Why Book this Camp?

• This is your chance to explore one of the continent’s most game-rich and beautiful concessions.
• Safari in complete exclusivity, away from the tourist crowds and bulging 4x4s; here, it’s just you, your binos, and the wildlife.
• Float down secluded waterways and access areas remoter than you can imagine on a mokoro safari.
• Game view from the cool depths of the swimming pool and watch the steady stream of wildlife at the lagoon in front of camp.
• The guides at Mapula are some of the best in the business; trained by safari legend Ralph Bousfield, each one has an intricate knowledge of the area that’s hard to beat.

At-a-Glance

Accommodation & Amenities

• 9 tents: 6 twins, 2 doubles, 1 family
• Ensuite bathrooms with indoor & outdoor showers
• Swimming pool
• Wifi available: no
• Hairdryers: no
• Battery charging facilities: in the mess tent & in room
• Complimentary laundry service
• Child policy: we welcome children aged 6 years and older
• Disabled access: please enquire with reservations

What’s included?

• All meals and local drinks; activities (NB some activities at an extra surcharge, e.g. helicopter flights & hot air ballooning).

What’s not included?

• Flights; premium brand beverages; tips & gratuities; insurance

Camp dates

Mapula Lodge is open all year round

Green season: 10^th January to 31^st March

Shoulder season: 1^st April to 14^th June; 1^st November 9^th January

High season: 15^th June to 31^st July; 1^st September to 31^st October

Peak season: 1^st – 31^st August

Activities

• Game drive through vast tracts of pristine wilderness in search of lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, hippo and the rare sitatunga antelope.
• View the wildlife at eye level on a boat or traditional mokoro safari through the lily-filled channels (NB water activities are subject to water levels in the Delta and may be limited in low water season from October to January).
• Tick off some of the Okavango specials from your bird-list- the slaty egret, Pel’s fishing owl and the African skimmer to name a few.
• Pour a G&T, pick your spot, and watch in awe as the sun sinks below the watery plains – the perfect sundowner.
• Cruise over the vast landscapes on a soaring helicopter flight (at an additional cost).
• Take to the skies on an evocative hot air balloon flight (at an additional cost & only if combined with a helicopter transfer; available 19 April – 31 August 2020).

Location

As you know, we like to keep things clean and green in our camps. Mapula Lodge will run on 80% solar power (with a back-up generator for those unavoidable emergencies). Despite being in the heart of the watery wonderland of the Delta, we reuse all our grey water, and separate our waste, natural and otherwise. The characters you’ll meet in camp are all from the surrounding communities and our fabulous manager Eric (who some may recognise from Jack’s Camp) is at the helm, standing by with his training manual!

As our portfolio of camps develops, we will be forming partnerships with different conservation programmes and projects in the areas that we operate. Each project will be supported by revenue from our 1.5 percent of turnover initiative.

When To Go

Mapula Lodge is open all year round. We’re always asked which is the ‘best’ time of year to visit, and our answer? There isn’t one. It all depends on your preferences, what you would like to see and do, and how you like to safari.

April to October in the Delta are the dry, winter months. Confusingly, this means the water levels are at their highest and it’s the best time of year for water and mokoro safaris when you’ll be able to access remote areas and go where no elephant has gone before. Game viewing at this time of year is exceptional (it always is) and this combined with the pleasant, mid-20s temperatures and sunshine-filled skies, makes it a great time to experience the Delta.

October to March are the green season months. Rain comes in the form of short, sharp thunderstorms and the dramatic skies make for even more dramatic sunsets. Water levels are slightly lower at this time of year, but there is always permanent water around Mapula Lodge and mokoro and boat safaris are still possible. It’s also the best time of year to spot breeding animals and the migrant birds.

Logistics

Camp Story

50 years ago, the legendry hunter Jack Bousfield made Botswana his home. When he wasn’t pioneering adventures into the great nothingness of the Makgadikgadi, he was exploring the Okavango Delta. Sadly, Jack died in a plane crash in the Okavango in 1992, on a trip looking for the perfect site to open a safari camp with his son, Ralph. Ralph honoured his father’s legacy and created the iconic Jack’s Camp in the Makgadikgadi, but now, 25 years after his father’s death, the perfect spot has been found in the Okavango to continue Jack’s legacy.

And what does that mean? It means a quirky and characterful camp, drawing on decades of safari experience. Ralph has brought the iconic styles and standards he pioneered at Jack’s Camp to the Okavango, making Mapula Lodge an unreal adventure in real style! And let’s not forget the guides. Ralph’s guiding team has been winning awards for years, and they can’t wait to show you what they can do in the Okavango, the greatest wildlife experience in the world.