Okavango Delta, Botswana

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Mbamba

Tented Camp
Adventure
Boating or Mokoro
Communal Pool
Design
Night Drives
Photography
Romantic
Stargazing
Tented Camp
Waterfront Views
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Botswana

Overview

COMFORT
Fans
Pool
QUICK FACTS
12
Rooms
Private Vehicle at extra cost
Cancellation POLICY
Strict, typically 100% from 60 days
Kids POLICY
From 6
Mbamba means "hello" in Botswana's Bukakhwe San dialect, an apt name for this welcoming camp, pitched beneath an impressive stand of leadwood trees in the private NG12 concession where the Okavango River spreads out to form the world's largest inland delta, twelve canvas tents in Ralph Bousfield's much-loved vintage aesthetic of plush fabrics, mahogany sideboards, Persian rugs and four-poster beds, a mess of draped fabric and ancient artefacts, two lounges, a small library and a pool, days run on game drives, night drives, mokoro and boat safaris through a concession said to hold some of the highest lion concentrations in the Delta and a top wild dog denning area, 100% solar-powered, sociable and refreshingly good value.

Plan

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Access Type
Fly-in Only
Transfer Time from Airstrip
20
mins
Baggage limit
20
kg
Soft-bag only
Wildlife Highlights
Lion
Birding
Great for birders

Location

Map pin marker icon with dark green abstract pattern and a central circular cutout.

Getting there

Fly by light aircraft from Maun (MUB) to the airstrip serving the NG12 concession, followed by a game-drive transfer into camp

Stay

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COMFORT
Fans
Pool
Vehicle
Private Vehicle at extra cost
WI-FI
Available in all areas
Medical
Malaria Zone
Insect protection
Antimalarials and repellent, with mosquito nets, standing fans and over-bed cooling systems
Activities
Game drives and night drives, predator tracking (wild dog and lion), mokoro and motorised boat safaris (seasonal, water-level dependent), birding, freshwater fishing (March–Dec), and visits to the Tsodilo Hills World Heritage rock-art site

Our Favorite Rooms

Twelve canvas tents on slightly raised wooden decks, threaded along winding paths under the shade of existing leadwood trees, all sharing the Bousfield vintage look, plush fabrics, mahogany sideboards, Persian rugs and romantic four-poster beds, with spacious en-suite bathrooms and indoor showers, over-bed cooling systems, mosquito nets, standing fans and 24-hour solar power. Each has a private veranda tucked under the boughs for shade and Delta views. There are no hair dryers.

Dining

Fully inclusive, with meals served family-style at a long communal table, a warm and sociable atmosphere that's especially welcoming for solo travellers, dining under the stars or under canvas, followed by stargazing around the firepit, with two lounges, a well-stocked drinks cabinet and a small library alongside.

Tips

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Packing Tips

Neutral safari layers with a warm jacket, beanie and gloves for cold winter dawn drives (June–August), lighter clothing for the hot October build-up, closed shoes, a sun hat, sunscreen and binoculars, insect repellent and antimalarials, swimwear for the pool, a headtorch, camera gear for the predator action, and a soft bag (~20 kg) for the light aircraft — and bring your own hairdryer if you need one, as the camp doesn't supply them.

Insider Tips

Come April–October when the Delta is in full flood for the best of both worlds, mokoro and boat safaris plus exceptional game viewing as elephants and antelope wade the flooded channels. This is wild dog country with a top denning area close to camp, so ask your guide about den activity, and the concession is said to hold some of the highest lion concentrations in the Delta. The guiding team was trained by safari legend Ralph Bousfield and is a genuine drawcard, meals are family-style at a long table (lovely for solo travellers), and you can add fishing (March–Dec) or a trip to the Tsodilo Hills rock art.

Impact

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Reserve type
Concession
Conservation
CLAWS communal herding for lion protection
Conservation fee
60
No Conservation Fee
per person per day

Conservation Efforts

Mbamba runs on 100% solar power with 24-hour electricity in every tent, sitting lightly in a vast 220,000-acre concession with limited human impact. Through the Natural Selection Foundation, guests directly support CLAWS (Communities Living Among Wildlife Sustainability), which collars and tracks lions and restores traditional communal herding so livestock are accompanied by herders, reducing retaliatory lion killings and healing overgrazed land, alongside the award-winning Elephant Express, which provides safe transport for schoolchildren and healthcare workers through an elephant corridor.

Per Person, Per Night from
1325
Per Person
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