Xudumela runs on a solar array with an inverter and battery bank. Power is reliable but not unlimited. Each tent is equipped with two USB-A sockets and one standard South African 3-pin power point (15A). Power is available round the clock, but high-draw appliances — kettles, hair dryers, travel irons — are not supported on any socket.
The main deck has additional charging points and is the best place for laptop work. Bring a small power bank for daytime use on experiences, where you will be away from the tent for three to five hours at a stretch.
Two USB-A ports (5V / 2A each) and one SA three-pin socket. Adequate for phones, cameras, and CPAP machines.
↳ No kettles or hair dryersThe camp is fully off-grid. Power output varies slightly by season and cloud cover, but daily charging of phones, cameras, and laptops is reliably covered.
↳ Available 24 hoursSafari experiences run from first light until mid-morning and again from late afternoon into dusk. A 10,000 mAh power bank covers a full day away from the tent.
↳ Carried in the day packDrinking water at Xudumela is drawn from a borehole and passed through UV filtration. It is safe to drink directly from the tap. We do not provide bottled water — guests are issued a reusable camp bottle on arrival and refill points are on the main deck and at each tent.
Hot showers are available morning and evening. The solar-heated water system provides reliable hot water in the dry season; in the wet season (November–April), particularly after overcast days, temperatures can drop. Cold water is available at all times.
The Xudum Channel holds a resident hippo pod and year-round crocodile activity. Swimming is not permitted at any point along the channel bank or in any waterway on the conservancy. The plunge pool at the main deck is the only safe swimming on-site.
There is no mobile signal at Xudumela. Mascom and Orange Botswana coverage drops north of the main road from Maun; the camp sits approximately 25 km beyond the last reliable signal point. This is not a limitation — it is one of the reasons guests return.
WiFi is available on the main deck only, via a Starlink satellite connection. Typical speeds run 15–40 Mbps. The connection is shared and performs well for email, messaging, and moderate browsing. Zoom calls and video streaming are possible from the deck during off-peak hours (early morning and late evening). WiFi does not reach the tents.
Alert contacts before departure. Leave an emergency contact number with your next of kin — Xudumela field manager can be reached on a camp satellite phone in any emergency.
↳ Satellite phone available on requestStarlink connection. Reliable for messaging and email. Works for video calls early morning and evening. Not available from tents or anywhere on the walking routes.
↳ 15–40 Mbps sharedSpotify playlists, podcasts, e-books, offline maps, and any work documents you may need. The camp has a small library for guests who arrive unprepared.
↳ Offline maps cover the whole deltaThe Delta is a working ecosystem. Your clothing choices affect what wildlife does in your presence. Neutral, muted colours — khaki, olive, sand, grey — are required for all walking activities. Guides will politely ask guests in bright or white clothing to change before any experience that involves moving on foot.
Temperature swings are significant. June to August mornings can reach single digits by 5:30 am at the water's edge. A fleece or light down jacket is not optional in dry-season mornings; by 10 am it will be in your day pack and not needed again until sundown.
Fleece or light down over a long-sleeve base layer. Long pants. Closed shoes or trail runners. Beanie optional June–August. You will shed layers by 9 am.
T-shirt or lightweight long-sleeve (sun protection). Convertible pants or shorts. Hat and sunglasses essential year-round. SPF 50+ sunscreen — the Delta's UV index is high even in winter.
Long sleeves and long pants for the evening — both for warmth and because malaria mosquitoes are most active from dusk onward. Light, loose fabrics are cooler than they look.
Bright colours (red, orange, royal blue, yellow) on any walking experience. Heavy cologne or perfume — scent disturbs wildlife and attracts insects. Black clothing in wet season — tsetse flies are specifically attracted to black fabric.
The Okavango Delta is a malarial zone. Malaria prophylaxis is strongly recommended for all guests. Consult your GP or a travel health clinic at least four weeks before travel to discuss the right prophylaxis for your itinerary and medical history — options include Malarone, Doxycycline, and Lariam.
Medical evacuation insurance is strongly recommended. Okavango Air Rescue provides emergency helicopter evacuation cover in the Delta; however, medical costs are the guest's responsibility and can be significant. Most travel insurance policies cover emergency evacuation — check yours before departure.
Any prescription medication in sufficient supply for your stay plus three extra days in case of travel disruption. A personal first-aid kit with: antihistamine, immodium, oral rehydration sachets, plasters, antiseptic, and any personal allergy medication. DEET-based insect repellent (30–50% DEET) for use at dusk and dawn.
Accommodation and the conservation levy are payable by Visa or Mastercard. Experiences, sundowner drinks, and extras are payable by card or cash. Pula (BWP) is the preferred currency for any cash transactions on site; ZAR is accepted at an approximate exchange rate but not as favourable as using Pula. USD is not accepted on site.
Stock up on Pula in Maun before departure. ATMs in Maun: Standard Chartered (Airport Road), FNB (Mall), Barclays (town centre). All dispense Pula. Most work with international Visa and Mastercard; Amex has limited acceptance. Draw what you need — the camp transfer north takes around 25 minutes and the road is good, but there are no ATMs at the channel.
If your booking includes a light-aircraft transfer into the Delta, you are subject to a strict 15 kg total weight limit per person, including hand luggage. Hard-shell suitcases and large rigid bags cannot be loaded onto Cessna 206 or similar aircraft — soft duffel bags, backpacks, or soft-shell rolling bags that compress are the requirement.
Guests driving from Maun have no luggage restrictions. Standard road transfer from Maun takes approximately 25 minutes on a good dirt road, and your vehicle can carry any size of luggage.
Soft bags only. This covers everything — main bag plus camera bag plus anything you carry on board. Overweight bags may not be loaded and will be stored in Maun at the Duck Inn.
↳ Checked strictly at the airstripTransfer from Maun in a camp vehicle. No luggage limit. Hard-shell cases, large rolling bags, cooler boxes — all fine. Transfer is included in accommodation rate.
↳ Approximately 25 min from MaunTents have lockable storage. The main deck has a small safe. Passports and flight documents should be kept in the main deck safe overnight — bring copies for any day activities.
↳ Safe on main deck, 24hPrepared well,you arrive lighter.
Everything you need. Nothing that will get in the way.
This list covers a standard three- to five-night stay. Laundry is done daily by the camp team — packed light is packed right. If you are on a fly-in transfer, remember your 15 kg limit. Anything critical that you forget can usually be sourced in Maun, but not at the camp itself.
Some items are not appropriate in a working conservancy — either because they affect wildlife, violate Botswana regulations, or create unnecessary weight on fly-in routes. This list is not exhaustive; if in doubt, ask before you pack.
Transfer guests are collected from the Duck Inn in Maun at a pre-arranged time. If arriving by light aircraft, a camp vehicle meets you at Hunda or Khwai airstrip and drives you to the channel — approximately 45 minutes on a dirt track. Self-drive guests follow directions on the booking confirmation; GPS coordinates are provided in advance.
Within thirty minutes of reaching camp, a guide walks every new guest around the property: the path to the channel, the tent, the emergency procedures, the crocodile protocol for the bank, and the sign-in board for the next day's activities.
The field manager hosts a short briefing on the main deck at 17:30 on your first evening. Weather for the week, what the trackers have seen in the past few days, and any notes on wildlife movement near the boundary.
Experiences are booked via a physical sign-up sheet on the main deck, posted each evening for the following day. Early bird gets the mokoro. Maximum group sizes apply — first come, first served on popular experiences.
Pack light, arrive curious, leave the agenda in Maun. The channel will do the rest.