Mombo Camp

100% (12 reviews)

Full review Our view Geographics Food & drink Special interests Children Wildlife sightings Communications Health & safety Activities Extras

Mombo Camp: Our full report

Mombo Camp overlooks a floodplain at the northwestern end of Chief's Island, deep within the Moremi Game Reserve.

It is one of Botswana's flagship safari lodges with a reputation for excellent service, luxury accommodation and exceptional game densities, and a price tag to match.

We were able to stay at the newly built Mombo in September 2018. The main area of Mombo Camp is very large indeed, with a couple of beautifully furnished seating areas and a library with a good selection of reference and fiction. At one end is a well-stocked bar, open throughout the day and where pre-dinner drinks are served. The deck in front of this main area incorporates a alfresco dining area and Pizza oven, where brunch and dinner can be served. A second, covered dining area lies off to one side. Tea and coffee are available here all day. Dividing the bar and main indoor dining areas there is tall double sided fireplace which will come in useful during the winter months.

The main, elevated, pool area is reached via the walkway that links Mombo Camp to its smaller, sister camp: Little Mombo. To one side of the long infinity lap pool, you'll find a small lounge with a 'help yourself' bar. On the opposite side there's a gym, complete with a running machine and some exercise bikes. All afford great views across the floodplain.

All of Mombo's nine tented suites are raised high off the ground. Large and luxurious, these are timber framed with canvas walls, and sliding mesh doors affording great views across the floodplain. A wooden deck stretches along the front of the suite sharing the views, which can be enjoyed from some a comfortable sofa and sala bed – which is also a great place to catch a siesta after an early-morning start.

Inside, each suite is furnished with a very large, very comfortable bed complete with bedside lighting and bedside controls for the ceiling fan, which is set within the mosquito net. Behind the headboard there is a large writing desk with plenty of charging points, others can be found scattered throughout the suite.

As you enter each suite there is a small area for hanging up any coats or hats. Immediately after there is a lounge, incorporating a sofa, arm chair and coffee table A well stocked minibar/fridge offers soft drinks, tea coffee, beers and cider, and an assortment of bar snacks.

The open-plan bathroom boasts his and hers showers and basins, and a toilet housed in a separate cubicle. A sliding mesh door leads out to an open-air shower, which shares those views across the floodplain. Shampoo, conditioner, body lotion and soap are all provided. The bathroom is partitions by a large mirror, behind this there is ample storage space for clothes in the form of an open wardrobe.

Mombo's activities focus solely on morning and afternoon 4WD game drives and the guiding, from our experience, is superb. The camp lies in one of the most fertile sections of the Okavango Delta, where the high nutrient content in the soil supports a vast food web which in turn leads to great game densities. Game viewing is from exceptionally comfortable and spacious Landcruisers..

The camp's location within Moremi Game Reserve means that they are restricted by national-park regulations, which prohibit off-roading, night drives and walking. That said, Mombo's private location in the game reserve means that these restrictions are somewhat flexible.

On our last trip to Mombo in September 2018 we spent an afternoon watching one of the resident prides of lion that operate around the camp stalk lechwe on the floodplains. We were also lucky to spend time next to a nearby spotted hyena den watching 5 small cubs play!

On previous trips we have been lucky enough to spend time with a leopard on the prowl; to follow a pride of lions as they stalked a herd of red lechwe, albeit unsuccessfully; and to watch a large pack of hyena at dusk, a surreal and almost spooky experience as the alpha-female began calling in the last light of day.

Although game densities at Mombo are remarkable, and the lion population goes from strength to strength, the pressure on other big predators is increasing as they struggle to compete for the same resources. As a result the number of leopards in the area has decreased. Wild dog were rarely seen, however their presence in the area has gone from strength to strength and have now started making kills inside the camp. In spite of that, the area plays host to a number of notable individuals. One such is the daughter of Legadema, the female leopard made famous by the 2006 National Geographic feature film Eye of the Leopard.

The Mombo concession was also the site of the reintroduction of black and white rhino in the early 2000s. Having been effectively poached out of northern Botswana by the early 1990s, their reintroduction has been a hugely important project, although they remain elusive, sightings are becoming more and more frequent with this area being one of the strongholds.

Because of this area's great game, which has fed into its formidable reputation, Mombo Camp is substantially more costly than almost any other safari camp or lodge in Botswana. It's also very often full (which means you should book well in advance to get space here).

Our view

Ask any experienced guide in northern Botswana about Mombo Camp and you're likely to see a glimmer in their eye and get a response along the lines of 'Wow! Mombo…' The high game densities alone justify visiting this area, and these, coupled with Mombo's high levels of hospitality, luxurious surroundings, great guiding and great food, make for a fantastic camp. We think Mombo is certainly very good and if you want the best of the best on all fronts in Botswana, then Mombo is the place to visit.

Tracy Lederer

Country manager: Botswana

Geographics

Location: Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Ideal length of stay: We'd suggest three nights at Mombo – or perhaps four if budget allows.
Directions: Mombo is accessible only by light aircraft; the airstrip is roughly 15 minutes away from camp by 4WD vehicle.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board & Activities
Food quality: The quality of food at Mombo is excellent with top service to match.

A light breakfast, served before the early-morning game drive, consists of an assortment of cereals, freshly baked breads and pastries, yoghurt pots and fresh fruit, accompanied by a hot drink of your choice. We also had the option of making toasted sandwiches with bacon, cheese, onion, mushrooms and tomatoes. These could be had for breakfast or packed as a takeaway in a small box for later on in the morning.

