Pom Pom Camp

OVERVIEW:

Pom Pom Camp is owned and run by Under One Botswana Sky. This company operates eight camps and lodges across the Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park, the Makgadikgadi Pan, and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, and each property is situated within a private concession. Pom Pom is highly recommended for the traditional safarist, and the camp has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor! Accommodation is booked on a full-board basis, including all meals and snacks, all local-brand drinks, all scheduled activities, and a laundry service. The camp is open all year round. There’s a minimum age requirement of 6 years.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

The camp is accessed via 5 minutes’ road transfer from the local airstrip. It’s located on the private Pom Pom Island, in the south-western region of the Okavango Delta.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT POM POM CAMP:

There are nine guest tents, including one family unit. All are positioned in the shade of trees and overlooking Pom Pom Lagoon. Each is raised on a wooden deck, which is set with lounge and dining furniture. As the tents are Meru in style, an exterior layer of canvas extends over their inner layer to provide a shady veranda. Each tent has three separate spaces. On entering a standard tent, you’ll find a living area, with comfy seating and a writing desk cum vanity table and chair. A timber-framed pair of mesh doors leads into the bedroom, which contains a double bed or twin beds, a wooden storage chest, and an overhead fan to keep you cool. The palette is made up of dark wood furniture tones, bright white bedclothes, and a few splashes of colour. Another door towards the back of the tent leads through to the washroom, with flush toilet, twin washbasins with mirror over, and a wardrobe. Finally, one more door opens into an outdoor shower, complete with toiletries and towels! The family tent benefits from all the features of the standard unit, in addition to a second bedroom with twin beds.

The communal building at Pom Pom Camp is accessed from the guest tents along well-marked sandy paths. It’s a classic canvas, timber, and thatch structure, open sided for guests to enjoy the views! Inside, the lounge, dining room, and bar are open plan. The lounge area features well-cushioned wicker seating around coffee tables, some elegant lighting, and a few artefacts creating an authentic vibe. Adjacent to this space is the camp’s dining room, with one long table where everyone eats together. Private dining is available too, on request. Pom Pom’s bar is next to the dining room, and it’s stocked with a good range of drinks. There’s a curio shop as well. A ramp leads down to the fire-pit, another venue for snacks and drinks, and for sharing your safari stories with fellow travellers. And to one side of the main building, there’s a swimming pool flanked by a few sunloungers. It’s the perfect spot for relaxing in between activities – and you might catch sight of some of the resident wildlife, such as bushbucks, baboons, and black-collared barbets!

ACTIVITIES AT POM POM CAMP:

Pom Pom Camp offers a thrilling mix of things to do. Some activities are season dependent, and these are marked with an asterisk in the list below. Minimum age requirements are indicated too.

• Expertly guided game drives

  - The Pom Pom Concession is made up of sprawling savanna, acacia woodlands, and plenty of water. Situated close to the famous Moremi Game Reserve, it’s a haven for a wide variety of species, including four of the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo! You can also look out for smaller predators and herbivores, such as cheetah, hyena, jackals, wild dog, hippo, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, and a fine assortment of antelopes. There are plenty of birds too, not least jacana, pied kingfisher, and Pel’s fishing owl. Drives from camp cover a lot of ground, and they take place during both morning and afternoon. Please note, a private vehicle must be booked for any groups containing a child or children aged 6–11 years.

• Night drives

  - Venture out after sunset, and you can enjoy exciting sightings of the concession’s nocturnal beasties! Your guide will introduce you to such species as honey badger, dwarf mongoose, porcupine, and the delightful pangolin.

• Bush walks* (12+ years, at guide’s discretion)

  - This activity is also enjoyed in the company of a knowledgeable and experienced guide. Walks provide opportunities for close scrutiny of the smaller lives of the concession – the plants, insects, and feathery friends here.

• Boat cruises*

  - Visitors of Pom Pom can have a lot of fun exploring the concession’s waterways on a boat cruise! There’s so much to see, from hippo to Nile crocodile to abundant waterbirds.

• Mokoro excursions* (12+ years)

  - You can also view the wildlife of the waters from aboard a mokoro, a dug-out canoe. As the mokoro doesn’t have a motor, you’ll be able to dedicate your full attention to the sounds of the mammals, reptiles, and birds all around you.

• Fishing*

  - Why not spend some time fishing the lagoon? It’s a lovely way to while away a few hours.

*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.