It’s also the setting for Mokete, the newest camp from Wilderness, the Botswana-based conservation and hospitality company with more than 60 camps and lodges scattered across eight countries. Their offering runs the gamut from the ultimate in bush luxury—whether the haute design canvas suites of Botswana’s Mombo, or the stylish thatched pods at Bisate Lodge for gorilla trekking in Rwanda—to more intrepid, authentic safari camps placed, quite literally, in the middle of nowhere. Mokete falls somewhere in the middle of those two poles, offering plenty of comfort while also existing in a previously untouched corner of the Botswanian wilds. (It’s the only camp within a 50,000-hectare radius, meaning you and the other guests—a number strictly capped at 18—are unlikely to even run into each other, let alone any other safari groups.)
Photo: Paige Fiddes
The name Mokete means “celebration” or “feast” in the local language of Setswana—and that isn’t just in honor of the hearty meals served up buffet-style at lunchtime. The vibe here is as convivial as it comes, beginning with a warm welcome on arrival from the camp’s manager Yompy (having served as a manager at a handful of other Wilderness camps over the years, he’s something of a company veteran) as well as the staff, the majority of whom hail from the area’s local communities. Also worth noting about that smooth-as-silk arrival? As Mokete is so remote, the easiest way to reach it is by helicopter, which means an epic journey over the Mababe area (and depending on where you’re traveling to or from, over the tendrils wetlands of the Okavango Delta) where you can check a couple of the big five off your list of sightings before you even get there.
After that check-in process—which mostly consisted of being served iced teas and even icier cold beers by the fire as the staff were introduced—it was time to check out the accommodations. In keeping with the low-impact philosophy of the camp—and indeed, Wilderness more broadly—the design here is sleek and minimalist, with earthy tones that constantly bring in the outside in. (In the case of the expansive central area, that atmosphere is fostered quite literally, with all of the dining and drinking spaces being fully exposed to the elements, allowing for plenty of thrilling wildlife sightings over breakfast and lunch.) Afterwards, we were led along the raised wooden paths to our secluded tented suites, all run fully off-grid via renewable PV energy, and with sweeping views over the plains beyond—expect to see herds of zebra grazing in the late afternoons, and occasionally even the sound of elephants clomping by at night. The first thing that strikes you is their openness, with enormous roll-up window flaps and skylights that felt like the world’s biggest widescreen TV onto the daily circle of life taking place right outside.
