Kwando Lebala Camp in the Kwando Reserve
This wild expanse is contrasted with the casual elegance and luxury of the camp itself. Kwando Lebala Camp is situated 30 kilometers to the south of Kwando Lagoon Camp and fronts onto the Linyanti Wetlands.
Lebala means wide open spaces in Setswana and the scenery is dominated by vast plains with scattered palms and tree clumps backed by wooded savannas.
Open grasslands scattered with Illala Palms stretch to the south and west of Kwando Lebala Camp. The perennial and southerly flowing Kwando river disappears into the vast marshes before emerging as the Linyanti river, flowing in a north easterly direction. The triangle formed in Namibia by this direction change is home to the Mamili National Park.
The eight spacious tents are unique and were designed by us specifically for this camp. Each one is built on a raised teak deck, laid out with maximum comfort and privacy in mind. The tents have an entrance foyer with a reading and writing area, en-suite bathrooms with Victorian clawfoot bathtubs, “his and hers” washbasins and flush toilets. The bathrooms lead out to a reed enclosed open-air shower with hot and cold running water, powered by LP gas for hot water on demand.
Each secluded tent has its own sundeck, and is set back among the trees. The endless vistas from the large windows and decks across the vast plains, make Lebala one of the finest wilderness camps in Africa.
The wetlands and flood plains around Kwando Lebala Camp offer a wonderful variety of wildlife with excellent sightings of elephant, hippo, lechwe, zebra, giraffe, impala, wildebeest, kudu, tsessebe, roan, sable, buffalo and the ever present predators; wild dog, lion, cheetah and hyena.
After dark, spotlights are switched on and the game drives expose our guests to nocturnal sightings of rare and elusive species such as, leopard, Selous Mongoose, small spotted genet, and aardwolf, to name a few. Nocturnal bird species that are encountered include Natal Nightjar, Pennantwinged Nightjar and a large variety of owls.
Mouth-watering fare is prepared by our chefs and served in the open-sided dining room. After dinner there is a wonderful camp fire around which to sip a coffee or enjoy a nightcap. As you drift off to sleep, you will often hear hippo grazing out of water near your tent. In the warmer months, feel free to take a refreshing swim in the pool!
Kwando Lebala Camp has a staff complement of 22 to cater to our guests. The camp balances understated elegance with untamed Africa to perfection.
Kwando Lebala Camp Game Viewing
Whether you’re starting the day before sunrise to view the animal kingdom’s early risers or tracking the great nocturnal beasts with spotlights at night, the game viewing experience with Kwando Safaris is a holiday highlight for most people. Because of the unspoiled wilderness, the absence of fences and other man made infrastructures, we’re able to deliver the Africa you dreamed about. Wide open plains alive with game and palm trees or winding waterways teeming with birdlife. The great herds of elephant, buffalo and other animals are a Kwando trademark. Your game drives centre on the movement of animals, which are in turn dependent on the season and the rainfall. You might be hunting way off road with a pack of wild dogs one day or sitting silently watching elephant drink and bathe the next. Game drives themselves are an incredible adventure.
Every day is different at Kwando Lebala Camp. Our guides and trackers have a wealth of knowledge and will give you a complete picture of life in these abundant eco systems. How everything from termites and dung beetles, even grasses and soils, right up to lion, cheetah and elephant, contribute to the balance of life. Not all safari operations have trackers on vehicles, but it’s our belief that another set of trained eyes are an essential part of your drive, increasing the odds of seeing something special. Also this allows the guide to concentrate his or her attention on the guests, answering questions and looking after their needs. A big advantage of our set up is that we permit just six guests per vehicle in two rows of seats. We believe this makes for a far more intimate safari experience and ensures more leg room and overall comfort. You’ll stop for sundowners on the evening drive, winter and summer, where you can absorb the wonderful silence of the bush and the sunset, with a cooling or warming drink.
Once again, the Kwando camps are all on private land, so we’re not restricted by roads, nor the time of day. In some of the camps in the National Parks areas, there are limitations on your game drive movements. At Kwando Lebala Camp, if you wish to hunt with the lions deep into the African night, its entirely your prerogative! As we’ve mentioned elsewhere, just remember, the drives are in open vehicles, so a hat and sunscreen all through the year is a must … and very warm clothing, sweaters, jackets, gloves and scarves are highly recommended for winter (May through August). We also provide each guest with animal and bird checklists, which you can tick off along the way.
