Shinde Camp

94% (102 reviews)

Full review Our view Geographics Food & drink Special interests Children Wildlife sightings Communications Health & safety Activities Extras

Shinde Camp: Our full report

Fringed by a lagoon and deeper waters in the heart of the Okavango Delta, Shinde was completely rebuilt in 2020.

It's a well-established camp in a private reserve, just to the north of Botswana’s Moremi Game Reserve. Its wide-open floodplains sit alongside some very pretty waterways, allowing for a mixture of both land and water activities.

When we arrived at Shinde in January 2024, as on many previous trips, we were met by singing staff with enormous smiles and a very warm welcome. It was an experience that was with us throughout our stay, when the staff were always willing to please.

The main area has a wonderful tree-house feel, with a thick canopy of ebony, mangosteen and water-fig trees sheltering a split-level series of polished teak platforms. Linked together by staircases and ramps, these house the reception, lounge and dining room. An unusual “wagon-style” canvas roof lends an airy feel and an atmosphere of relaxed opulence.

At the front of camp you'll find an open reception area, where armchairs overlook a semi-circular deck with a firepit and comfortable canvas chairs. Afternoon tea and pre-dinner drinks are usually served here, and guests are welcome to help themselves from the fridge, which is discreetly hidden behind a screen. A glass cabinet forms a small curio "shop", stocked with local crafts, including baskets made by Shinde's staff.

A gradual ramp leads up to the lounge area, tastefully decorated in soft shades of grey, beige and pale blue. There is plenty of comfortable seating, along with a bookshelf with a good selection of bird, mammal and reptile books, a few board games and a display of baskets. At night, guests may make use of the very retro spotlight to view any animals visiting the camp.

Continuing up the ramp brings you to the newly extended dining room, where the outlook over the permanent waters of the Delta is spectacular and there’s scope for alfresco dining. From here, steps descend to a series of reasonably secluded decks, where you can sit quietly in a deckchair and enjoy the views.

Paths of sand lead away from Shinde's main area to nine tented chalets, all raised on wooden decks and quite traditional in design. Five look out towards the open plains, which are often filled with grazing antelope. A sixth (the honeymoon suite) and the three tents that form Shinde Enclave, all face in the opposite direction, overlooking the papyrus waterways. The family chalet has a separate twin bedroom and a shared family bathroom.

We would describe these spacious chalets as smart and comfortable. At the front of each is a shaded porch with two chairs and a small table. A sliding door with a mesh window leads inside to a beautifully decorated bedroom. An expansive mosquito net hangs over either twin or double beds and a ceiling fan provides welcome relief from the heat in the summer months. Temperature control is aided by large mesh windows, with drop-down canvas blinds to help retain the warmth during the cold winter nights, and eyelet curtains to allow a breeze through during the summer.

Polished teak floors are dotted with rugs, toning bed linens are white and grey with soft-coloured cushions, and white blinds are shut each night, while dark wooden furniture, leather trunks and leather-bound bedside tables all complement the elegant feel.

Small touches make the chalets feel quite homely: a jar of cookies baked by the chef; a decanter of sherry laid out for the evening; a couple of comfortable armchairs; magazines, postcards and bird and animal checklists. There is a flask of ice water and two glasses, too, while tea and coffee will be brought to your room with your early morning wake-up call, and at other times on request.

A wooden door to the side of the beds leads to a very spacious en-suite bathroom with twin copper basins beneath a large mirror, a walk-in open shower, and a flushing toilet. Complimentary Charlotte Rhys products are provided, as are bathrobes and slippers, and rather unusually each tent has its own hairdryer. There is WiFi available in the rooms, but not the main areas.

Three of the tents form the discrete Shinde Enclave, which comes with its own kitchen and guide, as well as a private communal area, but guests here may also use the camp's other facilities. The enclave's small lounge and dining area has steps down to an outside deck with a firepit and camp chairs. When water levels permit, mokoro (traditional dug-out canoe) activities can set out from here. This is an excellent option for families or parties of guests who are seeking a degree of privacy, and can also be combined with Ker & Downey's Young Explorers programme.

