Splash Camp: Our full report
The smart Splash Camp, opened in June 2018, is located in a prime game-viewing area of Botswana’s Okavango ...
... Delta, bordering Moremi Game Reserve. The whole camp affords great views over a large pan, which attracts game all year round.We have visited Splash Camp several times since it’s opening, and on our most recent trip in April 2024 we found it still excellent. Located within the private Kwara Reserve, it has a number of other high-end sister camps in northern Botswana, including Lebala Camp and Lagoon Camp and Kwara Camp.
Splash Camp itself has 12 tented rooms, two of them spacious family suites. All are raised on decking with views through glazed windows and from their private verandas over the pan in front of camp. The style is contemporary, with plenty of wood cladding, twin or king-size beds, a small seating area, and smart bathrooms. All rooms have indoor and outdoor showers, a fan, a safe and battery-charging outlet, and WiFi is being installed in the rooms only.
Four of the rooms form part of the Splash Enclave, which is designed for groups of 4–12 guests looking for a more intimate safari experience. This has its own communal area complete with a plunge pool, dining area, lounge and bar.
A sandy pathway links the rooms to the hub of the camp, a light, open-sided area which houses the main lounge, dining area, bar and a plunge pool. There is also a small curio shop.
Activities at Splash Camp, in the hands of knowledgeable guides and trackers, combine day and night game drives and nature walks, as well as mokoro and boating activities, depending on water levels. From August to December, there are also excursions to nearby heronries, which can be reached along the main boating channel.
While we’ve often had very good sightings from Splash camp, during our January 2024 visit we had a fascinating wild dog experience at Splash. Finding fresh wild dog tracks we had a lot of fun with our guide and tracker, who worked fantastically as a team. We followed the trail and came across a large crocodile that was feeding on a freshly killed lechwe, no doubt having incorrectly sought shelter in the waters. Further down the trail, we found the dogs having quite a comedic roll in the reeds. What a morning! Our guide was exceptional at reading where they were heading and made sure we were well-placed to take pictures.
In April 2024 we had more time with the wild dogs, including a very pregnant alpha female, plus a younger female leopard showing off her hunting skills for us. On previous trips we’ve also enjoyed some very relaxed aardwolf sightings.
Water-based activities have, in the past, provided just as much interest from a wildlife perspective. A motorboat safari on a January trip produced no less than three sightings of the normally shy sitatunga. We also had some unexpected views of the notoriously skittish African green pigeon during the last two visits.
Our view
Splash Camp offers a superb all-round safari experience. Due to the variety of eco-systems in this area, wildlife viewing in general is excellent. While the guiding is also excellent, the guides do focus quite heavily on sighting big predators, sometimes to the exclusion of smaller, more esoteric wildlife. The camp's "digital detox" policy is great if you come to immerse yourself in the bush experience, but be prepared to cut your communications off from the outside world for the duration of your stay.
Botswana expert
Geographics
- Location
- Okavango Delta Safari Reserves, Botswana
- Ideal length of stay
- We would suggest a stay of three nights at Splash Camp. It works well in combination with its sister camps, Lagoon Camp or Lebala Camp, in northern Botswana's Linyanti region within the extensive Kwando Reserve; and Nxai Pan and Tau Pan, in the drier reaches of the Kalahari to the south.
Do note that if you combine time at Splash Camp with Lebala, Lagoon, Tau Pan or Nxai Pan for a total of six or more nights, we are able to offer a discounted long-stay rate. - Directions
- Access is by light aircraft to Kwara Airstrip, which is a 30-minute flight from Maun. It is then a 45-minute drive from the airstrip to the camp.
- Accessible by
- Fly-and-Transfer
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board & Activities
- Food quality
- On our most recent visit, in April 2024, the food was fresh, tasty and plentiful. The kitchen can comfortably cater to vegetarian requests, with other dietary requirements possible with advance notice.
Breakfast was a selection of muffins, yoghurts, maize porridge and cereals with tea or coffee. This was taken around the campfire before the morning activity.
Brunch is served when you return from your morning activity. We did not arrive in time for brunch on this trip, but on a previous visit our team had a delicious pork-noodle dish (there was also a pork-free version) with a fresh green salad, a carrot and beetroot salad and fresh bread. Dessert was fresh fruit salad.
The timing of dinner depends on the time that you return from your activity. We enjoyed a light coconut and lentil soup for starters, then could choose from a delicious vegetable curry, roasted lamb or grilled hake, along with steamed broccoli, mixed vegetables and roasted sweet potato. For dessert was a slightly underwhelming lemon pudding with whipped cream. - Dining style
- Mixture of group dining and individual tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Drinks included
- Local drinks, both non-alcoholic and alcoholic, are included. Imported and premium drinks such as champagne are extra, and advance notice is needed if these are required. Filtered drinking water is always available.
