Bushman Plains Camp

Rural
Wildlife
Culture
Safari
Birdwatching

Botswana's only Bushman-owned safari camp in a private concession

Bushman Plains Camp consists of four large walk-in tents on raised timber decks in a private 370,000-acre concession in the Okavango Delta's north-west, one of Botswana's least-visited wildlife areas. The region contains floodplains, palm islands and permanent water channels, with lion, leopard, elephant and wild dog. The camp is technically mobile and can relocate within the concession between stays, though never mid-visit, chasing the best wildlife and water access as the delta's flood levels shift through the year.

Guides here are Bushmen themselves, and the tracking is the real thing; reading spoor, explaining which plants treat which ailments, showing how a toothbrush or a fire is made from what's growing nearby. The camp was founded by three brothers from the Bukakwe clan, among the last generation of Botswana's San Bushmen to grow up living a fully nomadic hunter-gatherer life. It's the country's first safari camp majority-owned by Bushmen.

Experiences here include game drives, with rights to go off-road and after dark, walking safaris and mokoro trips through permanent water channels, with a hot air balloon launch site nearby (April to August) and a helicopter option out to the rock art at Tsodilo Hills. Bushmen from Gudigwa village come in to share bushcraft, songs and fire-making. With only eight guests at a time, this is an intimate affair.

Sustainability

Climate & conservation

Solar / renewable energy, Camp runs on a solar inverter system for lighting and charging; no mains grid out here.
Low-impact transport and activities, Walking safaris and mokoro excursions do the bulk of the exploring.
Ecosystem preservation / wildlife protection, Guiding and monitoring across a 150,000-hectare concession in the Okavango panhandle.
Low-impact build, Four Meru tents on raised decks, easily removed and leaving little trace.

Community & culture

Community led or owned, Botswana's only majority Bushman-owned safari camp, founded by Olatotse Sarefo and his brothers.
Employs local people, Guides and trackers are local Bukakwe Bushmen using ancestral knowledge of this landscape.
Empowerment, Ownership and senior guiding roles sit with Bushmen, not outside operators.
Cultural heritage preservation, Bushmen from Gudigwa village share tracking, bushcraft, songs and storytelling with guests.

Commercial

Reinvests in community / environment, Concession fees and camp revenue flow back to the local community.
Owner run, Co-owners host and guide guests themselves.

In brief

Price bracket: £££
Type of property: Bushman-owned tented camp
No. of rooms: Very small (4 tents)
Max guests per room: Up to 2 guests per tent
Facilities: Mess tent, Bar, Campfire area, Solar power, Laundry, Airport transfer
Activities: Safari game drives, Night drives, Walking safaris, Mokoro excursions, Boat trips, Birdwatching, Cultural visit, Catch-and-release fishing
Setting: Okavango Delta · Private concession · Wilderness

Best time to visit

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

May to October is the dry season and the prime game-viewing window, when thinning bush draws wildlife to the permanent channels. Flood waters reach the camp between May and August, opening up mokoro and boat trips; July to October is peak season.

Kids

Better suited to older children; the camp is unfenced and walking activities have age limits.

Accessibility

Sandy tracks, raised timber decks and bucket showers make this difficult for guests with limited mobility.

£££pp / night Visit website

Guide price · £ <£100 · ££ £100–300 · £££ £300–800 · ££££ £800+ pp / night