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OVERVIEW:
Sanctuary Stanley’s Camp is owned and operated by Sanctuary Retreats. Established in 1999, this company has an impressive portfolio of safari camps and lodges across Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, and many other parts of Safari Africa. Stanley’s has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor! The accommodation is booked on an all-inclusive basis, featuring all meals, all drinks except premium brands, two daily shared game-viewing activities, park fees, transfers between camp and Stanley’s Airstrip, and a laundry service. The camp is open all year round and children of all ages are welcome.
ACCESS & LOCATION:
The camp is accessed from Stanley’s Airstrip, via 20 minutes’ drive during dry season or 50 minutes’ transfer by boat throughout the rains. It’s situated amidst ebony and sausage trees, within a private concession in the northern region of the Okavango Delta.
ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT STANLEY’S CAMP:
Guest accommodation consists of just ten canvas tents. All are mounted on a sturdy wooden deck, with a few steps up to the entrance. The deck is set with a table-and-chairs, a daybed, and a hammock, creating a great spot for relaxing and enjoying your views over floodplains! Inside each tent, there’s a double bed or twin beds, bedside units with lighting over, a writing desk and chair, a wardrobe, and a luggage rack. Additional amenities include a ceiling fan, a standing fan, an emergency radio, complimentary drinking water, a safe, stationery, and a hairdryer. The interiors recall the explorers’ era with their antique pieces, and all tents are individually styled. The en-suite facilities are accessed behind a roll-down canvas partition at the back, and they comprise separate flush toilet, washbasin, and shower. Please note, any guests aged 15 years and younger are required to share a tent with their parent/s or guardian/s. Every tent sleeps a maximum of three adults.
The communal building at Stanley’s Camp is another canvas-and-timber structure, on a larger scale than the guest units. A wide flight of steps leads into the open-plan interior. To your right, there’s the pleasant lounge, featuring comfortable sofas, armchairs, and poufs around a coffee table. Conveniently close to this space is the camp’s bar, providing a good range of refreshing beverages. On the other side of the tent, there’s the dining area, where chic tables-and-chairs are positioned in readiness for delicious freshly prepared meals! The tent is open sided, so guests enjoy wonderful vistas across the floodplains while lounging and dining. There’s also a small library and a curio shop. You might even see hyenas around camp, as there’s an active den not too far away. Heading back down the steps, you’ll come to a nicely designed fire-pit, the central fire surrounded by safari chairs and an attractive log fence. And moving farther towards the plains, you’ll find Stanley’s very inviting infinity pool!
ACTIVITIES AT STANLEY’S CAMP:
The camp offers an exciting variety of activities. Some are dependent on water levels, and these are marked with an asterisk in the list below. Please note, a private vehicle must be booked when any group going on a game drive includes a child or children aged 5 years and younger. The minimum age requirement for walks is 16 years, for mokoro rides 14 years, and for elephant experiences 9 years.
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Expertly guided game drives
- Stanley’s Concession covers over 130,000 hectares of plains, woodlands, and water sources. The camp provides vehicle safaris during the morning, afternoon, and night. You can look out for four of the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, and buffalo – in addition to numerous smaller predators and herbivores. There’s a particular focus on watching animals such as giraffe and zebra crossing through watery areas. And there are hundreds of birds! -
Walking safaris*
- This activity is also accompanied by a knowledgeable and experienced guide. It’s ideal for anyone who wants to take a really close look at the smaller lives of the concession, such as the plants and insects. You can also do some big game tracking! -
Mokoro excursions*
- Why not 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 listen to the mammals, reptiles, and birds all around you. From fish eagles to crocodiles, there’s plenty to admire. -
Elephant experiences
- Presently two elephants, Jabu and Morula, are living in a supportive habitat in the central region of the Delta. Guests of Stanley’s are invited to visit them, for fascinating educational bush walks. As well as walking with Jabu and Morula, you’ll be able to watch them foraging and having a lovely mud bath! Stanley’s recommends pre-booking this activity, as it’s pretty popular. Please note also, Jabu and Morula take annual leave from 15th January to 15th February. -
Scenic helicopter flights
- Flights from camp are designed to showcase the permanent delta, the regions that are inaccessible via any other means of transport. Various flight times are offered and you can even ride with the doors removed, for fantastic photo opportunities!
*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.
