Mokolwane Plains

Accommodation

Mokolwane Plains has just five guest suites, each an exceptionally spacious 100 square metres. Each suite is air-conditioned and arranged as three distinct areas — a light-filled bedroom, a comfortable lounge and generous bathroom facilities — all opening onto a spacious private deck with a heated plunge pool and shaded sala with daybeds.

The design responds naturally to the riverside setting, preserving shade and privacy while framing sweeping views east across the Xudum River and open plains. The bedroom is light and open to the surroundings, while the air-conditioned lounge provides a comfortable retreat during the warmer parts of the day.

The private deck extends the living space outdoors, with plenty of room to relax between activities or spend time watching the landscape change around you. The heated plunge pool and shaded sala make the deck a genuine extension of the suite rather than simply an outdoor sitting area.

The bathrooms are generous and include both indoor and outdoor showers. Interiors are contemporary and restrained, using natural materials and a neutral palette that keeps the emphasis on the surrounding landscape.

With just five suites, Mokolwane Plains remains intimate, but the exceptional space, private outdoor areas and thoughtful facilities give the accommodation a distinctly luxurious feel. A family suite and private villa are planned for later in 2027.

Camp Facilities & Dining

At the heart of Mokolwane Plains, the main areas are arranged around a large fig tree, with open views across the surrounding Delta. The design keeps the camp closely connected to the landscape, while providing a good choice of places to eat, relax and spend time between activities.

An interactive show kitchen sits alongside a private dining room and climate-controlled wine cellar, allowing for intimate meals and carefully chosen wine pairings. The Den and Curiosity Shop add further spaces to browse or relax, while the 18-metre swimming pool, spa and gym provide options for unwinding during the heat of the day.

In the evening, the elevated fire deck over the water becomes the natural gathering place, with views across the Delta and the opportunity to sit around the fire as the sounds of the bush emerge after dark.

The camp is 100% solar-powered, with Wi-Fi available and complimentary laundry provided.

Location & Access

Mokolwane Plains is situated in the 200,000-hectare NG29/Xudum private concession in the southern Okavango Delta. Once Plains opens, only two camps will operate in this enormous wilderness area: Mokolwane and Mokolwane Plains.

The landscape is varied, combining open plains and grasslands with seasonal floodplains, waterways, lagoons and woodland. The Xudum River runs through the area, and the changing balance of water and dry land gives the southern Delta a character of its own.

Access is via the new Mokolwane airstrip, which can accommodate both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopter flights. This makes the camp straightforward to incorporate into a wider Botswana itinerary and also allows for helicopter access when appropriate.

Activities & Seasonality

Game drives are the main focus at Mokolwane Plains, with both day and night drives. The size of the concession gives guides considerable freedom to explore different habitats and spend time with wildlife rather than following a set circuit.

When water levels are suitable, boating and mokoro excursions provide another way to explore the Delta. These are seasonal activities, typically running from around June to October, depending on the rains and annual flood levels.

Wildlife

Wildlife is one of the main reasons to choose Mokolwane Plains. The area is particularly well known for its leopards, with lion, African wild dog, cheetah and spotted hyena also present.

Predator sightings are naturally influenced by seasonal conditions and animal movements, but in recent years the area has established a particularly strong reputation for predator sightings, especially leopard. The combination of varied habitats, abundant prey and a vast, lightly developed concession creates good conditions for a strong predator population.

The area has also become well known through wildlife filmmaking. The Mokolwane concession provided the setting for both Big Cats 24/7 and Netflix’s Living with Leopards, with the production teams operating from their own camps within the concession.

Beyond the predators, the concession supports elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, red lechwe, kudu, tsessebe and bushbuck. The varied habitats also support more than 400 species of bird, with waterways, floodplains, open grassland and woodland attracting a broad range of Delta and dryland species. Birding is therefore a worthwhile part of the safari, particularly as water levels rise.

The scale of NG29 is an important part of the wildlife experience. With only two camps operating across 200,000 hectares, there is considerable space to explore and relatively little tourism traffic, helping to retain the feeling of a genuinely wild part of the Okavango.