed set up, with fabulous views across the floodplain. The open-plan layout runs from a help-yourself bar at one end, set beside cosy sofas in muted tones, to a long wooden dining table at the other, surrounded by smart, cream-covered chairs. A good little ‘library’ houses a selection of wildlife magazines and interesting books.
Leading out from the dining area, a wooden deck with a firepit is surrounded by comfortable directors’ chairs. Shaded by a large tree, this is a lovely spot to relax with uninterrupted views across the plains. From the other side, leading out from the bar, a wooden walkway leads to the loo-with-a-view and a small swimming pool complete with sunloungers and more superb views.
Behind the main area, steps lead down to a boma (a natural space surrounded by a wooden fence), where traditional evening meals and barbecues are sometimes served. These occasions are great fun and the staff are genuinely keen to impart a little knowledge of their local history and culture.
*For a full list of available activities, the best time of the year to visit, and any other relevant enquiries, please contact a Sister Hippo Travel Consultant!