Activities

Days shaped by the river, the bush, and what moves through both

There is no fixed itinerary at Buffalo. Days here unfold at the pace of the Okavango — guided by water levels, wildlife movements and the kind of unhurried curiosity that only a true wilderness can inspire.

River Boat Trips

Mornings begin best on the water. Drift silently along the Okavango River as the light turns gold, coffee in hand, while kingfishers dart between the reeds and African Fish Eagles call overhead. The river is where the Buffalo Core Area truly reveals itself. Hippos surface and submerge in the channels. Crocodiles lie motionless along the muddy banks. Herons stand perfectly still at the water’s edge, waiting. The pace slows to something rare.

Game Drives

Deep sand tracks wind through teak and mopane woodland, opening onto floodplains where buffalo herds gather and elephants move at their own unhurried pace. A guided game drive takes you into the heart of the Buffalo Core Area — into a landscape shaped by wildlife, not tourism. Sable and roan antelope vanish between the trees. A lion may be heard long before it is seen. Wildlife encounters here feel earned, not staged. Bring binoculars and let the guide read the spoor in the road.

World-Class Birding

The Okavango River and the surrounding woodland draw an extraordinary variety of species. Birding at Buffalo is not a matter of ticking a list — it is a matter of sitting still and letting the river come alive around you. Pel’s Fishing Owl hunts in the riverine forest at dusk. Slaty Egrets pick through shallow channels. Wattled Cranes move through the floodplains with quiet gravity. During summer, carmine bee-eaters arrive in vivid seasonal colonies along the river banks — one of southern Africa’s most spectacular natural displays.

Khwe Living Museum

Right next to the park entrance lies the Khwe Living Museum — a chance to connect with one of the oldest living cultures on earth, and to understand this landscape through the eyes of the people who have inhabited it for centuries. Visitors are guided through ancient survival skills, traditional hunting techniques, fire-making and the intricate plant knowledge the Khwe San have carried across generations. It is an experience that deepens everything you see in the bush — and one that directly supports the local community that calls this wilderness home.

Mahango Game Park

For guests wanting to explore further afield, Mahango Game Park lies just across the Okavango River — a short drive from Buffalo Tented Camp. Known for its dense concentrations of wildlife and beautiful floodplain scenery, Mahango offers a complementary experience to the Buffalo Core Area. Together, the two areas form a remarkable safari circuit that can comfortably fill several days — each with its own character, its own wildlife rhythms, and its own stretch of the Okavango to explore.

Evenings at Camp

When the sun drops and the woodland shifts from gold to shadow, the camp itself becomes part of the experience. Light a fire at your private boma-style fire pit. Braai under a sky unpolluted by city light. Listen to the calls emerging from the dark — a Spotted Eagle-owl from the jackalberry trees, lions somewhere in the bushland behind camp. Each tented suite comes with a fully equipped kitchenette — fridge-freezer, gas hob and outdoor dining area — so evenings unfold at exactly your pace, with exactly your menu, surrounded by the sounds of the African night.

A day at Buffalo

How a day unfolds

There is no fixed schedule. This is simply how it often goes — and why guests rarely feel they have had enough time.

Before dawn

Wake to a hippo grunting in the river. Make coffee. Sit on the deck and wait for the light to come.

Sunrise

Take the boat out as the mist lifts off the Okavango. Fish Eagles call. Kingfishers dart. Elephants drink at the far bank.

Morning

Self-drive into the bush. Follow tracks in the sand. Find where the buffalo spent the night. See who else did too.

Midday

Return to camp. Cook lunch under the trees. Rest while the heat builds. Let the afternoon come to you.

Afternoon

Visit the Khwe Living Museum. Or drive out again. Or simply sit at the river and watch for the crocodile that was there this morning.

Sunset & After

Light the boma fire. Braai. Watch the stars appear one by one. Listen to a wilderness that never fully sleeps.

Good to know

Before you head out

The Buffalo Core Area is a self-drive, self-sufficient wilderness. A few things worth knowing before you set off each morning:

A 4x4 vehicle is strongly recommended — roads are deep sand tracks
The park opens at sunrise and closes at sunset. No night driving without a special permit
No off-road driving — stay on designated tracks
Park entry permits are required and available at the gate
Fuel up in Divundu (~10–15 km from camp) before entering the park
Carry sufficient water, snacks and a spare tyre
Wildlife always has right of way — switch off the engine and wait
Mobile signal is limited inside the park. Download offline maps before you go

Ready to explore?

Buffalo Tented Camp puts you at the edge of the Okavango River, minutes from the park gate — and a world away from everywhere else.