Set on a low rise is the camp’s swimming pool, with fantastic views over the floodplains in front. Alongside sunbeds and large umbrellas are fresh towels and a coolbox stocked with ice-cold soft drinks and beers. Although there is an electric fence to restrict elephant movement within camp, other animals can travel through freely, so don’t be fooled by the oasis created by the fence; you should always proceed with caution.

Activities at Shinde include day and night 4WD game drives – when we have been treated in the dry season (between June and October) to some outstanding wildlife sightings – along with guided walks. Although motorboat trips and mokoro excursions are subject to water levels, Shinde can generally offer these throughout the year, and they offer some excellent birding opportunities.

The camp also offers fishing in the company of skilled guides, with the possibility of catching bream, catfish and African pike, as well as tigerfish in November and December. Shinde generally operates a catch-and-release policy, although if the fish are of a suitable size then the chefs will prepare and cook them for you. Do note, however, that no fishing is offered in January and February, which is the breeding season.

Some guests choose to combine time at Shinde with a couple of days at their smaller camp, Shinde Footsteps, which is reached from here by 4WD vehicle, or a three-minute helicopter ride.

Our view

Despite the rebuild, Shinde remains quite a traditional safari camp with something of a tree-house feel to the main area. The tented chalets are spacious and beautifully decorated and we like this camp for its mix of both water- and land-based activities, its very warm welcome and its team of experienced guides – although big-game viewing can be a little sporadic between November and May. Shinde works very well in combination with dry-area camps in both the Delta and the Kwando–Linyanti/Chobe areas.

Amanda Bond

Botswana expert

Geographics

Location: Okavango Delta Safari Reserves, Botswana
Ideal length of stay: We would recommend a stay of three nights at Shinde, as there is the opportunity to do both land- and water-based activities here. Note that when Shinde is combined in an itinerary with one of its sister camps – Kanana, Shinde Footsteps or Okuti – then there's usually a discount in the total cost.
Directions: The flight from Maun to Shinde airstrip takes approximately 25 minutes. It is then a five-minute drive to camp.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board & Activities
Food quality: We've always found the food at Shinde to be excellent, and our last visit in January 2024 was no exception. Vegetarian meals are served, and most other dietary requirements can be catered for on request.

Breakfast is served early, before the morning activity, and is a substantial meal with a full cooked option available, in addition to toast, muffins, a choice of cereal and fruit.

A buffet lunch is offered after the morning activity. Most recently we had chicken kebabs, peppers stuffed with tasty couscous, lentil and feta salad, mangetout and sprout salad and fresh garden salad, followed by a cheese platter and fruit.

Afternoon tea, just before the afternoon activity, usually includes a savoury snack and something sweet. During our last visit we enjoyed a selection of homemade pizzas and a milk tart, along with iced tea and coffee, lime juice, tea and coffee.

Dinner is announced upon returning from the afternoon activity. Each course is served to the table. Our delicious tomato soup was followed by roasted chicken, roast potatoes, carrots and mangetouts. Dessert was a decadent chocolate mousse.
Dining style: Group Meals
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service: Private dinners can be arranged either on your deck, or tucked away within the camp for a special occasion.
Drinks included: Bottled water, soft drinks, local beers and spirits and a limited selection of (usually) South African red and white wines are included. Champagne and imported wines and spirits will cost extra and may need to be requested in advance. Clean, cold drinking water is always available and each chalet is also provided with glasses and a flask of filtered drinking water.

