Kanana Nyana, the eighth camp under the Ker & Downey Botswana name, is opening on October 15, 2026, on raised ground above the Xudum River, with views over floodplains on the western edge of Moremi Game Reserve, one of the most active wildlife areas in the Okavango Delta.
The camp has only four suites and accommodates only eight guests at once. The main activities offered include walking safaris, game drives, and mokoro trips through the water channels, all built around close encounters with the wildlife the Delta is known for.
Kim Nixon, COO of Ker & Downey said, “Kanana Nyana is a return to what safari is meant to feel like: intimate, personal, and completely immersed in the wild. With just four tented suites, it offers a rare and authentic connection to the Okavango Delta, where time is given to observe, to understand, and to appreciate rather than move on.”
“Whether lingering a little longer at a remarkable sighting, following an aardwolf back towards its den, or watching an elephant bull stretch high for baobab blossoms on the edge of a grassy floodplain, guests are encouraged to slow down and engage with the natural world on its own terms. These are the moments that transform a safari into something truly memorable,” Nixon further added.
Every outing at the camp goes where the guide decides, not by a set plan. Local guides read tracks and animal behaviour to lead each trip, turning it into an exercise in learning and observation rather than a checklist of sightings. This fits the company’s long-standing approach to a safari experience that is instinctive and respectful. At Kanana Nyana, guests set their own pace, and the trip is measured by connection, not by how much they see.
Kanana Nyana means “small” in Setswana language. It is a result of almost 60 years of Ker & Downey living and operating in Botswana. The company started its story in 1945 when Donald Ker and Syd Downey launched a safari company in Kenya after World War. Harry Selby joined a few years later and helped move the company into Botswana, where it opened Khwai River Lodge in 1968, the first photographic safari lodge in the country. In 1978, the company merged with Safari South and acquired the title of the biggest safari operator in Botswana before dropping the Selby name in 1993 and became part of Chobe Holdings, a fully Botswana-owned group, in 2009. Kanana Nyana stands close to where the original Kanana Camp opened in 2000, also on the Xudum River.
An exceptional location, attentive service, and close attention to detail run through the camp, along with cultural and wilderness experiences led by local guides, many of whom grew up in the Okavango Delta.
The design of Kanana Nyana takes cues from Botswana’s landscape and culture. Each of the four suites is design distinctly, with thatched roofs, timber entrance arches, and colours drawn from nature, sage green, pale yellow, and dusty pink. Every suite is named after a tree found in the region, the Marula, the Sausage Tree, the Jackalberry, and the Sycamore Fig, and its interior reflects that tree.
Each suite is designed for two adults and includes a king-size bed and large windows overlooking the Delta. A private wooden deck sits outside each suite, complete with a plunge pool and a shaded sala, a spot meant for morning coffee, evening drinks, or simply sitting and taking in the view.
Shared spaces at the camp are set up for guests to spend time together, with separate areas for dining, relaxing, and socialising. The food highlights local ingredients and Botswana flavours. Cocktails use lerotse melon and vanilla syrup, and the menu features premium Botswana beef known for its quality. Produce comes from local suppliers where possible, and the camp runs themed dinners with traditional dishes like seswaa, pap, and morogo.
A small gym is available for cardio and strength training, and guests can book wellness treatments in their own suites with local therapists.
Outside the camp, the Delta’s waterways and floodplains are the main draw. Two safari vehicles, each with six seats but limited to four guests, leaves extra room for viewing and photography. The mokoro rides are the quieter alternative, with guides poling traditional dugout canoes through narrow, reed-lined channels. There is a popular heronry nearby, which is home to about 70,000 birds between May and October, attracting attention in the Delta.
Wildlife in the vicinity of Kanana Nyana is abundant. Lion, leopard, giraffe, elephant, and African buffalo are common sightings, along with cheetah and African wild dog. Antelope species include tsessebe, impala, and the red lechwe, an animal found mainly in the Okavango Delta. Birdwatchers can look out for any of the more than 500 species recorded in the area.
The camp fits Ker & Downey Botswana’s idea of a “real safari,” which is well-guided, hands-on, and comfortable without going overboard. The company also works on conservation and protecting natural areas in Botswana and Zambia, along with its long-running support for rural communities in northern and central Botswana.
Kanana Nyana is the eighth camp in Ker & Downey Botswana’s current lineup, joining Shinde, Shinde Footsteps, Okuti, Maxa, Dinaka, and the original Kanana Camp.
