Reviews of Pelo Camp
Wildlife sightings and reviews
11 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Pelo Camp and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
Wildlife sightings by our travellers
Starting in Jul-2019, 6 of our travellers have recorded their wildlife sightings at Pelo Camp.
Lion
80% success
Leopard
20% success
Cheetah
0% success
Wild dog
40% success
Buffalo
100% success
Mr. & MS. B
Colorado
"Pelo Camp review"
3 nights Arrived 6 Jun 2024
"The Okavanga Delta is flooded each year to create a vast area of water from 6" to 6' deep. Access to Pelo Camp is by boat in the winter and Land Cruiser in summer. The camp was excellent and the majority of the staff were friendly and very accommodating. The two of us were joined by four others from S. Africa and it was nice to visit with them about their culture. The camp had a pool and nice bar/lounge area overlooking the delta. Sunsets at every camp we visited were spectacular including Pelo. At Pelo we could hear the hippos grunting every night!
On the last day our guide Johnny let us decide whether to look for wildlife on land or water. We all chose water as we wanted to see the hippos up close. Boy did we ever get our wish! In the deeper waters the hippos congregate as a pod or family except the aggressive male hippos who are outcast by the group. The males can be dangerous as we found out. They were very aggressive and extremely fast for their size. It was an exciting and memorable evening to say the least!
We also had a mother elephant charge our vehicle one afternoon after her young male offspring kept trumpeting at us for no apparent reason. She suddenly appeared from bush trumpeting wildly and came after us to protect her baby! Johnny gunned the vehicle and we were out of harm's way in a matter of seconds. Luckily a woman in our group had her camera on so we got a special video of the episode.
The were fewer species of large mammals but we did see lots of elephants, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes and hyenas. There was also an amazing bird population with many species we had never seen nor heard of before.
I would highly recommend Pelo Camp to others." See all these reviews: 9n in Botswana
On the last day our guide Johnny let us decide whether to look for wildlife on land or water. We all chose water as we wanted to see the hippos up close. Boy did we ever get our wish! In the deeper waters the hippos congregate as a pod or family except the aggressive male hippos who are outcast by the group. The males can be dangerous as we found out. They were very aggressive and extremely fast for their size. It was an exciting and memorable evening to say the least!
We also had a mother elephant charge our vehicle one afternoon after her young male offspring kept trumpeting at us for no apparent reason. She suddenly appeared from bush trumpeting wildly and came after us to protect her baby! Johnny gunned the vehicle and we were out of harm's way in a matter of seconds. Luckily a woman in our group had her camera on so we got a special video of the episode.
The were fewer species of large mammals but we did see lots of elephants, hippos, crocodiles, giraffes and hyenas. There was also an amazing bird population with many species we had never seen nor heard of before.
I would highly recommend Pelo Camp to others." See all these reviews: 9n in Botswana
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report
Buffalo
6 sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Hippo
10 sightings
Lion
6 sightings
Spotted Hyena
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
Pete & Nancy
Stockton
"Pelo Camp review"
3 nights Arrived 23 Oct 2023
"Pelo is a small, intimate, fairly rustic camp that is well maintained with very comfortable accommodations and tents well spaced out. Tents are built on a platform with a porch out front facing the seasonal floodplain. We spent warm afternoons on the patio in the shade, wrapped in a damp kikoy to keep cool. The temperatures were very hot, up to 104 °F, toward the end of October. We made good use of the ceiling fan in the tent. There is only a curtain to separate the toilet from the single-sink vanity and shower; so not a lot of privacy. There is WiFi in the tents and a charging station on a desk with South Africa-type socket and a UK and universal socket.
The central lounge, dining area and bar also sits on an elevated platform and is shaded by large trees and overlooks the seasonal floodplain. We enjoyed breakfast inside the dining area with a nice view. Breakfast started with a buffet of cold cereal, yogurt, fruit and muffins with a hot breakfast cooked to order if we wished. Lunch was a buffet. Dinner under the stars was beautiful and began with a starter, then a buffet of salads, vegetables and meats with dessert to finish. The food was varied and really delicious with lots of vegetables and salads in addition to meats. The pool is just beyond and is connected by a path; it’s a good place to cool off in the afternoon.