Special interests

Family holidays: A family chalet, specialist family friendly guiding programme and a more relaxed child policy than most of Botswana's safari camps make Shinde a wonderful camp for your family safari to Botswana.; See ideas for Family holidays in Botswana
Photography holidays: With four people per vehicle as standard, Shinde is ideal for both budding and more experienced photographers on safari in Botswana. Private vehicles are also available at an additional cost.; See ideas for Photography holidays in Botswana
Private villas & houses: While still part of the main camp Shinde Enclave has its own private main area including a bar, lounge, dining room, mini library, outside fire deck and sun lounger area making it a perfect private get away in the Okavango Delta.; See ideas for Private villas & houses in Botswana

Children

Attitude towards children: Shinde accepts children from the age of seven.
Property’s age restrictions: Usually seven years. Children younger than seven years may be accepted at Shinde Enclave on an exclusive-use basis, or by special arrangement, and then only if the entire camp is reserved for exclusive use.
Special activities & services: If arranged in advance, guests at the Shinde Enclave can take part in Ker & Downey's Young Explorers programme. They will be allocated one of the company's phenomenal specialist family guides who are enthusiastic and passionate about their work and sharing their knowledge of the wilderness, and who have a lot of experience guiding families with children. For details, see Shinde Footsteps.
Equipment: Shinde has a family tent with two bedrooms and a shared en-suite bathroom, sleeping a maximum of five people.
Generally recommended for children: Shinde has a more relaxed child policy than most other camps in the Okavango Delta, where private vehicles at an additional cost are often required for families with children under 12 years. This is not a requirement at Shinde, but with the maximum number of passengers per vehicle usually kept at four (unless there’s a family group of five or six), families will typically be allocated a private vehicle anyway.

However, because of the raised decks in the main area, the amount of water in the immediate vicinity of the camp and the fact that children will generally accompany adults on all activities, we suggest that the main camp is best for more mature children only. For more flexibility, we'd suggest booking the Shinde Enclave on a private basis.
Notes: The main area is raised, in some parts very high off the ground, with only simple handrails to prevent a fall. The decks can become very slippery when wet and both the camp and the pool have only a fence to restrict elephants; all other animals can roam freely. Children will need constant supervision from their parents or guardians.

Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Shinde Camp

Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Shinde Camp have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.

Elephant

100% success

Giraffe

100% success

Zebra

100% success

Hippo

95% success

Wildebeest

90% success

Lion

73% success

Buffalo

67% success

Leopard

67% success

Wild dog

56% success

Spotted Hyena

50% success

Sable antelope

21% success

Cheetah

18% success

Roan antelope

17% success

Aardvark

0% success

Black Rhino

0% success

Pangolin

0% success

White Rhino

0% success

Communications

Power supply notes: Solar power charges large batteries, which in turn power the lights and run the camp. There is a back-up the generator.

Each room has a strip of multi-national charging points, which means an adaptor is unlikely to be required. There is also a twin USB port near each bedside table.
Communications: There is no cellphone reception but there is WiFi access in the tented chalets (not in the main area). The connection can be slow so this is best used only to send emails. Shinde is in radio contact with Ker & Downey's head office in Maun, with the camp's guides on activities, and with other Ker & Downey camps.
TV & radio: There is no radio or TV at Shinde.
Water supply: Borehole
Water supply notes: All the tented chalets have plumbed hot and cold running water for showers, and flushing toilets.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: Yes
Medical care: Managers are first-aid trained, as are the guides. The closest doctor is in Maun (about a 25-minute flight) and the camp has 24-hour radio contact with a medical evacuation nurse in case of need. Please note that it is only possible to fly out of camp during daylight hours as the bush airstrips do not have any lighting at night.
Dangerous animals: High Risk
Security measures: The camp is surrounded by an electric elephant fence to keep these animals away from the camp interior, but all other animals can pass through freely. Guests are escorted to and from their chalets when it is dark. There is an air horn in each chalet to attract attention in case of emergency.
Fire safety: There are fire extinguishers in all the chalets and common areas.

Activities

4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Fishing
Guided walking safari
Helicopter
Mokoro
Night drive

Extras

Disabled access: On Request
Laundry facilities: A full laundry service is included and, as long as weather permits, items are usually returned the same day. A pot of washing powder is provided in each bathroom should guests wish to handwash any delicates themselves.
Money: Each chalet has a small safe. No exchange facilities are offered at Shinde.
Accepted payment on location: Mastercard and Visa are accepted; Diners and Amex are not. Cash payments may be made in South African rand, GB sterling, US dollars, euros and Botswana pula.