9 Luxuriously Furnished Tents
The camp has nine luxuriously furnished tents, raised off the ground. The guests' rooms and connecting walkways are up to two metres off the ground, allowing game to wander freely through the camp while at the same time allowing for guest safety. One often finds that animals take refuge under the rooms. The canvas rooms are spacious and well appointed and have en-suite facilities with an additional outdoor shower for those who enjoy a shower under the stars. The dining room, pub and living area overlook the open plain in front of the camp and there is a plunge pool for relaxing in the heat of the day.
Mombo Island - Okavango Delta, Botswana
Year Round
Botswana is an all-year-round wildlife destination. However, there are certain seasonal concerns of which groups with special interests should take note: The best birding months are November - March, when the delta is brimming with migratory birds. The best botanical months are December - May, when the vegetation is lush and green and most plants are in flower. Botswana's popularity as a destination is such that seasonal differences are not as marked as in other African destinations. Traditionally, however, peak season is from July to October and middle season is from May to June. Note that availability is at a premium during these seasons so you will need to book well in advance. November to April is a less popular time for travel to Botswana. This is the wet season, and due to the abundance of water, it is less certain that one will see wildlife at perennial water holes. Also, the heavy rains can make dirt roads impassable.
Game Drives, Walking, Photography, Birding, Swimming Pool & Mokoro Rides.
The camp offers abundant big game viewing, arguably the best in Botswana. The highlight is the concentration of plains game and all the predators - including the big cats. Lion sightings are particularly good. Guests can also see Leopard, large herds of Buffalo, Cheetah, Wild Dog, Elephant, Hyaena, Giraffe, Wildebeest and Zebra. Black and White Rhino have been reintroduced with outstanding success to the area (albeit most are further away from camp), thanks to the Botswana Rhino Reintroduction Programme.
Local Info
Mombo and Little Mombo are situated on Mombo Island, which is an extension of the north western end of Chiefs Island which effectively divides the Okavango into eastern and western sections. The whole of Chiefs Island and Mombo fall within the Moremi Game Reserve, and, in particular a zone within the reserve, set aside for low intensity safari use. Thus Mombo and Little Mombo are remarkably exclusive and remote. The sheer numbers and variety of large mammals in this area defy description, all year round. From elephant and both species of rhinocerous, to lion, leopard and cheetah. From herds of buffalo to tiny steenbok, they occur in this area in large numbers. All this owes much to its position on the ecotone between the ancient Kalahari sands and vegetation of Chiefs Island, to the more modern, water borne sediments and grasses of the Okavango fan, to the West.
Much geomorphological evolution has resulted in a richness and diversity that is legendary amongst the original tribesmen and hunters of the 19th and 20th centuries. The Moremi Game Reserve was amongst the first to be promulgated by tribal request in an effort to protect this fantastic legacy. They have certainly succeeded in the case of the Moremi. As described before, the annual inundation and drying of the floodplains to the west of Mombo, allow the large numbers of wildlife to utilise both habitats to the maximum. When the annual inundation of water arrives in the area during March to May each year, large mammals are able to move into the Chiefs Island area, which contains rich resources of grass and acacia forests. The wetlands are fringed by large hardwood trees, containing shade, cover, nesting areas, and food, for a wide variety of mammals and birds. By September and October the wetlands have started to recede leaving behind vast floodplains of short green grass when the rest of the large islands are at their driest. It is this seasonal food availability and quality that has resulted in the excitement and diversity that is the Mombo area.
Guest Reviews
"We are back home one week after our African trip and are pleased to report that on a scale of 1-10 this experience was a 20!!!!! Wilderness Safaris did an excellent job throughout our journey... The highlight of the trip was luxurious Mombo which exceeded our expectations. The staff and facilities were outstanding. The game viewing was the best. We saw 3 different Leopards on 3 different occasions. We didn't want to leave."
- D.M. and D.M., USA
"Mombo is like no other place in the world. The new tents are exquisite and the animal viewing is wonderful. We have become very vocal ambassadors for Wilderness Safaris. I think you strike just the right balance between comfort and having the sensation that you're on the frontier of civilization as we know it. We look forward to planning our next trip."
- J M FAHEY National Geographic Society
