We know only too well that the guiding can make or break a trip, and that’s why we deploy only the most experienced and qualified of the company’s guides on our mobile expeditions. Carefully trained by the legendary Ralph Bousfield, each qualified Biologist Guide must have a minimum of at least two years guiding experience in the Kalahari allowing us to give our Guests a holistic understanding of this magical and pristine wilderness environment, as well as the sort of personality that makes them desirable companion for a mobile adventure such as this. 

With a focus on safety, security and serenity, we’ve scoured the land and hand-picked the most awe-inspiring exclusive sites for our luxurious mobile tented camps.

The three course meals we serve under the stars are as delicious as they are romantic, and include such treats as fresh tomato and basil soup, ostrich piccata, roast Botswana beef, delectable orange tarts and impossibly rich, but light, chocolate puddings. 

Teas are indulgent affairs with treats such as triple-layer banana caramel cake, tangy lemon-curd biscuits and the best brownies in the bush!  All bread is baked daily, and delicious full cooked English breakfasts are on offer 
every morning.

The area:

The Mapula Reserve, also known as NG12, is a private concession just to the north of the renowned Vumbura and Duba Plains concessions. NG12 is on the northern side of Botswana’s famed Okavango Delta, in an environment very similar to that found at Vumbura. There’s a great variety of wildlife to be found in the region, with excellent sightings of big cats such as leopard, cheetah and lion a particular highlight, and plenty of large herbivores to keep everyone on their toes. 

The reserve extends to an impressive 1500 square kilometres, and with few other camps in the area, it’s a prime wildlife destination for those after both abundance of game and exclusivity.

With a maze of channels, islands, wetlands and waterways, the concession provides a magical environment in which to enjoy its resident wildlife and birds, whilst also serving up an array of unforgettable experiences and activities. The birdlife here is especially noteworthy, with the endangered wattled crane, as well as carmine bee-eaters, and the African paradise flycatcher all regularly spotted to the delight of many a twitcher.

What will you do?

Vast tracts of pristine wilderness teem with animals, showcasing more species than can be seen in most of Africa. Lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, hippo, and rare sitatunga are popular animals to watch here.

Explore the seemingly endless channels of the Okavango Delta, and spend a day out on the open lagoons.

Island Fly Camp – sleep in a mosquito net tent, beneath a blanket of stars, and luxuriate in the freedom of a night at one with nature (weather and water level dependent) 

Having indulged in a large spread of tea and cakes, park at the edge of a lagoon, drink in hand, and watch herds of elephant and myriad birds as they quench their thirst. The colours of the setting sun will ripple through the water, punctuated only by hippos, as the guide explains the geological history of the area.

Seek out the creatures and plants typical of the ecosystem and explore the interrelationships of species and the systems in which they live. Revel in sightings of elusive lesser known predators such as caracal, serval or mongoose and observe and interpret their behaviour.

Throughout most of the year, it’s possible to take relax in Botswana’s most traditional fashion – the mekoro. This is a particularly enjoyable way of reaching the island on which you’ll camp, although during the lower water levels at the end of the year, it may be a better option to walk or drive there.

• Enjoy a relaxing mekoro journey through the shallow channels of the Delta. 
• Mekoros allow us to reach remote, pristine, and otherwise inaccessible areas of the Delta.
• View animals drinking from the river banks and elephants swimming and bathing.
• Spot small crocodiles basking in the sun and hippos tussling for territory.
• Picnic on a shady island.

PREDATORS

• Track lions, cheetahs, leopards and wild dogs.
• Sit beneath the shade of a tree at a waterhole and observe the interactions that ensue.

BIRD LIFE

• Tick off a vast number of species unique to the Okavango Delta such as the slaty egret, the Pel’s fishing owl and the African skimmer.
• Visit some of the largest heronries in the Southern Hemisphere where an impressive 19 species breed.

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

Scenic Heli Flights over the Delta:

Add a panoramic perspective to the landscape, and keep your camera at the ready as you soar above this very special expanse. A helicopter flights allows for a large area to be covered, giving participants a fascinating insight into how the Okavango’s water, land and wildlife come together.

Hot Air Ballooning over the Delta:  

Drift through the skies of this great wilderness, seeing the details from tree top level, and watching as animals become mere specks as you rise higher into the air, taking in a 360 degree view as you go.

Helicopter Day Trip to Tsodillo Hills:

These trips usually leave in the morning and take around five and a half hours. It’s a scenic flight from the Delta to Tsodillo Hills and things get even more engaging upon reaching the destination, which has the finest examples of bushman rock art in the country.