Wilderness to open ‘limited-edition’ tented camp in Botswana

Africa specialist Wilderness has confirmed plans to open a new “limited edition” tented camp in Botswana’s Mababe Concession in September.

Wilderness Mokete will comprise nine canvas tents, with a tented lounge area and swimming pool connected by ground level wooden walkways. Each suite will have an ensuite bathroom and a retractable roof for stargazing.

Wilderness said the camp would be available to book for two years only, offering a “once-in-a lifetime experience for a select few”.

The 50,000-hectare Mababe Concession sits between two national parks on the eastern fringe of the Okavango Delta and the Moremi Game Reserve, to the south of Chobe National Park.

The vast and remote area is known for its unique ecosystem and abundance of predators and birdlife thanks to its nutrient-rich grasses, which are fed with a constant supply of water from the Mababe River and the Okavango.

Wilderness Botswana managing director Kim Nixon said: “Picture herds of buffalo by the thousand, the largest concentration in Africa, as well as prolific predators and mega-aggregations of elephant (and at times, zebra during their migration), drawn to the Mababe Marsh. Meaning feast, ‘Mokete’ is a banquet of astounding wildlife, diverse habitats, and untouched natural beauty, and we are immensely proud to be working with our like-minded partner and owner of Mokete, Cobus Calitz, to launch the first camp in this extraordinary, remote area.”

Nixon said Wilderness Mokete was a “taste of things to come”, with the brand planning a permanent camp, Meraka, to take its place in 2026. Meraka will accommodate 24 guests across 10 rooms, including two family units.

“A first, and only one, of its kind, Mokete is a taste of things to come, and we look forward to welcoming guests to this wildlife paradise,” she said.

“Through high-value, low-impact photographic tourism, we aim to help conserve one of our planet’s last remaining wild sanctuaries.”

Wilderness, which recently rebranded from Wilderness Safaris, operates a total of 60 camps and lodges across eight countries.

Image: Mababe Concession