Setari Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana

Thoughts by Daniel Roby –
I had a fantastic time at Setari Camp; all too brief, but all I had time for given my flight itinerary. I wish I had at least a week and my wife could have been with me. My guide, Collen, was skilled and knowledgeable about the bird life and other wildlife, and good with the motor skiffs that we used to get around off island. He and his trainee assistant, General, helped me find a pair of Pel’s Fishing Owls on the island where Setari Camp is located. We were also successful in seeing 4 different Sitatungas from the skiff, including a nice ram that was tending a ewe out in the open and seemed unconcerned by our presence in the skiff. I was very impressed by the waterbirds in the lagoons near Setari Camp, and would highly recommend the camp to anyone interested in some of the harder to see waterbirds characteristic of the Okavango Delta, like African Pygmy Goose, Lesser Jacana, African Swamphen, Allen’s Gallinule, African Skimmer, Little Bittern, Black Crake, Collared Pratincole, and Malachite Kingfisher. The landbirds on the island itself are also diverse and interesting. The boardwalk that connects all the accommodations and facilities at Setari Camp allows the guest to see much of the island safely without the necessity of taking a guide with you. The food and accommodations were excellent, the management and staff friendly, knowledgeable, and outgoing. I am extremely grateful that you recommended that I try Setari Camp instead of Moremi Crossing. We flew over Moremi Crossing on our way to the landing strip at Jao, and it was completely dry due to the drought. Although water levels were low at Setari Camp, there was plenty of water for getting out and around, and to attract high densities of waterbird life. One of the attributes of Setari Camp that really impressed me is how the camp’s facilities have been hidden amongst the trees on the island, rather than just clearing a large area to accommodate the necessary infrastructure. Much of the camp’s appeal, to me anyway, was because it was designed and built to leave as small a footprint as possible. In short, I am very pleased with my stay at Setari Camp.