Macatoo Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana

A comfy corner of the Mess Tent.

Here's the official blurb from the brochure:-

"Join us on safari and ride with herds of giraffe and zebra across the plains.  Track elephant or buffalo from island to island.  Be part of this unique herd, cantering and splashing through the plains of the Okavango Delta alongside the game or simply watching the setting sun whilst listening to the calls of lion and hyena.

African Horseback Safaris was started in 1995.  Macatoo Camp is situated in the Okavango Delta.  The Okavango is the world's largest inland delta covering 17,000m2.  A mix of labyrinthine channels, palm islands and fertile floodplains in the midst of parched Kalahari sands, it is an oasis for wildlife  More than 400 species of birds, elephant, lion, hyena, wild dog, buffalo, hippo, crocodile, lechwe, warthog, mongoose, monkey, genet and more call this home.

Our stunning camp features 7 large, comfortable twin tents, each with en-suite bathroom, and sleeps a maximum of 14.  Centrally there is a large well-appointed mess tent and tucked away, a private pool.  Depending on the weather, longer safaris may include a ride out to our mobile fly camp, with traditional bucket shower and toilet.  The camp is open year-round."

And it's all true!

Firstly, the accommodation:-

The tents have all been replaced earlier this year and are really lush, it's proper "glamping" (glamourous camping).  Our very spacious tent had it's own ensuite with separate flush toilet and proper shower (no "long drops" or bucket showers here!), comfy beds, lovely bedding, polished wooden floors, desks, reading lamps and an open wardrobe with shelving.  The walls have several large mesh windows on each side, with canvas flaps to close them over for the evening.

The entire front of the tent is zippered mesh "doors" with covering solid canvas to zip up if you wish.  We didn't use our solid canvas front "doors" the whole week - no-one walks past the front of your tent (except the elephants!), and you can lay in bed and watch the sun come up over the plains through the zipped up mesh.

Each tent has a big wooden deck out the front, with comfy armchairs and footrests, perfect for lazing during the day, watching the wildlife pass right by in front of you.

There is an amazing communal Mess Tent.  "Mess Tent" doesn't sound very flash at all, but it really is. It's a gorgeous big, open tent with comfy leather sofas, squishy chairs and cushions, games, books, a well stocked bar (really VERY important) and charging station for your electrical items.

Outside of the Mess Tent is a large sandy area with deck chairs surrounding a camp fire.  It's also where the dinner table is set up of an evening, and the lunch table is sometimes set up there as well.  A little closer to the plain is a fab raised lounging area with deck furniture and a POOL.  Yes, I said POOL.  Where else in the world can you take a dip whilst you're watched by baby Vervet monkeys, and the herd of riding horses gallops past about 50 metres in front of you on their way back into the barn for dinner?

It's glamping, people, five star glamping.  In the middle of 500,000 acres of the Delta.  Once in a lifetime stuff.

Stay tuned for the food ...