Splash in a Nutshell
This camp is located in the Kwara Concession (adjacent to the Moremi Game Reserve) and is run by Kwando Safaris. It is a brand new camp in the Kwara concession that has replaced the well-known and extremely popular Kwara and Little Kwara Camps. The concession is renowned for productive game viewing and we often send people there as part of an itinerary to ensure amazing wildlife sightings on game drives. However, it offers 5 different activities all year round (water levels can affect mokoro activities though), so it is a great “one-stop-shop” on any itinerary. Activities at Splash Camp operate with a guide and tracker system – so two guides to help locate animals!
Fast Facts
- 10 raised en-suite tented chalets
- 2 guide rooms same standard as guest rooms
- 2 family rooms with extra bedroom (shared bathroom)
- Splash “Enclave” for groups of 6-10 (private lodge facilities)
- USD690 – USD1350
- Game drives, night drives, walks, mokoro activities and boating
- Access by boat or light aircraft transfer to lodge airstrip
- Excellent dry land area for game drives
- Access to Gadikwe Lagoon (bird nesting sites / heronries)
How to Get There
Most people fly into Splash using the nearby airstrip. You can fly in from Maun (35 minutes) or Kasane (1 hour). Flying in to this lodge is an event in itself as you get to see the Okavango from the air. Note that it takes 1 hour to drive from the airstrip to the lodge.
Game Viewing and Activities
This lodge is open all year and the nearby Maonachira channel is permanent, so boating activities are also year round (Mokoro activities are the only excursions that can be affected by flood water levels). The highlight here, for sure, is the game drives. There is a lot of dry land area with an established road network with habituated (not tame) predators and general game. The ethos of the drives at Splash is to provide the ultimate game viewing experience in unspoilt wilderness:
- Guides can move off road
- Guide has a tracker to help locate animals
- Flexible game drive times – lunch can be taken out to you if you want to stay out
- Removable roofs on game drive vehicles for unhindered views
- Private concession – no congestion or self drives in the area
- Outside of the National park – less restrictive park rules
- Removable roof on vehicles for unhindered views.
One must note that the emphasis at this camp, as well as all the other Kwando Safaris lodges, is the guided activities. Afterall, they provide each guide with a skilled tracker to help locate animals and offer a much more flexible activity timetable should you want to spend more time out on activities. The rewards of this ethos is guaranteed productive game viewing!
Camp Environment
This is a new camp (as of June 2018) and so is fresh and modern. The tented rooms are on raised decks and are fairly spacious with minimalistic interiors using light earth colours. Each unit has large sliding wooden doors, good interior lighting in the bedroom and bathroom (older camps tend to have poor lighting) and indoor and outdoor showers. Each room also has an outside front deck with seating.
The camp itself overlooks a “pan” which attracts game year round. The main area is long and wide and is decked throughout. As well as a welcome swimming pool there are also comfortable and modern lounge areas, the usual camp library and a bar and dining area. Dining is done on a big communal table although you can request a private dinner. There is also a ground level fire area for after dinner fireside drinks and early morning breakfasts.
Splash also has a separate dining, lounge and pool area (The Enclave) that groups can book for outright use.
What we think
The site of this new camp is fairly well known as it used to be a hunting camp in the days of trophy hunting in this and other concessions. The hunters used to tell stories around the bars in Maun about how good the game numbers were here – indeed, it has a reputation of being one of the best game viewing areas in Botswana!! We therefore have absolutely no problem in recommending this camp for those that are looking for a location to tick off amazing predator sightings.
Like all of the Kwando Safaris camps that we recommend, they do not build their camps to offer extreme luxury (like some of their competitors), but rather put an emphasis on the game viewing and the flexibility of the activities. This is another reason why we like Splash Camp!
Further, we like the fact that this camp offers the full range of activities. If you only had time for one destination on your safari, this could be the perfect choice – you can do day and night game drives, walking, boating and mokoro (seasonal). We would also suggest staying here for a minimum of 3 nights (even 4), so that you can take advantage of this wildlife viewing.
It goes without saying that the fact that Splash is completely new, means that you can be assured of an up-to-date camp with modern finishings and eco-friendliness. It might however, take some time for the camp to form its own “character” and charm……..only time will tell.
The 2 original camps in this concession (Kwara and Little Kwara) are currently being rebuilt and will compliment this concession with another lodge option when they reopen. Splash is owned by Kwando Safaris and is one of a portfolio of well located lodges owned by the same group. You can therefore pick up good discounts when combining with other related Camps on their safari circuit.
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Katia Haskins 
PO Box HA 74 HAK