Khwai: night drives and walking, on community land beside Moremi.
The Khwai River forms Moremi’s northern boundary. On the far bank the rules change, and the land belongs to the people of Khwai village.
The same animals as Moremi, under different rules.
The Khwai River runs east out of the Delta and marks the edge of Moremi Game Reserve at North Gate. Elephant, lion and leopard do not recognise the line, but the regulations do. South of the river is a game reserve. North of it is community land, held by the Khwai Development Trust on behalf of the village.
Because it is not a reserve, guides here can drive after dark with a spotlight, leave the road to follow tracks, and take guests out on foot. Those are the activities people usually pay private-concession rates for. In Khwai they come at a noticeably lower price, which is why it features in so many of our mobile and mid-range itineraries.
The river itself does most of the work. In the dry season it is the last reliable water for some distance, and elephant come down to it in large numbers in the late afternoon. Hippo hold the deeper pools, the riverine woodland is excellent for leopard, and wild dog have denned in the area in many recent years.
Khwai Community Concession: the essentials.
- WhereThe north-eastern edge of the Delta, along the Khwai River opposite Moremi’s North Gate
- Best monthsJune to October, when elephant line the river
- Getting thereThree to four hours by road from Maun, or by light aircraft to the Khwai airstrip
- How you see itDay and night drives, guided walks, and mokoro on the river in season
- Who owns itThe Khwai community, through the Khwai Development Trust
- Who it suitsTravellers who want concession activities without concession prices
Why Khwai earns its nights.
Night drives
A tracker with a filtered spotlight, and a different set of animals: genet, civet, porcupine, hyena on the move and, on a good night, leopard hunting rather than asleep in a tree.
Walking with a guide
Early-morning walks with an armed professional guide, reading tracks and dung on the floodplain edge. Minimum ages apply, usually twelve or sixteen.
Off-road tracking
Where the concession rules allow it, your guide can leave the track to follow a pride or position the vehicle for the light, instead of watching from the road.
Mokoro on the Khwai
When the water is up, polers from the village take guests out on the river by dugout. Quieter than a boat and closer to the water.
Elephant at the river
Through the dry season the late-afternoon crossing is the event of the day, with breeding herds coming down to drink within sight of the vehicle.
Community ownership
Concession fees and a share of camp revenue go to the trust, and many guides, polers and camp staff come from the village itself.
What guests ask us about Khwai.
What is the difference between Khwai and Moremi?
Mainly the rules. Moremi is a game reserve, so drives end at sunset and vehicles stay on the roads. Khwai is community land, so night drives, walking and off-road tracking are allowed. The wildlife moves freely between the two, and most of our Moremi itineraries cross the river for at least a night or two.
Is Khwai busy?
Busier than a private concession and quieter than Moremi at its peak. Several lodges and mobile operators share the area, so along the river in August you will see other vehicles. Night drives and walks tend to be yours alone.
Can a mobile safari camp in Khwai?
Yes. There are community campsites along the river, and pairing two nights in Khwai with two or three in Moremi is one of the most satisfying routes in the Delta. It is the middle of Okavango Under Canvas.
Is Khwai good for wild dog?
Often, though nobody can promise it. Packs have denned in and around Khwai in many recent years, and when they do, the denning months of roughly June to August give some of the best wild dog viewing in the country.
How to fit Khwai into a journey.
It is part of this signature journey, and we build it into tailor-made routes all the time.
Keep reading
- The Okavango Delta — where Khwai fits among water camps and land camps
- Botswana’s private concessions — the same freedoms, with fewer vehicles and higher rates
- Tourism and Botswana’s communities — how we think about where the money goes
Thinking about Khwai?
Tell us when you can travel and what you most want to see, and we will tell you honestly how many nights it deserves and what to pair it with.