The water level in late October was too low for boating activities, but still high enough for a mokoro excursion. It was a peaceful experience and we had a very good viewing of a sitatunga twice along the way. There were lots of birds too.
Game drives were surprisingly productive given the warm temperatures. The waterways that remain are populated with many birds and red lechwe are common. We were fortunate, thanks to our guide Jhonny’s great instincts, to see a small pack of painted wolves (wild dogs) one evening during sundowner; he knew just where they were likely to cross a marshy area after seeing them earlier in the day. We gave chase and watched from a respectful distance for quite a while. We saw lots of elephants and buffalo, some zebra and tsessebe and a few lions.
There is an electric fence surrounding camp to deter elephants from breaking down the trees, but the fence is high enough to allow other wildlife to pass through camp. For that reason, we had to be escorted from our tent in the morning and back to it after dinner. In the daytime we were free to walk on our own but warned to keep an eye out for wildlife.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Pelo. The staff went out of their way to give us an enjoyable experience. We really enjoyed dinner and singing in the boma one evening. The landscape is beautiful with large open grassy plains, waterways, and many tree islands. Next time we will visit earlier in the season so we can enjoy the boating activities in addition to game drives and mokoro excursions." See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia; 10n in Botswana; 6n in Zimbabwe
The central lounge, dining area and bar also sits on an elevated platform and is shaded by large trees and overlooks the seasonal floodplain. We enjoyed breakfast inside the dining area with a nice view. Breakfast started with a buffet of cold cereal, yogurt, fruit and muffins with a hot breakfast cooked to order if we wished. Lunch was a buffet. Dinner under the stars was beautiful and began with a starter, then a buffet of salads, vegetables and meats with dessert to finish. The food was varied and really delicious with lots of vegetables and salads in addition to meats. The pool is just beyond and is connected by a path; it’s a good place to cool off in the afternoon.
The water level in late October was too low for boating activities, but still high enough for a mokoro excursion. It was a peaceful experience and we had a very good viewing of a sitatunga twice along the way. There were lots of birds too.
Game drives were surprisingly productive given the warm temperatures. The waterways that remain are populated with many birds and red lechwe are common. We were fortunate, thanks to our guide Jhonny’s great instincts, to see a small pack of painted wolves (wild dogs) one evening during sundowner; he knew just where they were likely to cross a marshy area after seeing them earlier in the day. We gave chase and watched from a respectful distance for quite a while. We saw lots of elephants and buffalo, some zebra and tsessebe and a few lions.
There is an electric fence surrounding camp to deter elephants from breaking down the trees, but the fence is high enough to allow other wildlife to pass through camp. For that reason, we had to be escorted from our tent in the morning and back to it after dinner. In the daytime we were free to walk on our own but warned to keep an eye out for wildlife.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Pelo. The staff went out of their way to give us an enjoyable experience. We really enjoyed dinner and singing in the boma one evening. The landscape is beautiful with large open grassy plains, waterways, and many tree islands. Next time we will visit earlier in the season so we can enjoy the boating activities in addition to game drives and mokoro excursions." See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia; 10n in Botswana; 6n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report
Buffalo
8 sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
5 sightings
Hippo
5 sightings
Lion
1 sighting
Sitatunga
4 sightings
Spotted Hyena
3 sightings
Wild dog
2 sightings
Wildebeest
4 sightings
Zebra
4 sightings
A & K
Cambridge
"Pelo Camp review"
3 nights Arrived 22 Nov 2022
"A bit of a mixed bag to be honest. Camp was lovely and staff (with one exception) were charming.
Our welcome was not great and there were issues with catering for our dietary requirements due to (it would appear) our requests not being passed on to the kitchen. However, once we made our concerns known, the food dramatically improved, and we finished on a high with a celebratory last dinner on the deck replete with champagne – all delicious it was too. Chefs were superb. Food is help yourself buffet. Maybe better if like other camps, main course could be pre-ordered to save food being cooked unnecessarily?
