Mokolwane Plains

The length of each bush walk can be tailored according to guest fitness, and usually take place in the cool of the morning. Bush walks are safely led by armed field guides, certified and accredited to lead walking safaris in a Big Five reserve. In the southern reaches of the Okavango Delta, where the Xudum River’s channels wind through one of Botswana’s largest private wilderness concessions, a new safari camp is taking shape: Mokolwane Plains.

This contemporary under-canvas camp is enveloped by 200,000 hectares of predator-rich wilderness. It’s a landscape famed for its leopard population – both ‘Big Cats 24/7’ and ‘Living with Leopards’ were filmed here – where clear channels, grassy floodplains and lush riverine forests support exceptional wildlife sightings year-round.

Mokolwane Plains shares this pristine corner of the Okavango Delta with only one other camp, the more traditional-style Mokolwane, and has been created with a singular purpose: to offer exclusive access to one of Botswana’s largest private wilderness concessions and bring guests closer to the pulse of the wild.

Mokolwane Plains is scheduled to open in July 2027. More photos soon! (natselect)

Designed by award-winning Jack Alexander Studio, Mokolwane Plains offers a contemporary take on the classic tented safari, in a camp designed to feel immersed in the landscape rather than imposed upon it. Here, even the pathways linking the suites to the communal spaces defer to the wilderness: walkways gently ramp down at key points, allowing elephants to continue wandering naturally through the unfenced camp.

Shaped as three interconnected pods, each expansive guest suite responds organically to the riverside setting, preserving shade and privacy while framing sweeping views east across the Xudum River and the open plains.

Indoors, 100 square metres (1070 square feet) of air-conditioned living space flows from a private lounge into a light-filled bedroom and generous outdoor areas. Shaded salas, daybeds and private dining spaces invite guests to spend as much time outside as in, while private decks and plunge pools promise languid afternoons spent gazing out across the Delta. En-suite bathrooms include both indoor and outdoor showers.

Natural textures, timber and handcrafted furnishings draw inspiration from the surrounding wilderness, with a palette inspired by sandy termite mounds, dark storm clouds, iron-rich water, tree bark and russet-red lechwe. Contemporary canvas, local craftsmanship and carefully considered interior details give the suites a distinct sense of place.

At the heart of Mokolwane Plains, spacious communal areas wrap around a stately fig tree, opening out to panoramic views of the Delta. An interactive show kitchen, private dining room and climate-controlled wine cellar set the scene for intimate meals and thoughtfully selected wine pairings, while the Den, Curiosity Shop, 18-metre swimming pool, spa and gym offer spaces to retreat and unwind between safari activities. As evening falls, an elevated fire deck over the water becomes a natural gathering point for guests to swap tales and listen to the Delta come alive after dark.

Mokolwane Plains will open in July 2027 with five suites. In 2028, the camp will expand to nine suites, including a family suite and a two-bedroom private villa.

Mokolwane Plains lies within NG29, one of Botswana’s largest private concessions: at 200 000 hectares, it is more than twice the size of New York City! This vast area offers guests the full palette of Okavango Delta landscapes: clear channels, hippo-filled lagoons, reed-fringed islands, tawny floodplains and mature riverine forest. It’s a diverse habitat that supports an extraordinary array of resident wildlife year-round.

Red lechwe, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest and kudu are common, as are large herds of African elephant and buffalo. This abundance of prey supports an impressive concentration of predators, including lion, African wild dog, spotted hyena and cheetah. The Xudum Pride, Africa’s largest lion pride, calls this landscape home.

But it is the leopard – Africa’s most enigmatic big cat – that is the undisputed star of Mokolwane Plains. NG29 is home to Africa’s third-highest recorded leopard density and, with remarkably low visitor numbers, has become known as one of the Okavango’s most rewarding destinations for leopard encounters. Both the BBC series ‘Big Cats 24/7’ and Netflix’s ‘Living with Leopards’ were filmed on the concession. The Natural History Film Unit Botswana continues to document the area that filmmaker Brad Bestelink calls “one of the last remaining large wilderness areas in the Okavango.”

The diversity extends far beyond the iconic mammals. Bat-eared foxes, black-backed and side-striped jackals, African wildcats, honey badgers, meerkats and mongoose are regularly encountered, while after dark the bush comes alive with elusive nocturnal species such as aardwolf, aardvark, porcupine, civet and genet.

Bird enthusiasts are equally well rewarded. More than 400 species have been recorded here, from Pel’s fishing owl and wattled crane to martial eagle and spectacular flocks of quelea pursued by agile falcons overhead.

As with all Natural Selection camps, Mokolwane Plains has been conceived with a purpose that extends beyond the guest experience. Its arrival brings increased investment in the protection and understanding of this vast wilderness, supporting wildlife monitoring and proactive conservation across the concession.

Working closely with a wildlife protection NGO and the Botswana Defence Force, the camp is supporting a dedicated ranger camp and vehicle, alongside ongoing monitoring of the species that make NG29 their home. Beyond the concession, Mokolwane Plains is also funding research into the movement ecology of southern giraffe in Botswana.

And because the future of wild places is inseparable from the people who live alongside them, the camp will also support conservation education in local villages as part of Natural Selection’s ongoing commitment to enabling coexistence between people and wildlife and empowering communities.