Special interests
- Family holidays
- The exclusive use Splash Enclave has its own private main area including a pool and no age restrictions making it a fantastic option for a family visiting Botswana.
- See ideas for Family holidays in Botswana
- Private villas & houses
- For small groups or families of six or more people the exclusive use Splash Enclave acts as a camp within a camp complete with it own plunge pool, dining area, lounge, bar and private activities is the perfect way to enjoy the Delta in privacy.
- See ideas for Private villas & houses in Botswana
Children
- Attitude towards children
- Splash Camp has a positive approach to children on safari and welcomes children aged six and over. Children younger than six may be accepted, but only if the entire camp is reserved for exclusive use.
- Property’s age restrictions
- Minimum age 6 years. Families with children aged 6–12 years are required to book a private vehicle on game drives; depending on the size of the group, there may be an additional charge for this.
- Special activities & services
- The camp will be as flexible as possible with children's mealtimes and will prepare favourites such as spaghetti bolognese for children.
- Equipment
- Splash Camp has two family chalets, each with two interleading rooms – a double and a twin. There is no special equipment is available.
- Generally recommended for children
- We recommend Splash Camp for older children who are genuinely interested in wildlife.
- Notes
- Splash is unfenced, and dangerous wildlife, including lion and leopard, can wander through the camp at any time. There is no fence around the pool. Thus, all children will need to be constantly supervised by a parent or guardian.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Splash Camp
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Splash 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.
100% success
100% success
99% success
99% success
98% success
95% success
87% success
85% success
83% success
71% success
64% success
43% success
31% success
29% success
1% success
1% success
0% success
0% success
Communications
- Power supply notes
- There is a back-up generator. Battery-charging facilities are available in each room.
- Communications
- WiFi has recently been installed and will be in the guest rooms only. There is no cellphone signal.
- TV & radio
- None
- Water supply
- Other
- Water supply notes
- All the tents have plumbed hot and cold running water for showers as well as flushing toilets.
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- Yes
- Medical care
- Camp managers are first-aid trained and a first-aid kit is kept at camp. In an emergency, the camp can arrange for clients to be flown out. 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 unfenced, and dangerous wildlife is known to move through, so guests are escorted to their rooms after dark. A safety talk is given on arrival. “Foghorns” are provided in the chalets to attract attention in case of an emergency.
- Fire safety
- There are fire extinguishers in the common areas of the camp and in each room.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Fishing
Guided walking safari
Helicopter
Mokoro
Night drive
Extras
- Disabled access
- On Request
- Laundry facilities
- Included
- Money
- Each chalet has a safe
- Accepted payment on location
- Mastercard and Visa are accepted, but not Amex. Cash payments may be made in US dollars, British pounds, euros, Botswana pula and South African rand.
Other lodges in Okavango Delta Safari Reserves
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Kwara Camp
Kwara Camp's private reserve boasts land and water activities year round, with excellent game-viewing opportunities and access to permanent channels of the north-east Okavango Delta.
Little Vumbura
On a secluded island within a private reserve, Little Vumbura combines superb game viewing with a broad diversity of habitats in a truly picturesque setting.
Shinde Camp
With experienced staff and a wealth of activities, Shinde offers a traditional safari in an exceptionally varied and wildlife-rich environment.
Chitabe Lediba
Chitabe Lediba, in Botswana's southern Okavango Delta, is a small family friendly safari camp; it offers great dry-land safaris and in our experience consistently delivers good game sightings.
Kanana
In a beautiful part of the Delta, Kanana focuses on fantastic water activities and birding – including exclusive access to an impressive heronry.
Sandibe Safari Lodge
The luxurious Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge lies in a private concession in the heart of the Okavango Delta, beside Moremi Game Reserve, with superb big-game viewing.
Chitabe Camp
In the southern Okavango Delta, the excellent Chitabe Camp concentrates on dry-land safaris in an area that we've found particularly good for wild dog sightings.
Shinde Footsteps
Small and simple, but comfortable, Shinde Footsteps focuses on walking safaris as well as game drives; it also runs a special children's programme so is particularly suitable for families.
Gomoti Plains
Overlooking a tributary of the Gomoti River, Gomoti Plains Camp is a classically designed camp with very comfortable tents in a good game-viewing area.
Nxabega Tented Camp
Nxabega offers a selection of both land- and water-based activities, plus very good guiding, food and service, but game viewing can be somewhat erratic.
Tubu Tree Camp
A traditional tented camp with a distinctive tree-house feel, Tubu Tree offers some of the best game viewing in the Jao Reserve.
Vumbura Plains
Indulgently stylish and luxurious, Vumbura Plains offers superb game viewing and birding on an exceptionally varied private reserve.
