Mokolwane Camp
Mokolwane Camp Is Situated In The Private And Remote Xudum Concession In The South-Western Corner Of The Okavango Delta
Built along a wooded island in the heart of the Matsebe river system, Mokolwane is an exclusive camp offering excellent game viewing within the private 200,000-hectare Xudum concession. Due to its remote location, Mokolwane feels like a true escape into the Okavango wilderness. There are no other camps close by, and there is currently no access airstrip either. Arrival and departure are therefore by helicopter, adding to the adventure. The camp itself is comfortable but not luxurious, with spacious tented rooms built onto wooden decks overlooking the plains. The hospitality is warm and friendly, without trying to be too sophisticated, and the camp has an intimate, cosy feel. The real focus at Mokolowane is however on the game viewing and having this remote corner of the Okavango Delta almost entirely to yourself. Recent years have also seen a change in conditions with the area becoming much drier, which in turn has brought in a more established predator population, including a high density of leopard.
Rooms
Accommodation is provided in seven tents built on to timber platforms raised around two metres above the ground. The camp is tucked into the shade of fig, jackalberry and ilala palm trees and looks out over the plains and waterhole. Each tent is reached by wooden steps and has double or twin beds under a mosquito net, bedside tables, chairs and clothes storage space. Each tent has a verandah to the fore with two chairs. One of the tents is a family unit with a smaller twin room internally adjoining, sharing the bathroom. En suite bathroom facilities include a flush loo, vanity stand with basin and plumbed shower.
Central Areas
The central areas include a lounge tent with bar and a dining tent, built on to a raised platform, a campfire area and a swimming pool (on a separate raised deck).
Facilities
Wi-Fi – Yes
Power for Charging – Yes
Swimming – Yes
Habitat & Wildlife
The 200,000-hectare Xudum concession is situated in the remote south-western corner of the Okavango Delta. The vast concession spans three river systems – the Xudum, the Matsebi and the Kiri and offers diverse habitat from grassland and floodplains to lagoons and islands as well as riverine and mopane forest.
This area was previously characterised by permanent water and swamps, intersperse with wooded islands, but in recent years has become much drier, allowing good numbers of predators to establish themselves. There is a high density of resident leopard in the concession, alongside lion, wild dog, spotted hyena and cheetah. Large elephant populations are also present in the concession, together with buffalo, wildebeest, giraffe, zebra, red lechwe and impala. Birding is excellent throughout the Okavango Delta, and the Xudum concession is especially productive during the flood season when many of the low-lying flood plains hold water (usually July to September).
Activities
Activities include morning and afternoon/evening game drives and mokoro excursions are available when water levels permit.
Seasons
Mokolwane Camp is open year round.
Mokolwane Camp accepts children aged six years and above and while there is a family tent and swimming pool, due to the remote nature of the camp, it’s likely to better suit families travelling with slightly older children who are looking for an exclusive adventure with excellent big game viewing.
All guests at Mokolwane Camp pay a conservation, community and reserve fee included in the accommodation rate and this goes towards protecting wildlife and habitats and supporting communities.
Specific projects include the Mmgo Centres for Community Development in rural northwest Botswana – there are currently two centres being established which focus on early childhood development and the upliftment of women.
The fees also support Botswana Predator Conservation’s BioBoundary Project which aims to alleviate human-elephant conflict in northern Botswana by researching plant-based elephant repellents to assist farmers and protect crops.
