Gomoti Plains Camp

OVERVIEW:

Gomoti Plains Camp is a comfortably rustic classic tented camp surrounded by the diverse habitats of the Okavango Delta’s Gomoti river system. Woven into a beautiful riverine forest within a large community-run private concession, the camp is run by Machaba Safaris, who operate in Botswana’s Okavango Delta and Chobe Forest Reserve, and Zimbabwe’s spectacular Mana Pools and Hwange National Park. With reliably good game viewing throughout the year, the camp offers a cross-section of activities covering the Delta’s highlights. Accommodation at Gomoti Plains Camp is booked on a full-board basis, including all meals, a selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, all activities, transfers between the camp and the local airstrip, and a laundry service. The camp is open year-round.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

Gomoti Plains Camp is located within a community-run private concession on one of the smaller floodplains along the Gomoti river system in the south-east of the Okavango Delta. Access is by light aircraft flight (approximately 10 minutes’ flying time from Maun) to Qorokwe Airstrip, followed by a 40-minute game drive to camp.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT GOMOTI PLAINS CAMP:

Gomoti Plains Camp offers ten luxury guest tents spread out on either side of the main area, including two for family use. Woven in amongst the riverine forest and spaced well apart for maximum privacy, tents are raised above ground level on wooden platforms, overlooking the vegetation of the Gomoti river system. Inside each rustic yet comfortable canvas tent, you’ll find a double metal-frame bed (a twin configuration is also possible), bedside tables with reading lamps, roll-up blinds over mesh-covered windows, and a floor fan. Behind the bed is a shelving unit with a digital safe, a cold-water flask, and two traditional cotton kikoi wraps. The en-suite bathroom is located at the back of the tent and can be partitioned from the bedroom by a large privacy screen. Facilities include a separate toilet and shower with roll-down doors, twin washbasins, a hanging unit with bathrobes, slippers, and a laundry basket. While not provided in-room, hairdryers are available on request. The zip-up canvas door at the front of the tent opens onto a private veranda with a daybed and safari chairs where guests can relax and soak up the stunning surrounding wilderness. The family units comprise two tents with a shared bathroom, separated by a lounge area. Access for disabled travellers is available. Please note that Wi-Fi is available in the tents but is intermittent and shouldn’t be relied upon.

A spacious, airy mess tent houses the camp’s communal areas, set up fairly close to the water’s edge, with roll-up canvas doors that open onto an outside deck. The lounge and library area take up one side of the tent, with a comfortable seating arrangement, a welcoming bar with bar stools, and a good selection of reading material. On the other side, you’ll find the dining area where guests enjoy meals communally, and the outside deck is an ideal spot for drinks or early morning coffee around the fire. In a separate tent, there’s a curio shop with a range of clothing, trinkets, and local artefacts, while those needing some pampering can request an in-tent massage or facial. The camp also has its own decently sized swimming pool, with sunloungers and parasols, just a few steps away.

ACTIVITIES AT GOMOTI PLAINS CAMP:

Gomoti Plains Camp is well placed to offer an exciting range of activities. Some are seasonal, so please contact the YZ team for further information. Any group that includes a child under the age of 6 must book a private game drive vehicle. The minimum age for a mokoro ride is 12, and for walking safaris, it’s 16.

•  Game drives

  – The private concession in which Gomoti Plains Camp is located supports grasslands, woodlands, riverine forests, and a wealth of waterways, including the Gomoti river. This diversity of habitats means that wildlife here is prolific, and there is plenty to see on game drives. Setting off early morning or late afternoon, look out for lion, elephant, buffalo, cheetah, plenty of antelope, and over four hundred bird species!

•  Night drives

  – Take to the wilderness by night as your guide points out some of the concession’s nocturnal species, not least aardvark, aardwolf, the rarely seen pangolin, porcupine, and perhaps the occasional leopard.

•  Walking safaris

  – Depending on the weather and conditions of the terrain, walking safaris are led by armed guides and usually happen in the morning at a leisurely pace, allowing guests to observe the smaller things in the bush, such as insects, plants, and birdlife.

•  Boating

  – Boating safaris focus on the scenic Gomoti river and are a wonderful way to encounter aquatic and semi-aquatic species and the many animals congregating to drink at the water’s edge. You’ll likely see elephant, hippo, and many vibrant waterbirds along the way.

•  Mokoro excursions

  – The mokoro dug-out canoe experience is unique to the Okavango Delta and a truly unmissable highlight! Led by an experienced poler who steers at the front of the boat, you’ll embrace the sights and sounds of nature as you glide along the network of channels with their sensational assortment of wildlife, big and small.

*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.