Natural Selection added The Jackal & Hide to its portfolio as of January 1 in the greater Okavango Delta, Botswana. Previously known as Pangolin Khwai Camp, which only specialized in tailor-made photographic safaris, The Jackal & Hide is open to all wildlife enthusiasts. For 2019, the camp will continue to provide a resident photo guide and specialized photographic vehicles for professional and amateur photographers alike, alongside the many additional activities on offer.
The Jackal & Hide is located in the Khwai Private Reserve, a 200,000-hectare area of wilderness in the Greater Okavango Delta region. The reserve is bordered by Moremi to the south, Savuti to the north and the Khwai Community Reserve to the east. Vast floodplains and sprawling grasslands meet patches of forested enclaves and through it all runs an intricate network of channels and lily-filled waterways. Natural Selection says it is one of the most well-managed private concessions in the area with very few other vehicles (and people) around.
The varied habitats of Khwai support many animals. The wetlands and rivers host impressive quantities of hippos and crocodiles, while on dry land, big cats are a common sight. Sable, roan, impala and kudu dot the grasslands, alongside giraffe and zebra, an abundance of elephant and buffalo, and the occasional jackal. With birdlife, guests can expect everything from giant eagle owls to lilac-breasted rollers. Khwai also includes rarer species of the African savanna, including wild dogs, serval cats, honey badgers and the pangolin.
Guests at The Jackal & Hide will be treated to a different activity every day. Classic game drives are available year-round and yield sightings of the wildlife, and for a different perspective on the natural world, mokoro safaris and boat trips are on offer. Guests will also have the chance to spend time in some of the ground-level hides in the reserve for up close and personal wildlife encounters. For 2019, guests of Pangolin Photo Safaris will continue to be hosted by the resident photo guide.
The camp itself has eight Meru-style tents. Each room is a retreat from the elements and all have large king-size beds (that can also be twins), writing desks, en-suite bathrooms and private verandas with views across the shimmering grasslands. In the main area, a sunken lounge and fire pit take pride of place. Located just in front of a favorite grazing spot for zebra and elephant, it is a wildlife-watching base during siesta time, or, perhaps, at any time of day. Under the thatch, the bar, lounge and dining areas are dotted with sunny cushions and black and white artworks, and by early 2019, a swimming pool to dip into between activities.
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