How do you get into Chitabe camp?

We transfer you with Wilderness Air to Chitabe Airstrip, followed by a 40-minute vehicle transfer/game drive to the camps.

What is the child policy at Chitabe?

6 years or older. There is no family room at Chitabe but there are 2 x family rooms at Chitabe Lediba, our sister camp.

Can I book a private vehicle at Chitabe?

Yes, subject to vehicle availability and needs to be booked and paid for in advance (request and arrangements can be made with your Travel Designer during the booking process). Note that the private vehicle at Chitabe cannot be booked for guests staying at Chitabe Lediba.

Where to see cheetah in Botswana?

Wilderness Chitabe is one of the best private wilderness areas for cheetah in the Okavango Delta. It is home to Supermom, a famed cheetah that has successfully raised over 10 cubs to adulthood since 2022.

When is the best time to go to Chitabe, Botswana?

The truth is, there’s no single answer. The changing seasons lend themselves to different wildlife encounters. Ultimately it comes down to what you want to see and when you are available to travel. This article will give you a better idea of when to go.

Where is the Okavango Delta?

The Okavango Delta in north-west Botswana is the world’s biggest inland delta. Covering a large swathe of the Kalahari Desert, this is a vast and varied ecosystem that provides a sanctuary for some of the world’s rarest birds and wildlife.

How big is the Okavango Delta?

The Okavango Delta is dynamic, and constantly changing with the seasonal rains. It occupies an area of between 6,000 and 15,000 square kilometres, the channels rivers flowing into the semi-desert Kalahari to create a safari experience quite like anywhere else on earth.

What is the best time to visit the Okavango Delta?

Chitabe in Botswana is ready to welcome you all year round. While each season brings a unique appeal, wildlife numbers are concentrated between July and October. These drier months also allow for seasonal walking opportunities.

What should I wear on safari in Botswana?

Khaki, green and beige are essential neutral colours for a safari in the bush, particularly if you would like to take a walk on the wild side. Also be sure to pack a long-sleeved shirt, mosquito repellent, sunglasses, and some good sunscreen. Don’t forget your camera and spare memory card for some epic safari shots.

Botswana

Chitabe

Encounter the Extraordinary

Discover Wilderness Chitabe and its prolific wildlife, for an out-of-this-world safari experience.

Home Africa Botswana Okavango Delta Chitabe Camp

DESTINATIONS

Wilderness Chitabe

Timeless, wild, unrivalled.

For some three decades, Wilderness Chitabe has earned a reputation as one of the Okavango Delta’s most extraordinary safari destinations. Set on a wildlife-rich peninsula, its diverse landscapes and mosaic of habitats draw an unparalleled abundance of game year-round. But beyond the remarkable sightings, Chitabe is a place where guests feel at home – a camp shaped by a team whose deep-rooted connection creates a rare and timeless magic.

And now, with a fresh, sustainable design, rebuilt Chitabe remains true to its roots while embracing the future.

BOTSWANA

Wildlife in Chitabe

A year-round Eden

Chitabe’s impressive diversity of habitats makes it one of Botswana’s most rewarding wildlife destinations. The convergence of the Gomoti and Santantadibe channels create a kind of peninsula, which supports a rich, year-round game viewing paradise. Here, prides of lions, packs of wild dogs, and a remarkable cheetah population hunt the plains, with no fewer than 50 leopards recorded at Chitabe.

Elephant

Large herds of elephants are seen in Chitabe’s woodlands and drinking at its channels

Lion

A thriving lion population, with at least two established prides, roams the open grasslands

Buffalo

Herds of buffalo often clash with the resident lions in dramatic predator-prey encounters

Cheetah

Elusive cheetah stalk through grasses to hunt the abundant kudu and impala

Lilac breasted roller

A classic Okavango sighting with vibrant plumage and an unmistakeable call

Chacma baboons

Social, intelligent and notoriously mischievous – these baboons are often seen in troops.

Bush baby

Although fairly common, these nocturnal, agile hunters are a hidden gem

Giraffe

The tallest animal in Africa – giraffes appear to glide across the landscape

Cheetah

Cubs of Chitabe's legendary Supermom, who has raised more litters than most cheetah do in a lifetime

Migrant birds

Hundreds of species return to this globally recognised Important Bird Area (IBA) to breed in summer

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Wildlife

One of Botswana’s most rewarding and diverse wildlife destinations, with unusually high numbers of predator species

Guides

Our guides are skilled to ensure all levels of photographers capture their best footage

Exclusivity

Bordering Moremi Game Reserve and flanked by the Gomoti Channel and Santantadibe River

Luxury

The light and airy 113 m2 (1,216 ft2) rooms feature insulated walls, ceilings, and floors for improved comfort

Accommodation

The Chitabe guest suites offer a blend of comfort and design, perfectly suited to the temperature swings of the Delta. Crafted to enhance the experience, the suites feature insulated canvas walls and roofs, creating an environment that maintains a light, airy feel. Spacious high ceilings, large insect-proof mesh openings, and private shaded decks open to horizon-wide views of the Delta.

