Lebala at a Glance
• Set in the wide open plains of the Linyanti Marshes
• 8 en-suite tents – all with bath & double outside showers – including a family room
• 2 activities – walks (seasonal) & game drives
• Famous for its predators and high concentrations of elephants
• We can operate off road and at night
• Guide and tracker team
• All inclusive rates
Lebala is situated in the south of the Kwando concession, adjacent to the head waters of the Linyanti marshes that form the boundary between Botswana and Namibia. The southerly flowing Kwando river disappears into the vast marshland before emerging as the Linyanti river. The triangle formed by this vast wetland is home to the Mamili National Park in Namibia.
Lebala means ‘wide open spaces’ in Setswana and the scenery is dominated by vast plains with scattered palms and tree islands backed by wooded savannahs. This wild expanse contrasts with the casual understated elegance and luxury of the camp itself.
This special ecosystem is home to a wide variety of Africa’s plains game such as zebra, wildebeest, impala, giraffe and tsessebe and also provides refuge to lechwe, waterbuck and the shy sitatunga.
The camp itself is comprised of eight custom designed tents, with unique mosquito net walls, allowing an unobstructed flow of cooling breezes and stunning views.
Each spacious tent has its own viewing deck, bathroom and luxurious double outside showers.
Lebala has a staff complement of 22 to cater to our guests. The camp balances understated elegance with untamed Africa to perfection.
Activities at Lebala
The daily safari routine usually involves an early morning wake up call, and a gathering around the fireside for piping hot tea and coffee, a bowl of sumptuous porridge and freshly baked muffins. As well as the clean early morning air and dazzling sun rise, an early departure greatly increases the chances of unusual sightings, as the majority of mammals are active at the beginning and end of the day when temperatures are lower.
The Kwando Safaris game drives – Day & Night
Game drives are undertaken in custom designed Toyota game viewing vehicles seating no more than six guests at a time in two rows of three. The use of only two rows ensures that guests are never so far from the front of the vehicle that they are unable to hear the guide or tracker's interpretation, even while driving.
Guests are guided by a two person team of professional guide and tracker - a special feature of the Kwando Safaris wildlife experience. The two person team enables the guide to communicate points of interest and the complex interrelations that exist throughout the natural world, while the tracker ensures no sightings or tracks are missed.
The evening/ night drives are a Kwando Safaris speciality. The drive starts in the late afternoon as the sun’s rays are dipping to the west and the day’s heat is declining.
After a leisurely pause for the traditional sundowner, and as the African day is transformed into a soft colourful evening canvas, the night drive begins. The mystery unfolds as the creatures of the night, especially the predators, are revealed by spotlight, often unexpectedly.
Nature walks
Walking in Africa's wild areas is the only way to truly appreciate the natural environment. While game viewing from a vehicle allows one to see more animals as you traverse much greater distances and get much closer to animals safely, there is nothing as awe inspiring and humbling as observing wild animals on foot.
Many smaller species of plants and insects, tracks and signs are all easily missed when in a vehicle. The slow pace of the walk and interpretative skills of your guide will open your eyes to a new and fascinating world.
Game walks are not hikes; they are slow comfortable strolls meant to provide you with a chance to experience the wilderness at a natural pace. Any walk can be combined with a game drive or mokoro and the length of walk can be adjusted to suit your personal desires or level of fitness.
Walks may be limited in the dry season at Lebala and Lagoon camps due to the large elephant population in the region at that time.
BINOCULARS
Bring them! These are a vital piece of equipment, which will contribute hugely to a truly exceptional safari. You will use them more than you think whether on a walk or on a mokoro. Every person should really have their own pair, but at a minimum, have a pair between you and your travelling companion if you have one. The size that you choose depends greatly on your subject of interest. A specialist birder would likely choose a heavier 10x magnification with a wider objective, while for general wildlife viewing the smaller 8x magnification with a smaller (25mm) objective will be sufficient and mean less weight to carry around.
