Machaba Camp - Machaba Safaris™

Amazing experience, from the warm welcome by Shaun , Elka with song and warm towels not only on day, but every day, every trip. The food was fantastic, made better by communal tables under the stars after sharing an aperitif by the camp fire( which is always alight). The lovely comfortable tents ( beds so comfy) look over the river so you are lulled to sleep by frogs and bathing hippos. But the excitement of the safari’s led by Shaun was beyond expectations, he had a feeling and we were off road in the bush, sometimes at speed, only to find the animals emerging exactly where Shaun predicted, wild dogs, lions, leopards, elephants, you name it we saw it, with a sweet male leopard gazing up at us from under our car. Amazing. We are now on Safari in South Africa, very nice and luxurious but not rivalling the excitement of the Safari or the warm feeling of family generated by Shaun, Elka, their staff and children, thank you ,we will be back, with husband bouncing happily in the back of Safari Car.

Juste two words to résume my trip : Thank You ! The place is very beautiful, a kind of luxury lodge but still sauvage. The food was Perfect. The guide Nico is the best. We saw always what we wanted to see (lions, hyenas, elephants, leopard). If you choose this hotel, you will have the experience you want to have for your safari in Africa.

Machaba camp is so perfect in every possible way. The staff are so kind, fun, and helpful. The guides that take you on safari drives are just so knowledgeable. I hope that everyone else has the same experience I had the pleasure of experiencing. My favorite memory was watching elephants while sipping a drink in a comfortable chair with my family.

Wow- this was a luxurious tented experience second to none. Everything is genuinely Africa with elephant and lion, birding the lot. Staff fantastic. Our ranger excellent. Shaun and Elka fantastic. Luxury living areas second to none. We enjoyed our first two days so much we returned two weeks later for four days - four nights. Couldn’t get enough. Thanks

My stay at Machaba Camp was nothing short of magical. From the moment I arrived, the staff made me feel incredibly welcomed and cared for. The setting is stunning—luxurious tents that blend beautifully into the landscape, with the sounds of the Okavango all around. The food was consistently delicious, the service flawless, and every detail thoughtfully curated. What made the experience truly unforgettable was the personalized attention. I had the privilege of going on one-on-one game drives with my guide for three days, and his knowledge, passion, and care added so much depth to the safari. I saw incredible wildlife, learned about the ecosystem, and felt deeply connected to the land. Machaba strikes the perfect balance between comfort and authenticity, and I left feeling both inspired and incredibly grateful. I can’t recommend it enough.

The camp is comfortable and well-maintained, in a beautiful place overlooking a stretch of the Khwai river, but the best part of it for us was the people. We never felt more at home than at Machaba, and the warmth of the people running the camp spread through the guests in a way we did not find at other camps. That, and we never felt closer to the wildlife we had come to see (with due care taken when one would wander through the camp). That closeness, both to the wildlife and to the people, left a deep impression which added to our stays at other camps. I couldn't imagine going on safari without including Machaba Camp.

This is “the sister” camp of “big” Machaba. It has only 4 tents and a super friendly and diligent camp manager , Kutlo. Tents are super nicely fitted, very clean and each a “terrace” with direct , unique & private view to the sorroudings. Yes, hippos and others came super close at night ! Food was always too good (and also too much !) and the comunal dinners made us all feel like a family. Game was EXCELLENT, and the guide we had, BT, was really really really great. He had so much knowledge but especially , a contagious passion for showing and telling us all about mother nature. We had an amazing walking safari with him and a canoe (mokoro) one with trained guides from the bigger camp. What I really enjoyed is that we didnt have to drive much to enjoy amazing sightings: we saw lepard, hyenas - including baby ones still nursing! - lions with their cubs or even swimming as they were following some impalas, elefants, giraffs , kudos… and so many birds, from big marabus to little blue kingfishers. An amazing stay! While tents were equipped even w a Nespresso coffee machine, they had no kettle or something to have warm water at night if needed - eg for a tea- which was only available in the main area but that required being escorted and after dinner, unless if for an emergency, there was no way to connect and ask for one. We really enjoyed the hospitality and the game here and would be ready to come back any time !

Beautiful lodge with a colonial feel to it situated on the banks of the Khwai River. Watched elephants and game drink from the river, so tranquil surrounded by the sounds of nature. Staff are very professional and friendly and have a great sense of humour creating a family and relaxed feel. Rooms are luxurious and very spacious and tents have lovely views. Had a lovely stay, only complaint is that my stay was too short. Highly recommend this lodge