Top 10 things to do at Feline Fields Vintage Camp
The ultimate tick list of amazing safari activities
When it comes to immersing you in the wilderness of Botswana's incredible Khwai region on the edge of the Okavango Delta, Feline Fields Vintage Camp has got it nailed! One of the most authentic safari camps in Southern Africa, your stay at this fantastic (and luxurious) little camp on the banks of the Mbudi Channel is an adventure of note, offering lots of different ways to experience the magic of wild Botswana. Here's our Top 10 things to do during your stay...
Every day at Feline Fields Vintage Camp offers up a fresh opportunity to explore and discover more about the incredible wilderness around you. Regarded as one of Botswana's premier wildlife destinations, the Khwai region is filled with phenomenal wildlife and jaw-dropping vistas, especially around the Khwai River and its channels and lagoons. Making the most of your stay is made easy, thanks to the variety of different ways you have of experiencing this beautiful wilderness.
1. Game drives
Get out and about in the early morning and late afternoon on our specially adapted open game vehicles with an experienced, professional guide like Thapelo at the helm! No two days are the same on a Feline Fields Vintage Camp game drive. The adventure begins before dawn with a wake-up call and the delivery of hot water at your tent so you can freshen up camp-style!
As dawn begins to break and the air is filled with birdsong, you'll walk up to the open lounge for coffee and rusks before heading out into the wilderness to see what's going on! Early morning is a magical time in the bush, as diurnal animals wake up and nocturnal ones prepare for sleep. You have a great chance of spotting elusive nocturnal predators like leopard in the early hours and finding lions on fresh kills.
Stopping for coffee and muffins halfway gives you the chance to experience the thrill of being truly remote and far from anywhere, in the middle of the wilderness. You return to camp for breakfast and head out again in the late afternoon.
Afternoon/evening game drives give you a fresh perspective on life in the wilderness as the day begins to wind down and the sun sinks towards the horizon. This is when predators like lion become active and you might even spot them hunting. You'll explore new areas and hidden nooks and crannies with a break for sundowners before returning to camp for dinner.
2. Walking safari
You have the option of walking directly from camp, or driving for a while and then walking for an hour or so, returning to the vehicle to continue your drive. Walking usually takes place in the mornings, before the daytime heat kicks in, and allows you to find out all about the small, fascinating things you sometimes miss on a game drive.
Your guide shows you interesting plants, explaining all about their cultural significance and the medicinal properties they possess, as well as some of the folklore that's built around them. You'll learn about termites and ants, and the intricate interconnected nature of a thriving, natural ecosystem. And there's always the chance of spotting game along the way, which is a thrill all of its own.
The walking around Feline Fields Vintage Camp is not strenuous, thanks to the generally flat nature of the topography, so it does not require a high level of fitness to enjoy this activity.
3. Mokoro
There's little to beat the feeling of gliding gently through the reed-lined Mbudi Channel in a mokoro, encountering hippos and a host of birdlife and other fascinating species along the way. Poled by one of the exceptional local poling guides who have grown up in the area and understand the ecosystems of the Khwai River and its channels intimately, you'll be exposed to a side of the Botswana wilderness you never knew existed. From tiny reed frogs no bigger than a thumbnail to elephants grazing on the lush grasses that grow in and around the channel, a mokoro puts you in a front-row seat to all the action.
With just the sound of the water lapping at the side of the mokoro as it is expertly propelled through the reeds and the feeling of the gentle breeze moving across the surface of the water (which you are almost level with) - this is without doubt the best way to connect with the spirit of wild Africa. The tranquillity is overwhelming as you become part of the environment, watching it pass by with each move of the pole.
Afternoons are the best time for mokoro rides, as the sun begins to sink low in the western sky and the channel is bathed in a soft, golden light.
4. Wilderness sundowners
The perfect end to a mokoro ride, you will find a fresh fruit cocktail floating in the middle of a remote lagoon, and the Feline Fields Vintage Camp team waiting for you at the water's edge with a makeshift bar loaded with drinks options so you can toast the setting sun and the end of another fabulous day in Botswana.
Raising a glass to the sunset is an African tradition and allows you to give thanks for the incredible experiences the day has given you and acknowledge the majesty of true wilderness. It's also a great way to have fun with our team!
5. Picnic lunch
There's nothing like al fresco dining in the middle of the African bush! We love to surprise you with a fabulous picnic lunch as the perfect ending to your morning game drive, by setting up tables in a picturesque spot by a lagoon or along the river and dishing up some fabulous fare for your delectation and delight!
Accompanied by a selection of wonderful wines and drinks, enjoying a tasty lunch in the shade of a tall riparian tree, with wild Africa all around you is something to be truly savoured.
6. Lagoon swim
When water levels permit, we love to take you swimming wilderness-style in one of our secluded lagoons where we know there are no hippos or crocodiles. That's right - you get to swim in the waters of the Okavango Delta in a quiet pool off the Mbudi Channel. The water is clear, warm and the colour of tea, thanks to the tannins from the surrounding wilderness. And there is soft sand beneath your feet, and a myriad fish, frogs and other aquatic life swimming around you.
Accompanied by our guides, we've also got a wonderful selection of pool noodles, beach balls and other things for kids to have fun with, and even a soft sandy beach or two for that perfect family time together!
7. Moremi day trip & boat cruise
Depending on the length of your stay with us, it is possible to arrange a full-day safari to the Moremi Game Reserve, with the chance (time permitting) of a gentle boat cruise on the Xakanaxa Lagoon, admiring the rich bird and aquatic life of this region.
You head out at dawn with a picnic breakfast and lunch to enjoy en route and experience a variety of different biomes and ecosystems along the way. You also drive through local settlements on the perimeter of the Moremi, giving you a glimpse into Botswana community life.
8. Helicopter safari
Taking to the skies over the Okavango Delta in a helicopter gives you a fresh appreciation of the magnitude of this phenomenal African wilderness. Flying low enough to spot game and take photographs from the air, these flights also give you the opportunity to see areas that are otherwise completely inaccessible. This is the ultimate way to experience wild Botswana!
9. Fishing
Grab a rod with our guides and head out to the best fishing spots along the Mbudi Channel and Khwai River and see if you can catch some bream, barbel or even the legendary tiger fish, renowned for its strength and razor-sharp teeth! It's a wonderful way to spend a morning or afternoon, and we have rods and fishing tackle available in camp. You don't have to be experienced, as our guides will show you the ropes and the ideal places to cast.
10. Spa and relaxation
Enjoy a relaxing full-body massage in the wild at our spa tent overlooking the Mbudi Channel and let expert hands sooth away the stresses and strains of your safari adventure! Or soak in our wonderful hot tub and watch the world pass by! The choice is yours. Of course, the final choice is to do absolutely nothing at all and just relax in camp, either in our wonderful lounge area or in our central dining area with views of forever and feel a part of this incredible place!