Jacana Camp
Jacana Camp is a small safari camp with an informal island feel; it is ideal for water-based activities in the Delta and offers excellent birdwatching.
Kwetsani Camp
Deep in the Delta, overlooking a floodplain, Kwetsani Camp is a small, high-end camp with good access to areas for land and water-based activities.
Mapula Lodge
For an affordable yet varied safari encompassing a range of eco-systems, the traditional Mapula Lodge takes a lot of beating.
Duba Explorers Camp
Intimate and elegant, Duba Explorers Camp promises a firm safari focus in a remote corner of the Okavango, led by a team who value the highest guiding and hosting standards.
Duba Plains Camp
Duba Plains Camp is a traditional yet luxurious safari camp, best known for the thrilling lion behavior interaction that is often see during the day.
Baines' Camp
Baines' Camp is a well-run, intimate camp in a pretty part of the Okavango, offering a range of activities and the option to spend a morning walking with elephants.
Pom Pom Camp
Amidst stunning Okavango Delta scenery, Pom Pom offers idyllic mokoro trips in season, great birdwatching, and increasingly good big-game sightings, especially leopards.
Stanley's Camp
In a private concession south of Moremi Game Reserve, Stanley's Camp offers 4WD game drives, seasonal water activities and a superb elephant interaction.
Mma Dinare
Beautifully located in a private concession overlooking the Gomoti River, the traditional Mma Dinare is very well-priced for the Okavango Delta.
Little Tubu
Little Tubu is a new, traditional camp with just three tented chalets and a distinctive tree-house feel. The areas around it can be explored by water and land-based activities year round.
Pelo Camp
In a pristine wilderness environment deep in the Okavango Delta, the seasonal Pelo Camp is tented yet comfortable, with activities focusing on excursions by mokoro.
4 Rivers
4 Rivers is a new camp in a previously in accessible area of the excellent Kwara concession.
Xaranna
Xaranna is a plush tented camp amongst the idyllic waterways and islands of the Delta. Each air-conditioned tent has a plunge pool. Water activities and pampering are the focus here.
Jao Camp
In a beautiful area with fantastic water activities, Jao combines an idyllic location with high levels of luxury and service, and a top-end spa.
Seba Camp
Seba Camp is a luxury camp in a lovely location that offers the full range of water and land safari activities, depending on the time of year. This camp is particularly suitable for families.
Rra Dinare
Located in a private concession in the southern reaches of the Okavango Delta, overlooking the Gomoti River, Rra Dinare is a traditional-style, well-priced camp.
Setari Camp
Setari Camp stands on an island dotted with palm trees, close to the base of the Okavango’s ‘Panhandle"
Abu Camp
Abu Camp is an exclusive safari camp on the western side of the Botswana's Okavango Delta - offering superb elephant-back safaris and opportunities to walk with them too.
Okavango Explorers
The traditional, tented Okavango Explorers Camp offers a mix of walking, canoeing and game drives led by great guides in a wildlife-rich area.
Kiri Camp
Kiri Camp is the latest Okavango offering from the excellent team behind Machaba. In an exciting new location in the heart of the Delta we cannot wait to visit this new camp.
Duke’s Camp
On a remote island within a vast private concession, the eclectic Duke’s Camp is nestled among mature trees overlooking wildlife-rich plains of the Okavango.
Okavango Walking Safari
The Okavango Delta Walking Safari camps in a secluded Okavango Delta Reserve where there are few roads; the ideal location for a walking trail led by an expert guide.
Sitatunga Island Camp
Tucked away in a pristine corner of the Okavango Delta, the exclusive Sitatunga Private Island is a water-based camp offering boating, mokoro trips and fishing.
Karangoma
New for 2024, Karangoma is a classic, tented camp offering walking, canoeing and game drives, in partnership with the local Bukakwe San clan.
Atzaro Okavango
With a high level of tasteful luxury promised at Atzaro, we think it will be best suited to travellers seeking a touch of pampering alongside their safari.
Mokolwane
Deep in the heart of the Okavango, Mokolwane promises adventure in a largely untouched area.
Eagle Island Lodge
Eagle Island Lodge is a luxurious camp with international-style facilities including air conditioning and intercom in each room; offering water based activities in the Okavango Delta.
North Island Okavango
Deep in quintessentially “Okavango” territory, between deep-water and dry-land habitats, North Island focuses on a luxury safari experience with very good wildlife viewing opportunities.
Mbamba
Deep within the northern Okavango, the classically styled Mbamba is set to open in a wildlife-rich private concession in April 2025.
Qorokwe Camp
Luxurious and contemporary, the relatively new Qorokwe Camp is a gem in the Okavango Delta, offering land- and occasionally water-based activities in a prime wildlife area.