Our guide Lesh was charming and knowledgeable. He was competent on birds but not outstanding. Nevertheless, the birding here was possibly the best of the three camps - which more than compensated for us for the lack of big predator sightings. While we were aware that his was supposed to be a ‘water-based’ activity camp, the water levels had fallen to such an extent that the camp had reverted to more traditional game driving. Take this into account when booking. Lesh did take us on a great walking safari as well.
Our tents (with solid sliding doors) were comfortable if not quite as well equipped as our previous camps. We think some attention to maintenance is due ( e.g. a broken shower bottle holder resulted in smashed glass in the shower).
To make up for the lack of game sightings – our mokoro trip on the last afternoon was a highlight – a beautiful languorous way to spot birds and animals (some great sightings of the rare Sitatunga antelope).
A
s we said previously, the camp staff were charming but some of them lacked confidence and initiative – and the standing and watching while you eat is a bit disconcerting. Probably better when the camp has more guests – after the first evening we were the sole guests in the camp.
Overall, we’ d say Pelo is a great camp for birding and, when the water levels are high, water-based activities. Not so great for more conventional game viewing through the landscape and flora are fascinating and worth exploring." See all these reviews: 9n in Botswana
Our welcome was not great and there were issues with catering for our dietary requirements due to (it would appear) our requests not being passed on to the kitchen. However, once we made our concerns known, the food dramatically improved, and we finished on a high with a celebratory last dinner on the deck replete with champagne – all delicious it was too. Chefs were superb. Food is help yourself buffet. Maybe better if like other camps, main course could be pre-ordered to save food being cooked unnecessarily?
Our guide Lesh was charming and knowledgeable. He was competent on birds but not outstanding. Nevertheless, the birding here was possibly the best of the three camps - which more than compensated for us for the lack of big predator sightings. While we were aware that his was supposed to be a ‘water-based’ activity camp, the water levels had fallen to such an extent that the camp had reverted to more traditional game driving. Take this into account when booking. Lesh did take us on a great walking safari as well.
Our tents (with solid sliding doors) were comfortable if not quite as well equipped as our previous camps. We think some attention to maintenance is due ( e.g. a broken shower bottle holder resulted in smashed glass in the shower).
To make up for the lack of game sightings – our mokoro trip on the last afternoon was a highlight – a beautiful languorous way to spot birds and animals (some great sightings of the rare Sitatunga antelope).
A
s we said previously, the camp staff were charming but some of them lacked confidence and initiative – and the standing and watching while you eat is a bit disconcerting. Probably better when the camp has more guests – after the first evening we were the sole guests in the camp.
Overall, we’ d say Pelo is a great camp for birding and, when the water levels are high, water-based activities. Not so great for more conventional game viewing through the landscape and flora are fascinating and worth exploring." See all these reviews: 9n in Botswana
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Sightings Report
Buffalo
3 sightings
Elephant
4 sightings
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
Hippo
Multiple sightings
Sitatunga
1 sighting
Wildebeest
Multiple sightings
Mrs & Mr P
Essex
"Pelo Camp review Good substitute for Jacana"
3 nights Arrived 21 Jul 2022
"Our first visit as our favourite camp (Jacana) unavailable. Fairly basic camp but comfortable.
Good sightings of wide variety of birds, and of many animals which aren't on the sighting list eg steenbok. bushbuck,lechwe, crocodiles, warthogs etc.
Lovely location.
Due to good level of water this year, the grass was rather too high to see much from mokoros, but still a lovely experience." See all these reviews: 11n in Botswana; 7n in Namibia
Good sightings of wide variety of birds, and of many animals which aren't on the sighting list eg steenbok. bushbuck,lechwe, crocodiles, warthogs etc.
Lovely location.
Due to good level of water this year, the grass was rather too high to see much from mokoros, but still a lovely experience." See all these reviews: 11n in Botswana; 7n in Namibia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Sightings Report
Buffalo
1 sighting
Elephant
9 sightings
Giraffe
1 sighting
Hippo
7 sightings
Sitatunga
2 sightings
Dr&Mrs B
Wensleydale
"Pelo a lovely small camp"
2 nights Arrived 28 Sep 2019
"We chose Pelo as it was a very small camp and usually surrounded by water, concentrating on water based activities.
