Bushman Plains Camp – Okavango Delta

“The Roar of the Lions Was My Dinner Bell” – Bushman Elder Tsima Bushman Plains Camp is Botswana’s First Bushman-owned Safari Camp in the Heart of the Okavango Delta. This camp is located within a 370,000 acre wilderness, utilizing a prime wildlife area where only one other camp operates, making this arguably Botswana’s most exclusve safari area. Highly skilled guides and trackers lead your daily activities. Game drives are in open-sided vehicles, include off road driving, and are the best way to have close-up viewing of the plentiful wildlife. Unlike most safari camps our drives do not have to be confined to staying in the vehicle. You are with the masters of the bush, and they will share with you their phenomenal tracking skills. If you are keen, you can take to foot along with your guide/tracker team to follow fresh tracks and see where they lead (returning to the vehicle once close to predators – guest safety is always paramount). After dark we can night drive using red-filtered spotlights to minimize disturbance as we seek out the active nocturnal animals. Join these masters of the natural world on a safari within the wilderness of the famed Okavango Delta to connect to our shared origins.

Meru Guest Tents

Bushman Plains is an intimate camp with just four classic Meru style guest tents. The tents are large (8m x 4m) with an en-suite bathroom area included. The tents feature beds that can be configured as twin or king with teak bed frames, solar lighting, flush toilets, and bucket shower. Each tent is tucked under a towering island forest with wonderful views of open flood plains.

Game Drives

Game drives are in open-sided vehicles, include off road driving, and are the best way to have close-up viewing of the plentiful wildlife. Unlike most safari camps our drives do not have to be confined to staying in the vehicle. You are with the masters of the bush, and they will share with you their phenomenal tracking skills. If you are keen, you can take to foot along with your guide/tracker team to follow fresh tracks and see where they lead (returning to the vehicle once close to predators – guest safety is always paramount). After dark we can night drive using red-filtered spotlights to minimize disturbance as we seek out the active nocturnal animals.

Night Game Drives

Night game drives provide the opportunity to seek out nocturnal animals, increasing the diversity of species encountered. Night drives also increase the chance of seeing animals during their most active time – sometimes the lions that are sleeping all day get on the move once darkness falls.

Typically the afternoon game drive stops for a sundowner drink to enjoy the stunning sunset. The drive back to camp is then in the darkness while your tracker utilizes a spotlight to search for animals. For guests with interest and stamina we can also arrange to do a night drive after dinner, increasing the chances of finding the more nocturnal creatures.

Walking Safaris

Walking safaris are available to focus on the small secrets of the bush. Your guide can teach you about spoor (tracks), scat, and other signs of wildlife. You will also learn about medicinal plants and the legendary Bushman survival skills.

Mokoro (dugout canoe) excursions

We are blessed with permanent water channels, allowing us year round to offer exploration of the Okavango by mokoro (dugout canoe poled by a guide like a gondola). This is the traditional means of transportation in the Okavango Delta and allows you to experience the environment in a different way.

Bushman Culture

At Bushman Plains we are able to offer the Okavango’s premier cultural expeirnece. Bushmen from Guidgwa Village visit us at camp to proudly share their culuture. Story telling, music and dancing have always been central to the culture of the first people, and they share these important aspects of life with our guests. You will be one of the rare few who learns the lifestyle of our most ancient ancestors.

Hot Air Ballooning – Optional Activity at Added Cost

Hot air ballooning over the Okavango is available seasonally from April to September. Each balloon ride is limited to 4 people for an intimate experience and must be booked in advance.

Chopper to Creation: Visit to Tsodilo Hills UNESCO World Heritage Site – Optional Activity at Added Cost

The Bushmen believe that Humankind was created at the Tsodilo Hills, and thus this is a one-of-a-kind expedition to complete your Bushman cultural experience.

This is a spiritual place, famed for its incredible Bushman art that was dubbed by Laurens van der Post as the “Louvre of the Desert”. Tsodilo Hills has been named a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its estimated 4,500 rock art paintings date back as much as 24,000 years, while the record of human presence extends beyond an astounding 100,000 years!

This extraordinary excursion begins with a helicopter landing on the Bushman Plains. You then enjoy the exceptional scenic views crossing a large swath of the Okavango Delta, before arriving to the Tsodilo Hills. At Tsodilo Hills you are met by a vehicle and private San Bushman guide, who shares the world class treasures of this magical place with you – bringing the unique Bushman point of view as you hike amongst some of the best of the 400+ rock art sites available. Cold drinks and a picnic lunch are included, before you helicopter back to camp. The entire excursion takes between 4 to 5 hours, delivering a remarkable experience, that due to its remote location very few visitors to Botswana receive.