Qorokwe Camp

Qorokwe has eight elegant twin-bedded suites available. The bed stands in the middle of the suite, overlooking the lagoon through floor to ceiling sliding doors allowing natural light to flood the room. All suites are raised and come with their own private decking, complete with cushiony sun loungers, granting unparalleled views over the Delta. The en-suites include his and hers basins, a shower which allows for inside showering or an outside showering experience, and a large freestanding bath.

A spacious two-bedded family suite with a personal plunge pool is also available. There is a large lounge area, perfect for relaxing in after a long day and a private balcony perfect for viewing the passing wildlife. In all suites, the beds come complete with mosquito nets and fans are also available, which are powered fully by solar power.

Qorokwe Camp’s main area is open plan, and includes dining and lounge areas. The dining area is also open air, placing guests in the heart of the surrounding wildlife. A three-course dinner can be served communally at a large central table, or separately, at smaller, more intimate tables. Drinks are available from a unique bar, crafted from a plank of wood, and the fire pit is the perfect place to enjoy drinks before or after dinner, accompanied by the croakings of frogs.

Game drives are offered year-round at Qorokwe, including night game drives which are excellent for spotting the nocturnal species of the Delta. The Qorokwe Concession has permanent water which allows for exceptional game viewing, and these drives are unique often exploring areas that can not be reached by foot.

Glide serenely along a tranquil Okavango waterway in a traditional mokoro with an experienced guide, or set your sights a bit father in a motorboat, allowing you to explore the more distant waterways and all the wildlife they have to offer.

Qorokwe offer guided wilderness walks. There is no better way to feel at one with nature than by exploring it on foot. Wilderness walks are also good for bird enthusiasts as the birdlife in this area is excellent, with species including the African hawk-eagle, ground hornbill and scarlet-chested sunbird, only naming a few.

For a once in a lifetime view of the Okavango Delta from the air, a helicopter trip can be arranged. This is perfect for anyone who wants to see uninterrupted views of the Delta, from all angles, and is an absolutely exceptional experience.

This camp is 100% solar powered, with all their electricity and hot water being provided via solar panels. They have strict environmental standards, so the laundry service only uses approved eco-friendly chemicals and detergents. Wilderness Safaris aim is that if the camps ever needed to be moved they could do so without leaving an imprint on the land. All Wilderness Safari camps are built in the most eco-friendly way possible. To reduce their carbon footprint and to help them become carbon neutral in their operations, they invest in new technologies to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.

Wilderness Safaris created their own Trust in 2003, this is an independent entity that fund-raises for money to be put into various conservation projects. This engages with projects which can be beyond the scope of the areas in which Wilderness Safaris operate, ensuring that “conservation is a driving force in reaching more people, wildlife and places.”

The Jao Concession and the University of Botswana have created a committee hoping to “encourage better engagement between local communities and the Jao Concession, specifically regarding curbing poaching and overfishing.” 25 different projects are funded by the Trust annually, the past 10 years seeing the Trust fund more than 100 different projects that were in 8 different countries in Africa. Whilst Wilderness Safaris contributes to these projects logistically, the Trust “is involved financially in the projects, supporting research, habitat management and community upliftment.”

Wilderness Safaris partner properties all work under the sustainability ethos of conservation, culture, commerce and community. Pack for a Purpose is one of the community projects that Wilderness Safaris has partnered with, it is “a non-profit organisation that provides travellers with up-to-date information about required supplies for community-based projects.” With no one inhabiting these rural areas of Africa accurate recordings of species could not be undertaken.

Wilderness Safaris are present throughout the whole year which allows them to provide not just financial support but also logistical support to anti-poaching initiatives. Due to their presence wildlife numbers have increased dramatically with elephant, lechwe and puku growing markedly. The emphasis on ecotourism is changing lives “camps and lodges bring employment and training, opportunities for growth and travel, and exposure to another world.”

Wilderness Safaris works in partnership with Save the Rhino Trust and three separate Namibian conservancies to help conserve and protect the rare species of the desert-adapted black rhino. These rhinos play a vital role in shaping the landscape of Africa, by grazing lawns and vegetation they help protect plant biodiversity and keep the plains hospitable to other herbivore species.

Without them, whole ecosystems would begin to die out. Wilderness Safaris Desert Rhino Camp works specifically in partnership with Save the Rhino Trust and acts as rhino monitoring post, as well as a camp, to help increase rhino security in an otherwise unmonitored area. Due to an increase in recruitment, Wilderness Safaris and their partners have “dramatically and sustainably increased the range of desert-adapted black rhino in the north-west.”

This is an educational programme created by Wilderness Safaris which aims to educate and inspire the next generation of environmental leaders by teaching them life skills and environmental issues. This programme aims to “create a network of learning sanctuaries that uplifts and cares for our children and conserves the planet.” Great numbers of children are involved in these programmes, 2,500 children attend rural, school-based clubs per year; more than 300 children per year are granted a scholarship which pays for their education and Wilderness Safaris and their partner destination host annual camps, which more than 500 children attend.

Wilderness Safaris serves to protect and conserve the land in which they operate. The continent of Africa is unique, with over 1000 different mammal species and fauna and humans living side by side. With a commitment to ecotourism, they are helping to conserve biodiversity. Currently, Wilderness Safaris helps to protect over 2.5million hectares of African wilderness and in 2015 they were awarded a medal by the government of Botswana for Meritorious Service to the country.

One of the ways they try to protect the environment is by making sure their camps have a light footprint. Trying to achieve “purposeful luxury” their camps are all built with environmentally-sensitive architecture. Understanding the fragility of the wilderness they operate in, they make sure they minimise any negative impact they might have on the environment and the camps are thoughtfully placed in locations where they don’t take away from the wilderness of the area.

Wilderness Safaris have a commitment to community engagement in the areas surrounding their camps. Through community employment, Wilderness Safaris currently have more than 100 staff members from local communities throughout their camps, and with the average staff member supporting 7 other people each, 700 further people benefit. Community partnerships can also help to protect and conserve the land. Wilderness Safaris Damaraland Camp is located in the Torra Conservancy, and through community work and ecotourism they protect around 350 hectares of land within the Torra Conservancy. As a result of this protected land the wildlife is prospering and “‘problem animals’ are now seen as a resource that can bring money into the community via ecotourism.”

With animals and humans living side by side there is a risk of human-wildlife conflict, and Wilderness Safaris seek to address this issue. The Skeleton Coast has seen its desert-adapted lion population grow considerably in the past 15 years. Lion mortalities are declining as attitudes in the community are changing due in part to Wilderness Safaris’ help. A research centre was built at Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp for their Desert Lion Project, and the attention gained from an acclaimed documentary have helped local communities and guests understand the importance of the desert-adapted lions and a greater understanding has allowed rural communities to live peacefully with the lions.

The camp offer reusable water bottles for guests to help reduce their plastic bottle usage