Wilderness King's Pool

OVERVIEW:

Wilderness King’s Pool is a high-end camp occupying a beautiful position on the Linyanti River within the remote 125,000-hectare Linyanti Wildlife Reserve. The river creates a border between Botswana and Namibia, and the camp’s location, neighbouring Chobe National Park, supports a wealth of wildlife, with frequent sightings of elephant, wild dog, and leopard. A huge area dominated by mopane woods, riverine forests, and river systems, the Linyanti is a diverse wildlife habitat that combines perfectly with an Okavango Delta safari. Accommodation at Wilderness King’s Pool is booked on a full-board basis, including all meals, a selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, twice-daily scheduled safari activities, park fees, and a laundry service.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

Wilderness King’s Pool occupies a beautiful location overlooking an oxbow lake and a river in the Wilderness Linyanti Concession within the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve. It’s a 45-minute light aircraft flight from Maun to Chobe airstrip, plus a 45-minute drive to the camp.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT WILDERNESS KING'S POOL CAMP:

The accommodation at Wilderness King’s Pool consists of seven roomy, privately spaced tents (these can be configured as doubles or twins) and a two-bedroom suite accommodating a maximum of four guests. Tents maintain a classic safari feel with lofty thatched roofs, ceiling fans, and Batswana weaving that gives the camp a sense of place while missing nothing in the comfort stakes. A large bedroom and lounge area leads to a veranda with stunning lagoon views. Each contains a centrally placed king-size bed with mosquito netting and river views, bedside stands and lighting, a writing desk, and a lounge area with comfortable seating. Behind the bedroom, en-suite facilities comprise flush toilets, twin washbasins, and walk-in showers. On the veranda, you’ll find an outdoor shower and shaded seating area for relaxing and observing the wildlife activity on the river. The two-bedroom suite features two separate bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom, a communal sunken lounge, and a private plunge pool.

Connected to the tents via raised wooden walkways, the open-plan communal living and dining area at Wilderness King’s Pool is light and airy, with a lower terrace where guests congregate around the campfire during the early mornings and  before dinner. The stylish lounge is smart but homely with sink-in leather sofas, wooden floors adorned with rugs, and a cosy fireplace, ideal for relaxing with a book from the library. Guests can choose between communal meals around one long table or private dining at individual tables, and there’s also the option to dine al fresco overlooking the lagoon. The camp has a well-stocked bar and generously sized viewing decks that further enhance the flow of indoor–outdoor space. A small pool offers respite from the hottest hours of the day, and the camp has a menu for in-tent spa treatments.

ACTIVITIES AT WILDERNESS KING'S POOL CAMP:

Wilderness King’s Pool offers various land- and water-based activities. Please note that these depend on the season and/or the availability of a guide. Do contact our team for further details.

• Expertly guided game drives

  – The Wilderness Linyanti Concession comprises plains, woodlands, and water sources, home to all sorts of wildlife. Highlights include lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and numerous smaller predators and herbivores such as cheetah, hyena, wild dog, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, and an astonishing assortment of antelopes. As an Important Bird Area (IBA), it is a birder’s paradise with hundreds of species, ranging from common ostrich to helmeted guineafowl and red-billed hornbill to lilac-breasted roller. A carmine bee-eater nesting site nearby is a spectacle to behold in the summer months.

• Night drives

  – Head out after sunset with your expert guide on a thrilling night safari, where you’ll search for some of the intriguing nocturnal species. It’s so exciting taking to the bush at night, especially with sightings that might include leopard, civet, genet, spring hare, and honey badger.

• Barge trips

  – Journeys along the waterways of the Linyanti on the Queen Silvia barge are one of the highlights at Wilderness King’s Pool. Potential sightings include hippo and the big game that comes to drink on the banks of the rivers. Please note that this activity is water-level dependent.

• Guided walks

  – Guided walks offer a fantastic way to get to know the smaller species of the Linyanti in incredible detail. Plants, insects, birds… when the details unfold, these hold just as much intrigue as the main mammals.

• Viewing from hides

  – Spend some time in the hides for spectacularly close sightings of the resident wildlife. An excellent opportunity for photographers! There are two hides from which to view and photograph animals and birds. One is located at the western end of the camp, and the other is an original underground hide, with the water at eye level.

• Catch-and-release fishing

  – Fishing with a limited supply of basic equipment is on offer on a catch-and-release basis. Please note that this activity is seasonal as it is prohibited by Botswana law in January and February due to breeding purposes.

• Indigenous tree planting

  – Indigenous tree planting helps with the reforestation of the Linyanti (subject to the availability of saplings at the nursery; planting may be out of camp for larger trees or in camp for smaller trees).

• Helicopter flights

  – Scenic helicopter flights are available for two to three guests. Choose between the Conservation & Co-Existence Cultural Experience excursion to learn more about CLAWS (Communities Living Among Wildlife Sustainability) and ‘Life With Elephants’ (NGO with Ecoexist) in the Hambukushu village of Eretsha. Please note that helicopter excursions incur an additional cost.

*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.