Beagle Expeditions

Abu Private Reserve, Botswana

Exclusive access to 30 000 hectares of pristine Okavango Delta.

A journey through the wilderness with the intimacy and flexibility of your own camps, guide, safari vehicle and staff complement. Here you undertake a wild adventure between 2 camps on foot and game drives or mokoro and helicopters.

DID YOU KNOW?

Being the only mobile safari operation in Botswana to offer total exclusivity of both the camp as well as the concession, makes Beagle Expeditions one of Botswana’s most exclusive safari experiences.

EXCLUSIVE. WILD. OKAVANGO

Located within an exclusive concession of Abu Private Reserve, Beagle Expeditions explores a wild and spectacular corner of the western Okavango Delta on their Kweene Trails. What makes this area so special is its remoteness and being accessible only by helicopter. 

The core principle of each safari is a bespoke experience designed around each guests individual abilities and interests. Keeping the camp facilities simple yet abundantly comfortable, the essence of Beagle Expeditions is to remove the trappings of designed luxury and embrace the greatest luxury of all, to be wild and free. At the same time each guest can be assured of fantastic food with a carefully crafted focus on fine wines and premium beverages topped off with great service and one of Botswana’s best guided safaris.

This is not the normal per person per night safari concept. Beagle Expeditions offers a truly private experience by taking only 1 booking at a time for a minimum of 4 guests (maximum of 10) and a minimum stay of 4 nights. 

Beagle Expeditions is a small, intimate, family-run business owned by Simon and Marleen Byron. Together they have more than 30 years of experience in the safari industry in Botswana, live outside Maun, are involved in every booking (in many cases guided by Simon), which together put Beagle Expeditions in a position to provide each guest with a phenomenal experience.

FAST FACTS

RATES

Kweene Trails:
US$ 1 295
per person per night

Min 4 & max 10 guests

Minimum stay 4 nights

ACCESS

Fly:
All access into and out of Kweene Trails is by helicopter transfer from Maun or other camps in the Delta.

CHILDREN

Kweene Trails:
All ages

(Certain activities such as mokoro and walking have an age restriction of 12 years.)

Classic Portfolio Since 1993

What we love

Classic Portfolio Since 1993

EXCLUSIVE WILDERNESS

This is not just a private camp, but your own private concession of over 30,000 hectares (70,000 acres) in the Okavango Delta. Vast and adventurous, this is a wild, exclusive safari.

WILD & FREE

From helicopter safaris and game drives, to wild walking and mokoro floating, your private guide crafts each day around your interests.

EXPERIENCE IS THE LUXURY

From bucket showers to fine wines, appreciate the simplicity of being connected to the wilderness.

MOMENTS OF CONNECTION

For families and friends, this exclusive use camp provides the perfect setting for a safari adventure of a lifetime.

Beagle Expeditions

The impact of your stay

Simon Byron is Botswana born and bred and his wife Marleen hails from South Africa. They are fully committed to the future of Botswana. 

In their camps, their team are all Motswana (members of the Tswana people, an ethnic group in southern Africa and citizens of Botswana) and they actively support the career path of local pro-guides.

In their wider area, conservation is about people rather than wildlife, and in the Okavango context this relates to people living a rural subsistence life adjacent to this incredible ecosystem. The closest rural community to Kweene live in the Habu village.

Every stay contributes through:

  • Beagle Expeditions contributes US$ 30 per guest, per night to the Wild Entrust. 

  • The Wild Entrust was founded and is managed by Tico and Lesley McNutt, together they have been at the forefront of predator conservation in Botswana and have been intimately involved in the Okavango conservation story. 

  • The Wild Entrust has been an incubator and facilitator of the Habu Conservancy created by the Habu Elephant Development Trust (HEDT). Wild Entrust and HEDT have several brilliant community conservation initiatives in and around the Habu Village which is the closest village to the Beagle Expedition operations.

  • Please check out www.wildentrust.org or feel free to contact Beagle Expeditions for more information.

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Classic Portfolio Since 1993

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Beagle Expeditions
CAMPS

Positioned along the Kweene River system in the Western Okavango Delta.

ABU PRIVATE RESERVE

Kweene Trails

There is a minimum stay of 4 nights with 2 nights at each camp. Longer stays are encouraged. 

Below is an outline of a typical 4 night stay – keeping in mind that each guest experience is individually tailored and many stay for 5 – 6 nights.

