The new Wilderness Mokete luxury tented camp has opened in the famed Mababe wilderness area on the eastern edge of the Okavango Delta.
Offering an unparalleled safari experience in Botswana, the new camp, set on 50,000 hectares of private concession land, is a haven for serious safari enthusiasts seeking once-in-a-lifetime encounters with Africa’s wild.
Designed by reMORPHED Arch & Design architects, and with interiors by Michele Throssell Interiors, the new camp represents a captivating fusion of architectural innovation and environmental respect.
Wilderness Mokete follows a design narrative which intricately blends traditional textiles and a neutral colour palette, paying homage to the surrounding bush, using contemporary forms and contrasting use of materials to create a harmonious cultural tapestry. It features nine en-suite canvas tents and a communal tented lounge area, linked by wooden walkways at ground level. Luxurious interiors and modern amenities, including inverter air conditioning and Wi-Fi in all bedrooms, complete the experience and ensure guests want for nothing during their stay.
One of the standout features of Mokete’s tented suites is the retractable roof in the bedrooms, allowing guests to stargaze at night. It offers guests a one-of-a-kind African night-time experience, immersing guests in the beauty of the surrounding landscape.
Aptly named “Mokete” (meaning “feast”), the camp embodies an abundance of wildlife, varied landscapes and pristine natural beauty. Lions often spend the daylight hours on the hunt in Mababe, taking down buffaloes in and around the marsh, with hyenas in clans of up to 60 seen competing with them. With no other commercial properties in the area, Mokete guests can choose to stay out on drives as long as they wish.
Mababe is an area of tremendous ecological significance, made up of three key habitats: grassland, wetlands and mopane woodland. It harbours a marsh which fills in the summer season, creating a wetland of some 2,600 hectares, serving as a sanctuary for diverse wildlife in search of this precious life source, and vital habitat for numerous bird species. Herds of buffalo in the thousands, the largest gathering in Africa, alongside abundant predators and massive elephant herds (occasionally accompanied by migrating zebras), all converge on the Mababe Marsh.
Standing as a beacon of sustainability, the camp is fully off-grid, utilising exclusively renewable PV energy systems. Passive design principles, including maximised natural ventilation, wide overhangs for shade, and a layered roof system further mitigate the camp’s environmental impact, while enhancing guest comfort, inviting nature in and blurring the distinction between indoor and outdoor spaces