We liked the small size of the camp and the staff were all very friendly. Due to the lack of water, game drives were on offer and again we had game drives to ourselves with Lech(?). He was very good at making sure I had my binoculars lined up for animal sightings. We saw 2 leopards, a sitatunga. wild dogs as well as many elephants, buffalo etc. We enjoyed a couple of mokoro trips and saw the rare Pels fishing owl, wattled crane and slatey egret.
Although there was wifi in the rooms this was not working whilst we were there.
The only concern was the lack of co-ordination for boat transfers to and from the lodge. When we arrived from the airport and arrived at the water one of the managers had just arrived and after introducing himself he said to Lech there was no petrol in one of the boats so he would have to transfer some from the other boat At the end of the trip we were ready 30 mins before departure and then heard the helicopter, for our return to Maun arrive, admittedly a bit early. However the lodge then realised there was no boat available for our transfer. Lech took us by mokoro so far and then we transferred to the boat which was returning with guests from their game drive. this was therefore a much slower journey and the helicopter pilot had to wait for our arrival and the other guests had longer in the boat." See all these reviews: 6n in Botswana; 2n in Zambia
We liked the small size of the camp and the staff were all very friendly. Due to the lack of water, game drives were on offer and again we had game drives to ourselves with Lech(?). He was very good at making sure I had my binoculars lined up for animal sightings. We saw 2 leopards, a sitatunga. wild dogs as well as many elephants, buffalo etc. We enjoyed a couple of mokoro trips and saw the rare Pels fishing owl, wattled crane and slatey egret.
Although there was wifi in the rooms this was not working whilst we were there.
The only concern was the lack of co-ordination for boat transfers to and from the lodge. When we arrived from the airport and arrived at the water one of the managers had just arrived and after introducing himself he said to Lech there was no petrol in one of the boats so he would have to transfer some from the other boat At the end of the trip we were ready 30 mins before departure and then heard the helicopter, for our return to Maun arrive, admittedly a bit early. However the lodge then realised there was no boat available for our transfer. Lech took us by mokoro so far and then we transferred to the boat which was returning with guests from their game drive. this was therefore a much slower journey and the helicopter pilot had to wait for our arrival and the other guests had longer in the boat." See all these reviews: 6n in Botswana; 2n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report
Buffalo
4 sightings
Elephant
7 sightings
Giraffe
2 sightings
Hippo
4 sightings
Leopard
2 sightings
Lion
1 sighting
Sitatunga
2 sightings
Wild dog
1 sighting
Wildebeest
1 sighting
Zebra
2 sightings
Mrs L
Basingstoke
"Pelo, a lovely island camp"
2 nights Arrived 28 Jul 2019
"Pelo Camp is an island camp surrounded by water but because of the lack of rains there was far less than usual. This meant that whilst mokoro trips were still possible, boat trips were not and had to be substituted by game drives.
The camp is very small and intimate with only five tents. The food was excellent and the staff very friendly and helpful, one evening providing some excellent singing and dancing prior to dinner which took place outside in their boma.
The only downside were the clouds of mosquitoes which are prevalent at this time of year." See all these reviews: 10n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
The camp is very small and intimate with only five tents. The food was excellent and the staff very friendly and helpful, one evening providing some excellent singing and dancing prior to dinner which took place outside in their boma.
The only downside were the clouds of mosquitoes which are prevalent at this time of year." See all these reviews: 10n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Sightings Report
Buffalo
5 sightings
Elephant
6 sightings
Hippo
5 sightings
Lion
1 sighting
Wildebeest
2 sightings
Zebra
5 sightings
Mr C
Knaresborough
"Pelo Camp review"
3 nights Arrived 16 Sep 2017
"A good alternative to the land-based camps as the boat trips were more relaxing than game drives (but less exciting!).
We were there for 3 days and we were a bit surprised that we only had one mokoro trip in that time. With hindsight 2 nights here would probably have sufficed.
