MABABE TENTED CAMP

Mababe River

Back to basics but exclusive with genuine wilderness in the Mababe

Mababe Tented Camp is a small, seasonal safari camp situated on the banks of the Khwai River within the Mababe Private Concession. The camp opened in 2026 and is positioned in an important wildlife corridor between the Khwai, Savuti and Chobe areas, with the private concession offering a more secluded safari experience and considerably less vehicle traffic than some of Botswana's better-known national park areas. The camp is currently designed to operate from approximately April to December.

The setting is particularly attractive, with the river, floodplains, riverine woodland and open grassland creating a varied habitat for wildlife. The area is known for large elephant herds, buffalo, lion, leopard and excellent birdlife, and the river provides an important source of water during the drier months.

Mababe Tented Camp is deliberately small, simple and authentic, rather than a high-end luxury lodge. The main guest area is an open-sided tented structure overlooking the Khwai River, incorporating a comfortable lounge and dining area - with a traditional outdoor campfire. There are just eight Meru-style safari tents accommodating a maximum of 16 guests, giving the camp a personal and unhurried atmosphere. The design is very much in the tradition of a classic Botswana safari camp, with canvas accommodation and open communal areas that keep guests closely connected to the surrounding wilderness. Wi-Fi is available in the main area.

The camp has been designed with a strong emphasis on sustainability. It is solar powered with a back-up generator and aims to have a minimal environmental footprint, which is particularly appropriate for its remote wilderness location.

The tents can be arranged as either twin or double beds, making the camp suitable for couples as well as friends or family traveling together. Each tent has a private en-suite bathroom with an indoor shower. The accommodation includes practical safari comforts such as a fan, safe and hot-water bottles for the cooler winter nights.

This is a true seasonal, eco-camp without swimming pools, spas or extensive leisure facilities. Instead, time between activities is spent relaxing on the deck, enjoying the river views, watching wildlife and soaking up the atmosphere of a genuine bush camp. This simplicity is an important part of the appeal of Mababe Tented Camp.

Safari activities focus primarily on game drives and seasonal mokoro excursions subject to water levels. Guided game drives explore the Mababe Private Concession, traveling through a mixture of riverine woodland, floodplains and open grasslands. The private-concession setting provides the opportunity to explore a relatively uncrowded wilderness and look for elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and other plains game.

This is a great camp to include in a multi-destination Botswana safari adding that variety, exclusivity and a genuine wilderness environment.