Mombo Camp: Our full report

Mombo Camp stands at the northwestern end of Chief's Island, deep within the Moremi Game Reserve and overlooking a floodplain. It is one of Botswana's flagship safari lodges with a reputation for excellent service, luxury accommodation and exceptional game densities. Although governed by all of the usual rules and regulations associated with camps in the national parks (i.e. no off roading, no night drives and no walking), Mombo lies in a private area far from the busier eastern section of Moremi; you won't see any self-drive or mobile safari operators around here – and indeed visitors can only access Mombo by light aircraft.

The main area of Mombo Camp is very large indeed, with a couple of 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. Each guest is given a water bottle which can be topped up at the water cooler during their stay. The deck in front of this main area incorporates a firepit and the dining area, where brunch and dinner are served – either al fresco or under cover. Tea and coffee are available here all day.

Mombo's elevated pool area, with a couple of relaxing sala beds, is reached via a walkway linking the main area to the chalets and onwards to Little Mombo. There's a 'gym' here, too, with views across the floodplain.

All of Mombo's nine tented chalets are raised high off the ground. Large and luxurious, these are timber framed with canvas walls and mesh windows from floor to ceiling affording great views across the floodplain. Each is furnished with a very large, very comfortable bed complete with mosquito net, bedside lighting and bedside controls for a wall mounted fan. Each tent also has its own lounge, incorporating a couple of sofas with a coffee table and a small selection of reference books. There is a minibar stocked with soft drinks, beers and cider, plus a tea and coffee station and a writing desk with a stack of international plug adaptors (including US and British configurations).

Another section of the tent houses an open-plan bathroom, which boasts his and hers showers and basins. A toilet is found in a separate cubicle and a door leads out to an open-air shower, again with views across the floodplain. Shampoo, conditioner, body lotion and soap are all provided.

At the front of each tent is a wooden deck where some very comfortable chairs face the floodplain. This decking extends to house a sala bed, a great place to catch a siesta after all the early morning starts.

Mombo's activities focus solely on morning and afternoon 4WD game drives. 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. On our last visit to Mombo in March 2011 we were greeted by a couple of buffalo grazing on the floodplain in front of the main area, then on two separate game drives a pride of 22 and then 25 lions were spotted, both close to our vehicle. We also saw a large pack of hyena at dusk, a surreal and almost spooky experience as the alpha-female began calling at last light.

Although game densities at Mombo are remarkable, and the lion population goes from strength to strength, the pressure on other big predators increases as they struggle to compete for the same resources. As a result the number of leopards in the area has decreased, wild dog are seen less frequently and the cheetah have all but moved away. That said, this area also plays host to a number of notable individuals. One instance is Legadema, the female leopard made famous by the 2006 National Geographic feature film Eye of the Leopard. Then there's the lone wild dog, once part of a pack which left the area, which has developed a remarkable relationship with two black-backed jackals and even the odd hyena. And finally there are the black and white rhino that were reintroduced onto Chief's Island and are now seen from time to time on the Island. Having been nearly poached out of northern Botswana by the early 1990s, the reintroduction of these two rhino species has been a hugely important project.

Our view

Ask any experienced guide in northern Botswana about Mombo and you're likely to see a glimmer in their eye and a get response along the lines of 'Wow! Mombo…' The high game densities alone justify visiting this area, but coupled with Mombo's high levels of hospitality, luxurious surroundings and great food it all makes for a fantastic camp.

Because of all this, and especially its reputation, Mombo is substantially more costly than most of Botswana's camps. Although it is certainly very good indeed, we probably don't think of it as good value per se – although perhaps we're in a minority, as it's very often full. (Which means you should book well in advance to get space here.)

Geographics

Location: Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana

Ideal length of stay: 3 nights

Directions: Mombo is accessible only by light aircraft; the airstrip is roughly 15 minutes away from camp by 4WD vehicle.

Key personnel

Owner: Wilderness Safaris

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board

Food quality: The food at Mombo is excellent and on our last visit to the camp we were fortunate enough to arrive on a traditional evening. After drinks around the bar and fire we were called to dinner by drums and then entertained by a fantastic performance by the staff of traditional dancing.

A soup starter was followed by pap and seswa, a traditional maize dish (similar to mashed potato in consistency but totally different in taste) and pounded beef. This was accompanied by creamed spinach and vegetables, with a tomato sauce and gravy. A dessert of pears in red wine rounded off the meal very nicely, and a good selection of red and white wines was available.

A light breakfast is served before the early morning game drive, then brunch takes place at around 11.00am. On our last visit this included a selection of cold cuts, a couple of imaginative salads, fresh bread, cheese and a very tasty quiche.

Afternoon tea is served at around 4.00pm, and that – along with coffee, tea and biscuits on the morning activity and sundowners and snacks on the afternoon one – ensures you won't go hungry; you may even need to use that gym!

Dining style: Group Meals

Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining

Cost of meal e.g. lunch: Included

Drinks included: Yes

Special interests

Birdwatching: The particularly fertile soils of Mombo are a result of its geographical position and receive much of the Okavango's alluvial deposits as the flood waters enter the Delta. The combination of floodplains and dry areas play host to a vast array of bird species. With so many predators around vultures abound and birds of prey also find easy pickings. The wetter regions are visited by egrets, herons and storks to name but a few and passerines abound in the thicker forest and shrub of Chief's Island.

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Photographic: The game-densities, varied birdlife, fertile soils and text-book examples of Delta environments make Mombo a photographer's paradise. Private vehicles are also available (at additional cost) giving you complete flexibility in where and when you want to go.

See more ideas for Photographic in Botswana

Wildlife safaris: Mombo is one of the most astonishing wildlife areas in the Delta and because it's in a remote area of Moremi the game viewing is very exclusive. The animal densities here are some of the highest you'll find and the landscape is quintessentially Delta. It's also open, providing excellent viewing. As well as excellent predator numbers there is always the unique chance to spot one of Northern Botswana's very few remaining rhino too.

See more ideas for Wildlife safaris in Botswana

Children

Attitude towards children: Generally older children are welcome at Mombo but please take into account the restrictions below.

Equipment: No special equipment is available.

Generally recommended for children: Yes, but only for those aged 12 or over.

Notes: Mombo is a very open camp with dangerous wildlife frequently wondering through. The rooms and walkways are raised on stilts and are therefore not suitable for small children.

Central communications

Power supply: Generator

Communications: There is no cellphone reception and no internet access at Mombo, so you can consider yourself completely cut off from the outside world. Radio access to Maun is available in emergencies and in exceptional circumstances messages can be relayed to friends and family.

TV & radio: No

Health & safety

Malarial area: Yes

Medical care: The nearest doctor is in Maun. All management and guides are first aid trained and Medivac rescue is available in case of emergencies. There is a nurse on call (via radio) 24 hours a day.

Dangerous animals: High Risk

Security measures: Guests are escorted to their rooms at night by a guide or manager along the raised walkways which give added security from wild animals. There is a sounder horn in each room for medical emergencies too.

Fire safety: Fire extinguishers are positioned throughout camp and pre-arranged assembly points are clearly demarcated.

Extras

Disabled access: On Request

Laundry facilities: Included

Money: No exchange facilities are offered. There are safe deposit boxes in the rooms.