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Cuisine

Immerse yourself in the safari spirit with beautiful bush picnics in the heart of the Okavango Delta. Celebrate a magical evening in Africa with a traditional barbeque highlighting local cuisine. Wake up to a tasty breakfast with one of the best views in the world. Every day brings something special at Chitabe.

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THE DETAILS

Wilderness Chitabe

Arrive as a stranger but leave as a friend at Wilderness Chitabe. Here the personalised touch and stunning individually styled tented suites are enhanced by the owners' particular interest in wild dogs and photography. Let us share our passion for the Okavango Delta with you.

Purpose

Facilities

Area

Activities

Supporting conservation

By staying at Chitabe, you directly impact the wild animals that call the Okavango Delta home. That’s because Chitabe supports Wild Entrust Africa, the umbrella organisation for all large predator conservation research in Botswana. Your stay also benefits our local employees with life-enriching school education donations and generous profit-shares.

Gym

State of the bush gym equipment and facilities and in room yoga mats

Pool

Enjoy a sundowner by the pool.

Solar

Take a back-of-house tour to see our expansive solar farm

Store

Take home a locally crafted keepsake from the one of a kind shop

Cooling

Rooms now feature advanced evaporative air coolers

Dining

Enhanced culinary, revamped menu for a memorable taste of the Delta

Where Kalahari and Delta meet

Chitabe is located across the Gomoti Channel from the famed Moremi Game Reserve. The permanent water from the channels forming its eastern and western boundaries ensure a compact concentration of thrilling game-viewing year round. The large prey densities make Chitabe a stronghold for African wild dogs, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and a smorgasbord of prey.

Purpose

Supporting conservation

By staying at Chitabe, you directly impact the wild animals that call the Okavango Delta home. That’s because Chitabe supports Wild Entrust Africa, the umbrella organisation for all large predator conservation research in Botswana. Your stay also benefits our local employees with life-enriching school education donations and generous profit-shares.

Facilities

Gym

State of the bush gym equipment and facilities and in room yoga mats

Pool

Enjoy a sundowner by the pool.

Solar

Take a back-of-house tour to see our expansive solar farm

Store

Take home a locally crafted keepsake from the one of a kind shop

Cooling

Rooms now feature advanced evaporative air coolers

Dining

Enhanced culinary, revamped menu for a memorable taste of the Delta

Area

Where Kalahari and Delta meet

Chitabe is located across the Gomoti Channel from the famed Moremi Game Reserve. The permanent water from the channels forming its eastern and western boundaries ensure a compact concentration of thrilling game-viewing year round. The large prey densities make Chitabe a stronghold for African wild dogs, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and a smorgasbord of prey.

Activities

Wilderness Impact

Chitabe’s eight new tents were designed mindfully, integrating them into the natural landscape of trees. Steel frameworks further reduce the footprint, minimising ground contact and eliminating the need for concrete, enhancing the longevity of the camp while preserving the delicate ecosystem. Chitabe is committed to conservation and community, supporting both wildlife and local communities.

WILDLIFE RESEARCH

Funds aerial wildlife surveys

PREDATOR CONSERVATION

Supports wild dog research

COMMUNITY

Profit sharing for employees

HABITAT

Replants indigenous trees

Community development

Nelson Mandela famously said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. Every year, Chitabe gives each of their employees a donation to be used for annual school fees, uniforms, books and school supplies for a child – either one of their own, or a niece, nephew, or grandchild. This annual donation reinforces our commitment to our employees that we all have a responsibility to help educate Botswana’s future generations.

CONTRIBUTE TO A CHILD'S EDUCATION

EXPERIENCES

Chitabe experiences

Feel the steady beat of adrenaline as you watch a lioness stalking, almost invisible in the tawny winter grass. Listen to the greeting growls and squeals of wild dogs. Walk seasonally to view life along and in the Gomoti Channel. As you slip off to dreamland, spy an elephant feeding outside your window in the moonlight. This is Chitabe.

Explore all Experiences

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Game drives

Get closer to thrilling wildlife interactions and see creatures big and small on morning and afternoon game drives.

Game Drives

Botswana, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Zambia

Helicopter safari

Soar above the lush and wildlife-rich Linyanti and Okavango Delta on a breath-taking helicopter safari.

Helicopter Safari

Botswana

Stargazing

Lie on a blanket, behold the beauty of your surrounds, and contemplate space and your place in it when you go stargazing.

