Karangoma sits in the northern section of NG12, offering access to roughly 30,000 hectares of traversing terrain where Botswana’s northern woodlands meet the waterways of the Okavango Delta.

The landscape combines mopane and teak forests with floodplains, lagoons and winding channels. Running through the area is the Makwegqana Channel, a clear distributary of the Okavango River that eventually feeds into the Selinda Spillway. The camp occupies a forested peninsula that extends into seasonally flooded plains, creating a setting that brings together land and water-based safari experiences.

The name Karangoma comes from the Sembukushu language and refers to drum beating, ancestral healing and ceremonial dances associated with well-being and community. That cultural heritage forms part of the camp’s identity, which seeks to connect guests with both nature and local traditions.

Eight-tent wilderness camp on a forest Peninsula

The camp features eight spacious tents, including a family unit, tucked beneath leadwood and sausage trees on the wooded peninsula. From the tents, guests overlook a frequently used wildlife corridor leading to nearby water sources.

Karangoma’s location spans both the Okavango floodplains and the sandveld woodlands to the north, creating an unusual mix of habitats within a relatively compact area. This diversity supports a broad range of wildlife throughout the year.

Visitors can encounter plains game such as zebra, tsessebe, lechwe and wildebeest on the floodplains, while elephants, sable and roan antelope are commonly found in the woodlands. Predators including lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena and African wild dog also roam the region.

The meeting point between the Okavango’s waterways and northern Botswana’s forests allows for varied safari activities and game-viewing opportunities without the need to travel long distances between ecosystems.

Karangoma: Gateway to the greater KAZA region

Karangoma lies on the northeastern arm of the Okavango Delta, close to the center of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, commonly known as KAZA. The conservation area stretches across parts of Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe, making it one of Africa’s largest wildlife landscapes.

The camp was developed in partnership with local elder Olatotse Sarefo and draws inspiration from Bukakhwe San and Hambukushu cultural traditions, reflecting a strong connection to the communities that have lived in the region for generations.

Access is by air, with guests flying from Maun to Vumbura Airstrip, a journey of about 130 kilometers that takes roughly 25 minutes. A low-level helicopter transfer then covers the final 30 kilometers to the camp in about 10 to 12 minutes.

For travelers seeking a quieter safari experience, Karangoma offers a combination of wildlife, culture and scenery in one of Botswana’s most ecologically rich corners.