Natural Selection Introduces North Island - quintessentially Okavango Delta - coming June 2023
This island camp embodies the essence of an iconic Delta safari experience
Natural Selection’s new camp North Island Okavango is situated in NG23A, one of the most beautiful and game rich areas of the Okavango Delta, just to the north-west of both Duba Plains and Vumbura.
This is an Okavango Delta safari experience like no other. Just three premier tents, one very private island and a hive of year round safari activities to choose from.
With activities including game drives, mokoro safaris, Delta boating, nature walks, hot-air ballooning and scenic helicopter flights (including Tsodilo Hills just 25 minutes flying away), guests are in for a wild treat as they explore what is undoubtedly one of the most famous wildlife-watching destinations in the world. Being at the upstream end of the Okavango Delta, this area receives the annual floodwaters first which opens up water-based viewing activities all year, to offer off-the-charts wildlife watching experiences. The camp is surrounded by a mosaic of islands all netted together by shining lagoons and transient channels. For birders this is a dream come true with over 350 species of birds recorded in the area and all of the key Okavango specials and near endemics to be found here.
North Island Okavango offers exceptional comfort, style and luxury. A distinct interpretation of cutting-edge design, mixed with local craft using bold striking colour and many intriguing in-camp experiences, distinguishes this relaxed sophisticated camp.
The interior design was done by Hint Interiors, “North Island Okavango Camp, hiding deep within the Okavango Delta, presents the gateway to one of our planets most extraordinary ecosystems” explains Kate Moffatt the designer who worked on this project. “And as such, we wanted the interiors to create a camp with a meaningful design experience. We mixed contemporary African design, with a modernistic colour palette using shapes, colour and textures. Simple, yet luxurious bedding with generous draping creates a romantic setting and the mixture throughout of materials and textures, celebrates the love of the African continent.”
The use of textures, fabrics and local craftmanship celebrating the modern Africa extends through to the generously sized rooms. Here guests can enjoy 140 square meters of inside and outside floor space to relax and indulge in. With a private plunge pool, sunken sundeck, indoor and outdoor showers, bath, air-conditioning over the bed, a fireplace and Wi-Fi, each suite offers incredible comfort – without compromising on safari style. The 3 spacious tents, each resting on raised wooden decks under the shady boughs of wild ebony trees, all have stunning views of the lagoon.
The camp itself is ringed by a congregation of towering beautiful trees (delights of ebony, mangosteen, rain trees, leadwood and wild fig) and it packs a lot of punch. Here guests will be blissfully unaware of anything else, other than the tranquillity and beauty of their surroundings. This is not only an intimate affair, but quintessentially what an iconic Okavango Delta safari experience should be.
For decades, we have loved this game-rich area. So, when the opportunity arose to lease the uninhabited private island from our northern local community’s Magobagoba Youth Trust, we jumped at it. Equally attractive to us, as a purpose driven business though, is that the presence of a camp here can have a very positive impact on both conservation and local communities.
The Magobagoba Youth Trust uses the proceeds from the lease to support educational projects and employment creating opportunities for the youth of the villages who live along the northern fringes of the Okavango Delta. This is an important way to not only support the communities whose lives have formed part of this spectacular landscape for hundreds of years, but to also protect the animals whose movements form a critical part in sustaining this rich, yet fragile eco-system.
After a visit to our other premier camps; Jack’s Camp in the Kalahari and Tuludi in Khwai Private Reserve, adding North Island Okavango to the circuit to complete the thrill of experiencing three of our luxury camps, in three different eco-systems – guests will be getting the best Botswana has to offer.
This beautiful little camp, with the wild beating on its doorstep, makes North Island Okavango in our opinion, quintessentially what a premier Okavango Delta safari should be.
For all enquiries please contact
Lindsy Terry
[email protected]