(Posted 12th March 2026)
Opening 15 October 2026 – just four suites, a private concession, and some of the most extraordinary wildlife terrain in Africa.
There are places in the Okavango Delta where time moves differently, measured not in hours but in the slow drift of a mokoro through lily-flecked channels, or the low rumble of lion before dawn. Kanana Nyana, the new four-suite camp from Ker & Downey Botswana, was designed for exactly those moments.
Opening 15 October 2026, Kanana Nyana distils decades of Delta expertise into one of the most exclusive safari experiences in southern Africa. With just four suites on a private concession, the camp offers what luxury travel increasingly struggles to deliver: genuine solitude, personalised guiding, and deep immersion in a wild landscape that has barely changed in millennia.
THE SETTING
The camp sits within Ker & Downey Botswana’s private concession in the Kanana area, a richly biodiverse mosaic of permanent waterways, ancient forest and open floodplain. Unlike camps within national park boundaries, the concession permits the full range of Delta activities: guided walking safaris, mokoro excursions, night drives, motor boating and traditional game drives. Seasonal fishing is available for much of the year.
Wildlife in the area is exceptional. Lion, leopard and African wild dog hunt the surrounding woodland and floodplain. The concession provides private access to one of the largest heronries in the Okavango Delta – and southern Africa as a whole – making it an outstanding destination for birders, with regular sightings of the elusive Pel’s Fishing Owl among the highlights.
THE SUITES
Each of the four thatched suites at Kanana Nyana is individually named and styled after one of the Okavango’s great trees – Marula, Sausage, Ebony and Mokolwane Palm. Interiors draw on the colours of the Delta itself: sage greens, soft pale yellows and dusty pinks layered through natural fabrics and handcrafted finishes. Private plunge pools and expansive views across shimmering waterways complete the picture.
The design philosophy, shaped by Ker & Downey Botswana’s 50-plus years operating in the country, is one of purposeful restraint: materials and spaces that work with the Delta landscape rather than competing against it. Central areas, a welcoming bar, lounge and dining room, flow between indoor and outdoor, anchored by views of the surrounding wilderness.
THE EXPERIENCE
Two dedicated safari vehicles each configured for a maximum of four guests keep guiding unhurried and highly personalised. A small gym and in-room wellness treatments allow guests to rest and restore between game drives. The overall approach is deliberately intimate: fewer guests, more flexibility, a pace set by the Delta. “Kanana Nyana reflects the way we believe safaris should be experienced intimate, authentic and deeply connected to place. The camp has been designed to enhance the wilderness rather than compete with it” said Kim Nixon, Chief Operating Officer, Chobe Holdings Limited.
Additional Information
Opening date: 15 October 2026
Location: Kanana area, Okavango Delta, Botswana (private concession)
Capacity: 4 suites (max. 8 guests)
Rates: From USD $1,200 per person per night (season-dependent, all-inclusive)
Activities: Game drives, guided walks, mokoro, motor boating, night drives, seasonal fishing
Signature wildlife: Lion, leopard, African wild dog, Pel’s Fishing Owl; one of Africa’s largest heronries
Vehicles: 2 vehicles, max. 4 guests per vehicle
Wellness: In-room treatments, small gym
