Why Book this Camp?

• Meno sits in an awesome location on the Boteti River overlooking the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park – a completely contrasting location, wildlife and habitat to the green and juicy Okavango Delta regions.

• Watch the wildlife at the river below from the comfort of your private veranda; that’s what we like to call an ‘armchair safari.’

• The zebra migration is resident here for much of the year. In the dry season there is no other water around and the Boteti River becomes a magnet for wildlife.

• Learn a little about the traditional Botswana way of life with a visit to the local village.

• Enjoy a wide range of thrilling (and unusual) activities.

• The camp is great value for money and an excellent choice for families – there’s a natural swimming pool, and plenty of nooks and crannies for kids to explore and watch the action at the river below.

At-a-Glance

Accommodation & Amenities

• 10 tents: 6 twins, 2 kings, 2 family tents (1 with 1 King-size bed and 3 single beds; 1 with 1 King-sized bed and 2 3/4 beds).
• Ensuite bathrooms with indoor showers & 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 all ages
• Disabled access: please enquire with reservations

What’s included?

• All meals and local drinks; activities (NB some activities at an extra surcharge)

What’s not included?

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

Camp dates

Meno a Kwena 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

• Venture out on game drives in the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, complete with bush picnics and chilled drinks.
• Enjoy cultural safaris and walks with the ancient Bushmen.
• Cruise along the Boteti River by boat (water levels permitting).
• Sleep-out under the stars in the heart of the Makgadikgadi Pans (only from 01 May to 30 September and for stays of three nights or longer).
• View the wildlife at the river at eye-level from the floating game-viewing hide.

Location

Conservation and upliftment of the local community are things we take extremely seriously. At Meno a Kwena, we give money, supplies and logistical support to the local school in Mareomotoa, and to a chess programme initiated by one of our guides for the children of the village. The camp operates almost entirely on solar power and is one of Botswana’s lowest impact tourism ventures. We hire locally, providing  livelihood and training opportunities for those from the nearby areas, and we also like to source our food supplies locally. Everything that can be recycled is recycled, and everything that can be sourced from natural energy is.

All of our camps surrounding the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park support the Makgadikgadi-Nxai Pans Conservation Initiative, a project aimed at creating optimal conditions for the mammal migration through the area. What is believed to have been Africa’s greatest large mammal migration used to occur here and, over the last decade, we’ve seen its gradual return. But since the migration last occurred (pre-1960), the landscape has changed considerably. This has led to land use incompatibilities primarily due to livestock and fencing, and the safe passage of the migration is not guaranteed. The Makgadikgadi-Nxai Pans Conservation Initiative therefore aims to address human-wildlife conflict around the park through community-informed land use planning and the introduction of sustainable economic incentives for wildlife-friendly land use practices.

When To Go

Meno a Kwena is open all year round, and almost every month heralds a different highlight. During the dry season, from April to October, the Boteti River is the only source of water for miles around, and hundreds of animals, predators and prey, assemble on the banks, making for truly remarkable game viewing – and you don’t even have to leave camp! April is the culmination of the Africa’s second largest mammal migration, and the wildebeest and zebra join the resident wildlife at the river in their masses. In the Makgadikgadi, the lunar-like salt flats glint in the sunlight and a haze shimmers above the ground. This is the desert in its most iconic state, and a jaw-droppingly magical sight.

As the clouds gather and the rains begin to fall in the wet season, the Makgadikgadi is transformed into a blanket of glittering, green grass. The beasties of the migration begin their journey back to the salt pans lured by the promise of nutrients, and to breed in the fertile environment. In fact, the entire area is transformed into a Garden of Eden that has to be seen to be believed.

Logistics

Camp Story

Meno a Kwena is a place that’s steeped in history. This was the camp used by legendary explorers and crocodile hunters, back in the days when there were no vehicle trails across the Kalahari. Over the years, it’s been carefully refurbished, but the old-world charm and rustic quirkiness is as present as ever. You’ll find a roof fashioned from an old parachute, a lounge jam-packed with knick-knacks and trinkets from decades of travel, and an enormous crocodile skull to name but a few! This is a camp with heart, soul and a real flavour of Botswana.

In 2012, researchers discovered Botswana’s zebra migration. At Meno a Kwena, we’ve known about it for decades, and the arrival of the tens of thousands of zebra in a dazzle of black and white stripes is one of the (many) highlights of our year. The position of the camp, perched atop a cliff overlooking the Boteti, is quite simply the best spot in the area for migration viewing, and the sightings are astonishing. Spend your days lounging on the day bed or trailing a toe in the swimming pool whilst the action happens below. At night, retreat to the dining table for a feast of flavour, accompanied by flickering lanterns and stories of old…