DAY 1

Accessible only by helicopter, guests experience a breathtaking scenic helicopter flight over the dramatic Okavango Delta landscape, bringing them right onto the doorstep of this wild playground. Guests are welcomed by their private guide and the intimate expedition team, and become acquainted with their tent, private camp and the raw wilderness around.

From here the journey starts along the southern section of the Kweene River in the occasional swamp habitat at Kweene River Camp, an area that has an arid feel to the landscape. As these floodplains are inundated with water less frequently than that of the seasonal swamp, the grass species that dominate the floodplains are much more palatable and thus productive, supporting large herds of grazers and the predators that follow.

First day arrival usually has an afternoon drive to understand the lay of the land. Sundowners and back to camp for dinner.

DAY 2

The option for a morning scenic helicopter flying safari if the heli overnights after the drop-off. This epic aerial safari with the doors-off on the helicopter (seatbelts on) includes a breakfast picnic stop. This experience carries a cost surcharge.

Other then the optional heli scenic safari, the daily routine and safari schedule has a fluid structure, wholly dependent and dictated by the wildlife around, what is happening in the concession at the time of the expedition, the ever fluctuating water levels, the time of year, and of course the mood and capabilities of the group. The beauty of a private and intimate mobile camp is that each guest has total flexibility, steered by their private guide and his knowledge to provide the best experience possible. 

Second day is a mixture of walking, driving and mokoro.

DAY 3

On the moving day between the two camps, guests cover the distance by vehicle, on foot or by mokoro; or by a combination of these. This is a full day of exploration out in the wilderness with a delicious packed lunch enjoyed during a restful siesta; while the back up team moves the camp and sets up for the afternoon arrival in the next location.

After an active day of safari activities, the late afternoon provides to relax in camp and soak up the luxury of solitude.

DAY 4

Further north up the Kweene River system is Magwegwe Camp (approx 15 km), which is situated in the seasonal swamp habitat. Here, the river receives water on a yearly basis with the inundation cycle of the annual Okavango flood dynamic. This section of the river is an exposé of exceptional Okavango Delta scenery and its wildlife; endless floodplains with well-wooded islands dotting the plains and all-year-round surface water drawing in an abundance of wildlife.

Fourth day is a mixture of walking, driving and mokoro. Night drives are also an option for those who would like a noctural safari.

DAY 5

Morning activity and the last chance to enjoy this wild wilderness before the heli arrival for the pick up and onward transfer to the next camp or back to Maun to connect with onward flight.

SEASONALITY: April to end of November

CHILDREN: All ages (certain activities such as mokoro and walking have an age restriction of 12+ years.)

Kweene Trails

4 - 6 tents
exclusive use only

from US$ 1,295 per person per night
Minimum 4 guests staying a minimum of 4 nights.
All meals
All drinks plus premium wines.
Exclusive use of camp
Private guide and tracker
Private vehicle
Day & night game drives.
Guided safari walks.
Mokoro when the delta is in flood.
Laundry (limited).
MediVac insurance
WiFi
Mobile phone reception
Sat phone (emergencies only)

Beagle Expeditions
FEATURED OFFER

Scenic Heli Safari

Not a special offer, but rather a featured experience. Take the opportunity to get an aerial perspective of the Delta with this doors-off, seatbelts on, epic heli safari.

VALID: April – end Nov 2023

Beagle Expeditions
featured journey

Safari from all angles

This ultimate combination of Botswana and Zimbabwe focuses on exceptional guiding and ample opportunity to get off the vehicle and explore.

Beagle Expeditions
location

Getting there

FLY

Arrive into Maun International Airport. From there, all access into and out of Kweene Trails is by private helicopter transfer.

From other camps in the Delta, heli access is also the only option.

Helicopter transfers in and out of Kweene Trails can be booked directly with reservations.

location

Getting to Kweene Trails

FLY

The safari begins upon departure from Maun International Airport via private, scenic helicopter transfer to Kweene Trails in the pristine Abu Private Reserve, where you land directly at camp.

Availability

We do not currently have online availability for Beagle Expeditions. Please contact us to enquire.

Contact

Email:
res@beagle-expeditions.com

Tel:
+267 7269 3971

+267 7222 4311

Office Hours:
Monday to Friday, 8am – 5pm. Based in Maun.