Meno a Kwena (Makgadikgadi Pans) Botswana
FAMILY FRIENDLY WITH A VIEW
The safari never stops at Meno a Kwena, a hidden gem of a camp perched on a rocky clifftop above the Boteti River in Botswana. With a glittering roster of activities, including day trips to the Makgadikgadi Pans, guided walks with the San bushmen, and wildlife-watching boat trips, there’s plenty to get your teeth into. But sometimes, the best game viewing is where you least expect it, and at Meno, it’s right in front you. From their lofty position, the nine tents look down on a menagerie of animals at the water below, from herds of majestic elephant, to dazzles of nomadic zebra – all you need to do is sit back, and take it all in.
At just 90 minutes by road from Maun, Meno is a good option if you’re travelling as a group, or with little ones (or even big ones!). The camp was originally used by Southern Africa’s legendary explorers, and although we’ve added a few little touches here, and some little quirks there, it’s refreshingly and stylishly simple. And actually, the real treat at Meno is the connection with nature; when an elephant provides your alarm call in the morning, and you can game view straight from your private veranda, nothing else really matters.
THE LANDSCAPE
Meno a Kwena is located on tribal land on the western boundary of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park (MPNP), overlooking the exceptionally beautiful Boteti River. In the desert, water means life and the Boteti is the only permanent water source in the area, attracting a rich array of resident game and a procession of migratory wanderers. Meno sits almost exactly halfway between the unique Okavango Delta region and the drier southern regions, and it’s this excellent location that makes the camp truly special. Head into the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, where baobabs stand like sentinels above the shimmering expanses of crusted salt, or discover Nxai Pan National Park, its endless landscapes dotted with umbrella acacias and clumps of mopane woodland.
Meno is easily accessed by road from Maun Airport, taking about 90 minutes on a good tarred road.
WHY BOOK THIS CAMP?
- Meno sits in an awesome location on the Boteti River overlooking the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park – a completely contrasting location, wildlife and habitat to the green and juicy Okavango Delta regions.
- Watch the wildlife at the river below from the comfort of your private veranda; that’s what we like to call an ‘armchair safari.’
- The zebra migration is resident here for much of the year. In the dry season there is no other water around and the Boteti River becomes a magnet for wildlife.
- Learn a little about the traditional Botswana way of life with a visit to the local village.
- Enjoy a wide range of thrilling (and unusual) activities.
- The camp is great value for money and an excellent choice for families – there’s a natural swimming pool, and plenty of nooks and crannies for kids to explore and watch the action at the river below.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Meno a Kwena isn’t a hyper-luxurious camp – and that’s why we love it. We may not have private butlers and air conditioning, but what we do have is nine, classic tents, perched on a 100-foot high clifftop overlooking the river, and offering some of the best ‘armchair’ game viewing we’ve ever seen. Each is classically-styled, with a few eccentricities thrown in here and there; think locally-woven fabrics mixed with colonial-style furniture, and simple fittings brightened by snippets of colour. All have fully-equipped ensuite bathrooms, and there are two new family units, both with inter-leading tents, perfect for the kids.
The canvas lounge and dining tents are piled high with books and trinkets, and decorated with old-world artefacts, and our piece de resistance – a sculpted crocodile! And it’s not there for no reason – Meno a Kwena literally translates as “teeth of the crocodile.” Keep an eye on the river below from just about comfy chair in the living area, or plunge into the Flintstone-esque rocky swimming pool, and watch the animals doing the same below you.
Meno A Kwena is a unique safari camp incorporating a traditional safari theme with African culture in a wildlife environment that excites all emotions. The camp is designed to take full advantage of the most incredible view in Botswana. This may not be the most opulent safari camp in Botswana but we make up for it with style, attention to detail and service. We are extremely sensitive to our guests’ safety and relaxation while sharing our enormous passion for wildlife.
“Each serviced en suite accommodation tent, hidden amongst the natural vegetation for privacy, is situated in full view of the Boteti River where wildlife comes to drink from the dry Kalahari.” The small camp has six twin and two double tents, each with en suite flush toilets and authentic safari showers, all within an enclosure of thorny branches for safety from wandering wildlife.
WILDLIFE
If you were to go on a game drive around the Makgadikgadi Pans and look for a picture-perfect picnic spot, then it would be Meno’s exact location, perched above the river bend, gazing down at the wildlife. But when you’re staying at Meno a Kwena, game viewing isn’t just a snatched hour over lunch; it’s all day, every day. Just sit back on the veranda and watch the zebra and antelope from your cliff-top position (G&T optional).
If you can drag your eyes away from the view, hop on a game drive to find desert-adapted animals that can’t be found elsewhere in Botswana. There’s antelope with comical twisted horns, and remarkable desert elephant. The rumble of hooves heralds the arrival of Africa’s second largest migration. A stonking spectacle of 30,000 zebra and wildebeest migrate across the Makgadikgadi Pans, alongside a scattering of other hooved beasties.
As the pans dry from April onwards, the zebra complete their journey at the river in an explosion of black and white stripes, followed closely by the predators: lion with their impressive black manes, leopard and cheetah using the surrounding bushes as cover, packs of wild dog, and mischievous jackal. Wow.
Accommodation Rates:- From $550 per person per night. Please contact us for a quote and suggested itinerary.