Destinations
General information
Pre-safari preparation
In 2002 the Government of Botswana declared that the wildlife/human conflict situation along the Boteti River was increasing to unacceptable levels and decided to solve the problem with a fence to save the wildlife from livestock encroachment, and protect the farmers from marauding wildlife.
This resulted in increased positive potential for developments in wildlife safari tourism, and employment opportunities for the rural people living in close proximity to the national park. The camp is on leased tribal land and therefore ideally located to maximize benefits to the simple rural communities living in the area.
These new developments to protect the wildlife did not include water provision, and so at Meno A Kwena they took on the responsibility of supplying, and managing the park’s wildlife demands, on water. This has necessitated securing sufficient and reliable water since 2002. They also identified with the need for local employment opportunities, and so the camp and safaris have developed and evolved with this in mind.
The fully serviced authentic safari camp maintains an atmosphere of the original safari experience. Guests appreciate this, as it is the real African safari experience they want, not a ‘bush hotel’ with all the modern luxuries of the developed world.
They utilize safari tents and equipment from their former mobile safari days and combine these with permanent fixtures, built by local craftspeople, with locally collected materials. There are, of course, the luxuries of flush toilets and a natural Boteti rock pool to wallow in on hot summer days.
Each of the seven fully serviced safari tents with semi-attached bathrooms, including a bucket shower and flush toilet each and are set on the edge of the riverbank. A hundred feet below camp is the waterhole that attracts thousands of animals during the dry season. A lot of emphasis in the camp experience is placed on the theatre view from camp, and so no matter where guests are they may watch the scenes played out, whether from the plunge pool, their tents, the verandas, or the bathrooms.
The camp staff – management, guides and support crew all help to maintain the safari experience with care and dedication to the guests’ every need. The safari camp cuisine is prepared in a way that is as much of a safari experience as all the other aspects of life in the bush. They cook on the campfire – BBQ Botswana beef fillets, BBQ chicken, BBQ chops, grilled fish, and these are supplemented with fresh vegetables and salads. Puddings, cheese, biscuits and fresh tropical fruits end the meals on a sweet note.
The migratory water dependant zebra and wildebeest herds concentrate along the Boteti River during the dry winter months (June to November), obviously this is determined by the rains, and water availability in the saltpans.
The deep Boteti River gorge is a unique environment, by Botswana standards, of riverine habitat in the middle of the dry Kalahari. This creates a rich diversity of wildlife in a very concentrated area. Some of Botswana’s most impressive wildlife concentrations occur along the riverbed during the dry season, including the large herds of zebra and wildebeest, antelope, elephant, predators, giraffe, hippo, crocodile, many bird species, and spectacular views.
A number of resident species do not migrate away at the onset of the rains and so the Boteti area maintains a population of wildlife all year round.
At least two nights is essential to fully appreciate the Boteti from Meno A Kwena. Watching impressive wildlife concentrations coming to drink right in front of camp in comfort, and walking are recommended. With three nights you can spend more time in the Boteti area to experience other sections of the riverbed by vehicle further a field.