Brunch takes place upon returning from your game drive. On our last visit a selection of tasty individual salads was brought to our table and we were also offered a choice of plated meals. We had a hand chopped Botswana beef burger served with truffle mayo, caramalised onions, sweet roasted cherry tomatoes and garlic potato fries.

For afternoon tea, served prior to the afternoon game drive, we enjoyed salmon tarts, mini sausage rolls and mini lemon meringue pies accompanied by fruit smoothies, fresh fruit juice and iced tea.

In the evening, after drinks around the bar and fire, we sat down to dinner. Again there was a good choice of plated dishes from which we chose a lovely starter of calamari. This was followed by one of the best fillets of beef we had had accompanied with dauphinoise potatoes and vegetables. For pudding a large selection of cheese followed. A very good selection of red and white wines was available.
Dining style: Mixture of group dining and individual tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service: Room service is not available.
Drinks included: Bottled water, soft drinks, local beers and spirits and a selection of (usually) South African red and white wines are included. Champagne and imported wines and spirits will cost extra. Mombo’s bar is stocked more comprehensively than most, and they can order in special requests if advance notice is given.

Special interests

Honeymoons: Mombo Camp is a superb camp for a Botswana honeymoon. Ideal for a romantic escape, its luxurious tented suites are luxurious and private while excellent game viewing and attentive service make for a memorable safari.; See ideas for Honeymoons
Birdwatching: The fertile soils around Mombo make for nutrient-rich vegetation resulting in excellent birding. With so much game around, vultures abound and birds of prey also find easy pickings whilst the wetter extremities have a different set of species again.; See ideas for Birdwatching
Photography holidays: The game densities, varied birdlife, fertile soils and classic Delta environments make Mombo an excellent place for photographers. Private vehicles are also available (at additional cost) allowing complete flexibility on where and when you want to go.; See ideas for Photography holidays
Wildlife safaris: At the heart of a vast protected area, Mombo is one of the very best areas for wildlife safaris in the Okavango Delta, and indeed in Africa. Its animal densities are high and its landscapes are very open, which provides for some world-class game viewing.; See ideas for Wildlife safaris
Wellbeing: With a lap pool, surprisingly extensive bush gym and a range of spa and massage treatments available both in your room and a treatment room, Mombo Camp is a fantastic spot for some papering on your Botswana safari.; See ideas for Wellbeing
Luxury: Mombo is synonymous with first class service, food, guiding and, in particular, exceptional game densities. Large, sumptuous suites offer a private retreat between safari activities - you might want to pamper yourself with an in-room massage treatment on your luxurious safari.; See ideas for Luxury

Children

Attitude towards children: Children of 12 years of age and over are welcome at Mombo. The camp may accept aged 8–12 if a private vehicle is booked but this must be requested in advance. Children under 8 years of age are generally not accepted but this can be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Generally recommended for children: Yes, but only for older children who will be safe on the high walkways – and only for the under-12s if the cost of a private vehicle is no barrier.
Notes: Mombo is a very open camp with dangerous wildlife frequently wondering through. The rooms and walkways are raised on stilts and are not suitable for small children.

Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Mombo Camp

Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Mombo Camp have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.

Buffalo

100% success

Elephant

100% success

Giraffe

100% success

Lion

100% success

Spotted Hyena

100% success

Zebra

100% success

Wildebeest

83% success

Leopard

67% success

White Rhino

50% success

Wild dog

33% success

Black Rhino

17% success

Aardvark

0% success

Pangolin

0% success

Roan antelope

0% success

Sable antelope

0% success

Communications

Power supply notes: Mombo has a new solar power pant which powers both mombo and little mombo. This provides 99% of the power however there is a generator as backup.
Communications: For all intents and purposes you should consider yourself deep in a pristine wilderness environment and out of contact with the rest of the world. There is no cellphone reception. However, Mombo does now have Wi-Fi in the rooms. In emergencies it is also possible to receive and send messages via the camp’s office.
TV & radio: There are no TVs at Mombo
Water supply: Borehole
Water supply notes: All the chalets have plumbed hot and cold running water for showers as well as flush toilets. Each room is provided with glasses and a flask of filtered drinking water that is replenished daily. Although plastic bottles of water are available, guests are encouraged to top up from the filtered water in the camp’s main area. We don’t recommend that travellers drink from the tap.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: Yes
Medical care: The nearest doctor is in Maun. All management and guides are first-aid trained and medical evacuation is available in case of emergencies. There is a nurse on call (via radio) 24 hours a day. Please note that it is only possible to fly out of camp during daylight hours as the bush airstrips do not have any lighting at night.
Dangerous animals: High Risk
Security measures: A guide or manager escorts Mombo’s guests to their suites at night. The raised walkways give added security from wild animals. There is a horn in each tent to attract attention in case of emergency.
Fire safety: Fire extinguishers are positioned throughout camp and pre-arranged assembly points are clearly demarcated.

Activities

4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Guided walking safari

Extras

Disabled access: On Request
Laundry facilities: A full laundry service is included at Mombo Camp; wherever possible, items will be returned to guests on the same day.
Money: No exchange facilities are offered at Mombo. There are small electronic safes in the tents.
Accepted payment on location: MasterCard and Visa credit cards are accepted; Diners and Amex are not. No commission is charged on credit-card transactions. Cash payments may be made in pounds sterling, US dollars, euros, South African rand and Botswana pula.