Wilderness Mokete

Our recent stay at Mokete was good in terms of wildlife sightings. We were lucky enough to see the “big cat trifecta” — lions, cheetahs, and a magnificent leopard — all in just 3 days. We even witnessed multiple hunts from both lions and cheetahs, which was absolutely thrilling.||Due to unusually heavy rains in Angola this year, the mega buffalo herd arrived later than usual, but we were fortunate to see two smaller herd. A real highlight was watching the Mokete pride interact with the buffalo. While their hunting skills might need some sharpening — we didn’t witness a successful kill — the tension and raw drama between predator and prey were captivating. We believe that as the dry season progresses, more kills are likely, making the action even more intense.||While the food and accommodation aren’t at the level some of the more luxury(expensive) lodges like Vumbura Plains, they are more than sufficient and comfortable for a lodge in such a remote, wild setting. Given the extraordinary game viewing and the authentic wilderness experience.

Mokete Wilderness Lodge is a rare and remarkable opportunity to immerse yourself in the raw and unfiltered Botswana. The wildlife here is largely unfamiliar with humans, which makes each encounter feel entirely authentic—untouched and utterly unique. Observing animals in this setting is an experience few safari-goers will ever have.||We chose to helicopter in, which I highly recommend—it bypasses what would otherwise be a long and demanding drive, and offers stunning aerial views that set the tone for the adventure ahead. From the sky alone, we knew this was going to be something special.||Our guide, Johan, exceeded all expectations. He managed the unthinkable—locating a pride of lions with six cubs hidden in thick brush, just after a zebra kill. It was one of the most breathtaking sightings I’ve ever had.||If you're an experienced safari aficionado, Mokete Wilderness Lodge is the next level. Untamed, exclusive, and unforgettable.

I’m being generous giving this camp a 2 Star rating. We are seasoned safari travelers as this marks our 11th safari trip since 2006, exclusively in Southern Africa, so I know of which I speak. ||This property is just over a year old and suffers from a serious lack of maintenance and housekeeping staff training. The curtain surrounding the bed had about one third of the hanger clips broken, making it difficult to open and close. The desk lamp was broken, but was repaired the next day. We were never told how to use the much ballyhooed skylight over the bed to see the stars and it appeared to be inoperable and was not repaired during our stay. The safe in our room was not attached and could easily be carried away. The room furnishings were very flimsy, though the bed was very comfortable. The AC/heat unit did neither. ||We were there for five days and our room was not swept, vacuumed or mopped the entire time. Spider webs were prevalent in the ceiling in the commons area. ||On the bright side, the food and bar service were excellent. The meals were delicious, though somewhat limited in main course sections. The salads and side dishes were wonderful. ||The greatest disappointment though was the quality of the game viewing. All we had read were glowing reports of great herds of fabulous wildlife. We did see greater numbers of certain species, such as the endangered Kori Bustard, but those heralded herds of wildlife were nowhere to be found.||Sadly this camp definitely does not live up to the hype!

We spent 2 nights at Mokete and found it an interesting compliment to the comps we stayed at in the Okavango Delta (Little Mombo and Vumbura Plains). The terrain here is completely different with vast swaths of marsh and a desert-like scape. We saw plenty of animals, including numerous cheetah sightings along with a male lion, jackals, elephants, wildebeest, impala, and a huge herd of water buffalo. ||Although Mokete is quite remote, flying in by helicopter made it easy and efficient. Upon arrival, you are immediately struck by the sleek, modern design of the camp, which is powered entirely by solar. This property is small with only 8 “tents” and a compact common area. However, the smaller size gave it a nice intimacy. Each tented enclosure is beautifully furnished and comes with its own plunge pool. At night, you can choose to have your tent sides zipped up for extra warmth or left open. The night air was filled with the sounds of the birds and animals surrounding us. Perhaps the biggest highlight was the vast open space of stars, exposed to us from our tent each night as we fell asleep. ||As with all the Wilderness properties, the team here was exceptionally warm and friendly. This camp is only a year old, and at times, the service level showed the need for some continued refinement around anticipating needs and also, following up on requests. Our guide Timmy was experienced, knowledgeable and determined when it came to our game drives. We spent our last morning tracking a single cheetah as it seemed to vacillate between hunting and just taking it easy for the day. We typically were the only vehicle at every animal sighting, which reinforced the feeling of remoteness and the uniqueness of the experience. ||All in all, the Mababe Depression area is a really interesting complement to other parts of Botswana and certainly worth seeing. We thoroughly enjoyed it and thank the team at Mokete for our stay.

Vasco was an excellent guide. He grew up in the area so he is a master at navigating even through rainstorms. Mia always had a smile on her face and was a joy to see each day. The rooms were nice with very strong WiFi. I went in December (rainy season) so the animals were harder to find but I was able to see lions, Cape buffalo, elephants, giraffes, hippos and many others. The food was great and I love buffet style.

Mokete is the celebration of so many things and this brand new camp can only be described as mind blowing ! It is the only camp in this vast, unusual and unique concession !|Having visited many camps in the Okavango Delta, Botswana and other countries, this must be the most amazing and different experience ever.|You can describe the area as the end of the Delta, flowing into a treeless, flat, open depression, called Mababe Depression. It is the only water for game for several miles. In the hot month of October just everything has to come and drink here, from thousands of buffalo, hundreds Tsesebe as well as Red Letchwe, Impala, Wildebeest and Zebra in profound numbers.|And this is when the drama starts ! The lions of the area just lie and wait for game that have no choice, but to come and quench their thirst. These lions lie in the mud next to the swamp to cool down, as the area is void of any trees. They attack buffalo especially, with their black muddy bodies and this is so different than any other lion hunt. |We were fortunate to see Cheetah and a Leopard ( though skittish in this open area) as well as Wild dogs hunting twice at dusk.|The rooms are excellently designed with every luxurious aspect you would expect from a Classic Plus camp of Wilderness Destinations. PLUS, there is an aircon above the bed as well as a star gazing opening. Each unit has it's own plunge pool as well !|The food was excellent and chef Cisco, previously at Qorokwe Camp, and his team, Bee, Lolo, Dough do an outstanding job of the meals.|Our guide, Brave, was brilliant and we had an unforgettable 5 days with him.|Thanks to the managers, Beauty, Jompy and Rhoder who took care of every need. Also to waiters Dan, God and Mia who spoiled us with special drinks and good service.|Mokete is the celebration of Nature and wide open spaces (of the few that are still left) and a MUST visit if you love the Delta or even just the RAW untamed bush of Africa !|We shall most certainly return and are excited to see how this new camp evolves !!

Our stay at Wilderness Mokete was incredible. The staff were so helpful with facilitating unforeseen medical needs in town. Tumo, Beauty, Antony, Tabo, Jonah, Mia, Rhodeen, and everyone truly was so kind and attentive and we couldn’t have asked for a better safari stay! Thank you!

Grundsätzlich war das Camp i. O. Die Mitarbeiter waren nicht so motiviert wie bei anderen Camps z. B. Little Mombo. Tiere haben wir auch nicht so viele gesehen und so wurden die Ausflüge manchmal ein wenig eintönig. Am letzten Tag hätten wir noch 2 Stunden für einen Ausflug Zeit gehabt aber der Guide und die Managerin waren da ohne Gehör.