Nxamaseri Island Lodge sits on a private island in the Panhandle of the Okavango Delta – the far northern reaches where the permanent deep-water channels look more like rivers than typical delta waterways. This is one of the oldest lodges in the entire delta, originally established in the early 1980s as a fishing camp and now run by Desert & Delta Safaris after a major rebuild in 2024. It's important to understand upfront that this isn't your typical safari lodge – there are no game drives here. The focus is entirely on water-based experiences, fishing, birding, and cultural activities, which makes it appeal to a very specific type of traveler looking for something different from the standard game viewing circuit.
What really sets Nxamaseri apart is its proximity to the Tsodilo Hills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that's about an hour away. These mystical hills rise out of the desert landscape and are covered with over 4,000 ancient San rock paintings, making them one of the most significant rock art sites in the world. The lodge specializes in organizing visits here, and it's genuinely one of Botswana's hidden cultural treasures. Back at the lodge, the big draws are fishing – particularly for tiger fish and the famous "Barbel Run" between August and November – and exceptional birding with over 300 species recorded in the area.
The atmosphere here is deliberately low-key and retreat-focused, with an over-the-water spa and activities like traditional basket weaving lessons that encourage a slower pace. You'll spend your days gliding through channels in mokoros, fishing from motorboats, or simply relaxing by the pool between excursions. It works brilliantly as a bookend to a more traditional safari elsewhere in Botswana.