Stargazing

Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe

Private safari

Create treasured memories with family and friends on an exclusive private safari across Africa’s most iconic destinations.

Private Safari

Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia

Wilderness Experiences Conservation Tree Planting

Conservation experiences

Rewild. Protect. Conserve. Wilderness combines unforgettable wildlife encounters with positive impact experiences.

Conservation Experience

Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

RATES

Explore camps in the Okavango Delta

Chitabe covers 22,000 hectares of pristine Okavango Delta wilderness, home to some of the best wildlife sightings on Earth. Here Botswana’s seasonal Gomoti River brings an ebb and flow of ever-changing wildlife to the camp and the floodplains that surround it.

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Chitabe

Standard Season

From USD 1,970 per person, per night

Premium Season

From USD 3,290 per person, per night

TRAVEL WITH US

A journey to the Delta

Botswana is the birthplace of Wilderness. Today we operate 19 camps in three different regions. Journey to one or all three areas for breath-taking and unique land and water-based game viewing. Start planning your next African adventure.

See all journeys

GUEST EXPERIENCES

Testimonials from fellow safari-goers

With a perfect 5-Star rating from 228 reviews, guests consistently praise Chitabe's exceptional wildlife viewing, dedicated guides, and luxurious accommodations. Read what fellow travellers have to say about their unforgettable experiences at Wilderness Chitabe. Read more reviews on TripAdvisor.

Impeccable attention in the Okavango Delta

"Another rich safari experience provided by Wilderness. We came to Chitabe from a sister camp in Zimbabwe (Linkwasha) and spent 3-nights here as well. Chitabe in Botswana is a good complement to the dry climes of the eastern camps because it usually has more winter rainfall and the Okavango Delta provides a completely different and wetter safari experience. We saw all the big beasts here too with the added bonus of leopards, cheetahs and the endangered wild dog. Our guide Ibs has a well-earned reputation for his instinctive and uncanny knowledge of the area and its animal inhabitants. He and camp manager Mass were warm and resourceful hosts."

Charles P | USA

★★★★★

Incredible camp

"Our 3-night stay at Chitabe at the end of our 4-camp & 12-night safari in Botswana was truly awesome. From our arrival & greeting at the airstrip to our bush helicopter transfer back to Maun, the service & friendliness of this camp was exceptional. Goodman our guide is one of the best guides we have ever had & was both informative & entertaining. He listened & understood what we wanted & delivered accordingly. The wild dog & leopard encounters were the best we’ve ever had on our 7 safari trips to Africa. Game viewing at this camp was simply superb. The camp itself is very special with a brilliant atmosphere created by the likes of Mass, Lets & Mama Jo & all the other camp staff. Food was excellent & newly renovated tent 8 almost too luxurious! We were looked after incredibly well throughout our stay. We are determined to return one day. Thank you Chitabe."

Chris G

★★★★★

The best safari ever

"Chitabe offers incredible sightings. A wild dog den and a spotted hyena den are close to it. You can see a big pack of wild dogs and their puppies interacting as well as the adults hunting. Also lots of lions, leopards + elephants, zebras, antelopes, etc… The camp is very welcoming, as are the Wilderness camps generally. Staff is great, guiding is great. Wilderness supports the local communities which is great. Tents are very comfortable. You might share the car and then eat together with your fellow travellers if you like. We had tent 3 which was great. Would gladly return."

S Roukline | UK

★★★★★

SIMILAR CAMPS

Similar camps we think you'll love

If spectacular settings, highly photogenic landscapes, and close-up wildlife encounters are what inspire you to travel, then look no further than Chitabe in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. But should you wish to wander further, here are three more Wilderness camps worth exploring.

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Botswana

Qorokwe

Spectacularly positioned, elegant Wilderness Qorokwe blends seamlessly into its vast, wildlife-rich corner of the Delta.

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Zimbabwe

Little Makalolo

A safari camp with a strong legacy, Little Makalolo promises a magnificent experience in a diverse and wild corner of Hwange.

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Namibia

Damaraland Camp

Discover rugged Damaraland. A true frontier, with mountainous landscapes, cultural riches and rare desert-adapted wildlife.

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Botswana

Savuti

The Savuti Channel flows right past this camp, ensuring an exceptional safari with great land and water-based game-viewing.

Explore Camp

Botswana

Little Vumbura

Set on its own island, Little Vumbura in Botswana epitomises the classic Okavango Delta safari experience.

Explore Camp

FAQs

Chitabe specific questions

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General Botswana questions

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JOURNAL

Chitabe featured stories

Many who come to Wilderness Chitabe think twice about sharing their adventures, content to just keep this special piece of Africa all to themselves. We think her majestic beauty and abundant wildlife experiences are simply too good not to share. Here are her stories.

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