Sable Alley

• Flights to Maun 
• Sable Alley is self-driveable
• Any Premium beverages ordered that do not fall under the 'House Drinks' selection. 
• All items of a personal nature (laundry, gratuities etc.)
• Conservation and Reserve fee of R275 per person per night, payable directly to the property upon booking.
• Fully comprehensive Travel Insurance, which guests are required to take out
• Any transfers not listed under inclusions
• If guests are not self-driving the following options can be arranged (please note rates are indicative and subject to change):

INDICATIVE ADDITIONAL TRANSFER COSTS 2025:

• Internal flights: Using Mack Air (fixed wing) Flight from Maun to Sable Alley (20 kgs soft bags/luggage): USD 283.00 per person plus USD 25.00 per person departure tax and return Flight from Sable Alley to Maun is USD 283.00 per person    

• Road transfers: Using Wilderness Dawning, Road transfer from Maun to Sable Alley: USD 495.00 per transfer for 2 pax (if travelling as a group please enquire) Road transfer from Sable Alley to Maun is USD 495.00 per transfer.

• Please note that families will need to be accommodated with one adult and one child per tent. There is no possibility of beds being added in the Tented Suites at this Camp. 
• There is a 40% single supplement.
• Vehicles accommodate 7 guests. Parties of 6 - 7 guests are allocated a private vehicle at no charge.
  • Families travelling with children 9 years and younger are required to book and pay for a private vehicle.
  • Private vehicles must be booked for the duration of a stay.
  • Rates are per vehicle per night and are subject to availability.

Not only is Khwai Private Reserve one of Botswana’s best kept secrets, it’s also home to the lovely Sable Alley. Opened in 2017, Sable is a piece of light, bright and beautiful luxury amid the game-rich floodplains of Khwai, and the best news is that it’s as sustainable as it is sophisticated. 

Located right on the banks of a lily-covered lagoon, home to harrumphing hippo and a favourite drinking spot for elephant and buffalo, the big game quite literally comes to you at Sable. But as tempting as it is to stay in camp, venture out you should, for Khwai offers one of Africa’s greatest and most exclusive safari experiences. Have your binos at the ready for lion, leopard, wild dog, buffalo, elephant and hundreds of dainty antelope as you drive through the diverse landscapes.

There’s no denying that Sable is spacious, sophisticated and really quite stylish. Each canvas-walled suite is huge, 55 square metres, and comes complete with mini-indoor seating area, writing desk, double bed, and some seriously Afro-chic décor. Slide open the screen doors at the front for uninterrupted views of the lagoon, or take a seat on the veranda for a closer inspection. At the back, you’ll find two basins, and indoor shower and a flush loo. And if you fancy washing off the dust from the day in the great outdoors, no problem – there’s an outdoor shower with a view too.

Just like the bedrooms, the communal areas are designed around the spectacular vistas. Watch the happenings at the lagoon from the bar, G&T in hand, from the outdoor fire pit, or from a squashy sofa in the lounge. At night, dinner is served either in the indoor dining area, or alfresco on the deck, accompanied by twinkling stars and the rumblings and grumblings of the wildlife. The recently added swimming pool and sun deck, are both unique spots from which to watch the hippo pods emerge from the lagoon, or simply for some chill-out time in the heat of the day.

It’s no secret that Khwai was formerly a hunting concession. The Natural Selection team have been working hard to transform the area into a safari destination of note, spending a full year tracking wildlife in the area and habituating the animals to their vehicles. Like other concessions in the Okavango region, they’ve witnessed how wildlife sightings swiftly turn around within two or three years of hunting stopping, and today you could go on a single game drive and see more than 50 different species. 

First up, the predators – and there are plenty of them in Khwai. Keep a lookout for leopard, lion, cheetah and wild dog, concealed from unsuspecting antelope in the grassy bushes. Then you’ll see hundred-strong herds of buffalo barrelling across the landscape, and enormous herds of elephants, trunks swinging and ears flapping. Lastly, keep a lookout for the smaller animals: impala drinking tentatively from pools, baboons shouting from trees, and sable and roan antelope, seemingly posing for your camera.

• Morning, afternoon and evening game drives in the diverse landscapes of the 200,000 hectare Khwai Private Reserve.
• Pole through the tranquil waterways on a mokoro (dugout canoe) excursion or boat trip and marvel at the beauty of the area from a different perspective (water levels permitting).
• Try your hand at a spot of fishing (01 Mar – 31 Dec); fishing is not permitted from January to February due to breeding season).
• Lace up your boots and embark on a guided game walk along the banks of the Khwai River.
• Be part of the KPR Ranger Experience and spend time tracking predators, capturing data, patrolling and visiting conservation projects (if time allows). This activity is at an additional cost and proceeds from this experience go back into the conservation efforts in the concession.

There’s never a bad time to visit Sable Alley (really). There’s something different in every season but, most importantly, the wildlife is out-of-this-world excellent all year round. Resident hippo splash in the inland pools, elephant and buffalo herds are hard to miss, and you’re never more than a few whiskers away from a lion pride.

From May onwards the Okavango Delta floods. Seasonal channels emerge, perfect for paddling around on a mokoro canoe safari – you might just have to share them with a few antelope. In June to September, the Delta floods really get going, and the heightened water levels mean mokoro and motorboat safaris are possible all day, every day.

December to March brings the summer rains. The grasses grow, and on a single game drive you might not see as many animals; but every rain cloud has a silver lining, and there’s a good chance of encountering big cats stalking their prey, the thick bushes allowing them to hunt undetected. And don’t let the thought of rain put you off – downpours are short and sporadic, and a good, waterproof jacket will see you through pretty much anything the weather throws at you.

Seasonality

• Green season: 10 January – 31 March
• Shoulder season: 01 April – 31 May | 01 November – 19 December
• High season: 01 June – 30 June | 01 September – 31 October | 20 December – 09 January
• Peak season: 01 July – 31 August

Sable Alley is sef-driveable from Maun Airport

If transfers are required, please email [email protected] for the latest information, or look under Exclusions for the indicative seasonal costs