Mbamba: Our full report

Opening in April 2025, Mbamba will be set in a little-visited private concession within Botswana’s northern ...

... Okavango Delta. With 12 tents, it will feature a traditional safari style in an area known for its predators, with lions and wild dogs particularly established.

The camp will share the 220km² concession with its relatively new sibling, Duke’s Camp. While we have yet to visit Mbamba, we are familiar with the area, and were impressed with Duke’s Camp when we visited in January 2024.

Elegance has long been the watchword of camps established by Ralph Bousfeld, creator of Jack's Camp in the Magkadigadi Pans, and Mbamba promises to be no exception. Sheltered within a grove of leadwood trees, it looks out on a vast expanse of grassland that – with its permanent water channels – is irresistible to grazers and thus a big draw for predators.

The camp’s 12 canvas tents will bear all the hallmarks of a vintage safari, from Persian-style rugs to four-poster beds and mahogany furniture. Air conditioning over the bed will bring a welcome touch of the 21st century, as will a standing fan and a good-sized en-suite bathroom with indoor shower. With a mix of double and twin tents, and two set up for families, it’s been well thought out, too.

Mbamba’s main area will follow a similar style, its two lounges adorned with plentiful fabric drapes, numerous artefacts, a small library and a well-stocked drinks cabinet. Meals will be served at one long table, either al fresco or within the shelter of the dining area.

Chill out between activities on your private veranda, binoculars at the ready, or wander over to the swimming pool – binoculars still in hand. The camp’s firepit comes into its own as the sun goes down, the ideal spot to gather with other guests for a drink before dinner.

With access to both land- and water-based activities, Mbamba is set to offer a range of opportunities for wildlife viewing. Game drives in open-sided 4WD vehicles will come top of the list, with opportunities to head out after dark as well, in search of the area’s nocturnal creatures.

For most of the year you can explore the channels that weave through this area by motorboat, or in the near-silence of a mokoro excursion. You can even take to the air by helicopter (at extra cost).

For an entirely different experience, consider a day trip to the extraordinary Tsodilo Hills, where galleries of ancient rock art are secreted at almost every turn.

Our view

The addition of a new camp in this vast concession is good news for travellers. While we have yet to visit the camp, we have long worked with the owners and are confident that it will meet both their high standards and those of the Expert Africa team.

Tracy Lederer

Country manager: Botswana

Geographics

Location: Okavango Delta Safari Reserves, Botswana
Ideal length of stay: 2–3 nights, or longer if you’d like to visit the Tsodilo Hills as well
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board & Activities
Food quality: Meals are a highlight at Mbamba’s sister camps, and we would expect the same to be true here. Typically meals will follow the normal safari pattern of an early breakfast before your first activity, followed by brunch/lunch. Afternoon tea precedes the second activity, with dinner to round off the day.

With advance notice, we would expect Mbamba to be able to cater to most dietary requirements.
Dining style: Group Meals
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining

Children

Attitude towards children: Children aged 6 and over are welcome at Mbamba.
Property’s age restrictions: No children under 6 years.
Equipment: With two family tents, Mbamba can easily accommodate those travelling with children.
Generally recommended for children: Mbamba’s swimming pool will be a hit with many children, but the fact remains that this is an open, unfenced camp, making it hard for younger children to let off steam.
Notes: Wild animals are free to wander through the camp, and this – together with an unlifeguarded pool – make it essential that children are supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.

Communications

Power supply notes: There is 24-hour electricity in all guest tents, but note that this cannot power hairdryers.
Communications: WiFi is available in the main area.
TV & radio: None
Water supply: Other

Sustainability

Working with local communities

Working among communities in north-west Botswana, Mbamba’s owner, Natural Selection, has established theMmogo Centres for Community Development. The aim here is twofold: the first to promote early childhood development, including both learning and nutrition; the second to help empower women, raising awareness of their rights and introducing them to training and employment opportunities which will in turn benefit their families.

On the wildlife front, the company has also funded the BioBoundary Project, which focuses on human–elephant conflict in Botswana. Its aim is to establish the efficacy of natural and low-cost elephant repellents, such as essential oils, which early trials suggest are offputting to the animals.

See more great sustainability projects in Botswana