We really enjoyed our 'traditional' evening in the boma with the attendant choir." See all these reviews: 9n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
We were there for 3 days and we were a bit surprised that we only had one mokoro trip in that time. With hindsight 2 nights here would probably have sufficed.
We really enjoyed our 'traditional' evening in the boma with the attendant choir." See all these reviews: 9n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Excellent
The Diplomat
USA
"A world apart at Pelo Camp"
2 nights Arrived 27 Aug 2017
"Pelo Camp was different from any of my previous 15 safari locations. It is an island and all all the activities that we took were on boats. We shared the motor boat with one other couple twice and had it to ourselves once. Unlike land safaris, boats leave no tracks. So, for the first time in Africa, I felt that i was in total wilderness. It felt as if we were the first people in the places we went, although, of course, we weren't.
David, our guide, was superb. We saw lots of animals of antelopes and elephants and, of course, many wondrous birds. It was a thrill to encounter elephants hidden among the bush on the shore, but also crossing from island to island. The watery scenery with all its plant types--and the compete absence of any sign of humans--was essential to the experience.
The camp is intimate with just five tents so this is a personalized experience, not a group one. I rate the room as average because the toilet is not very private, separated by a curtain from the room. I prefer it to be in its own room as was the case at Sable Alley. However, the views, size and privacy were outstanding. The food was good but nothing special. This is not to complain as Pelo is, after all, a camp in a wilderness. All were excellent considering where we were." See all these reviews: 5n in Botswana
David, our guide, was superb. We saw lots of animals of antelopes and elephants and, of course, many wondrous birds. It was a thrill to encounter elephants hidden among the bush on the shore, but also crossing from island to island. The watery scenery with all its plant types--and the compete absence of any sign of humans--was essential to the experience.
The camp is intimate with just five tents so this is a personalized experience, not a group one. I rate the room as average because the toilet is not very private, separated by a curtain from the room. I prefer it to be in its own room as was the case at Sable Alley. However, the views, size and privacy were outstanding. The food was good but nothing special. This is not to complain as Pelo is, after all, a camp in a wilderness. All were excellent considering where we were." See all these reviews: 5n in Botswana
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Average
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs D
Wimbledon
"Pelo Camp review"
3 nights Arrived 21 Sep 2015
"Wilderness has spent a substantial amount of money in upgrading this Lodge. The dining and lounge sitting areas have been repositioned with large decks overlooking the Delta. Tents have been replaced with new tents which have sliding full length doors and side panels and larger decks. The electrical supply has been upgraded with increased new photovoltaic panels.
The management team is well on top of everything and they are charming. Nothing was too much trouble. The guide who we had was very knowledgable and took great trouble to find out what we wanted to do and see." See all these reviews: 9n in Botswana
The management team is well on top of everything and they are charming. Nothing was too much trouble. The guide who we had was very knowledgable and took great trouble to find out what we wanted to do and see." See all these reviews: 9n in Botswana
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr K
Southend On Sea
"Pelo Camp review"
2 nights Arrived 8 Jun 2015
"This camp was every thing I had hoped it would be, calm and relaxed.
The staff were friendly and helpful. The guides were interesting and informative and the managers Newman and Rauve' were exceptionally friendly and welcoming.
I would thoroughly recommend this camp." See all these reviews: 12n in Botswana
The staff were friendly and helpful. The guides were interesting and informative and the managers Newman and Rauve' were exceptionally friendly and welcoming.
I would thoroughly recommend this camp." See all these reviews: 12n in Botswana
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
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Other lodges in Okavango Delta Safari Reserves
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Kwara Camp
Kwara Camp's private reserve boasts land and water activities year round, with excellent game-viewing opportunities and access to permanent channels of the north-east Okavango Delta.
Little Vumbura
On a secluded island within a private reserve, Little Vumbura combines superb game viewing with a broad diversity of habitats in a truly picturesque setting.
Shinde Camp
With experienced staff and a wealth of activities, Shinde offers a traditional safari in an exceptionally varied and wildlife-rich environment.
Splash Camp
Set in the Kwara Reserve, offering superb wildlife viewing year-round, Splash offers both land and water activities led by guides with a particular knack for tracking big game.
