Sankuyo Plains Camp, Okavango Delta, Botswana

Sankuyo Plains Camp is scheduled to open in April, bringing what is expected to be a tremendous new camp to the Okavango Delta region. The camp is located in a prime area for predator viewing, in fact this private concession has long served as the home base for much of Botswana’s predator research, including Dr. Tico McNutt’s African wild dog research. Dr. McNutt’s efforts have now been expanded to become the Botswana Predator Conservation Program, including studies on lions (3 prides in the area), spotted hyena, leopard, and cheetah. The book The Lion Children is based on lion research conducted in this concession as well. It should be noted that being the geographic center for Botswana’s major predator studies means there are a number of animals that are fitted with GPS collars, an issue for photography but it is still just a small portion of the predators that are collared. Sankuyo Plains Camp lies on the southern border of the wildlife rich Moremi Game Reserve, widely considered to be amongst the richest wildlife areas in all Africa.

Of special importance Sankuyo Plains Camp is a first of its kind model for community based tourism. Traditionally in Botswana local people own concession rights and they earn an income by leasing their concession to a safari operator who builds and operates a safari camp. In this case, the Sankuyo Tshwaragano Management Trust has instead entered a partnership with Lodges of Botswana to develop and manage Sankuyo Plains Camp as a 50/50 venture with the community earning 50% of the actual operating profits. The Sankuyo Tshwaragano Management Trust had a competitive proposal process before selecting this model that is believed to be more beneficial for the community than the traditional leasing set up. A guiding principle for The Wild Source is to support community based projects and I am ecstatic to see the development of this new model and hope that as additional concession leases come up for renewal that other local people will be able to increase their economic benefits.

Activities at Sankuyo Plains Camp will include game drives and night drives in open vehicles with a guide and tracker. Bush walks are also expected to be featured at Sankuyo Plains.

The accommodations at Sankuyo Plains Camp are going to be something special. I have been given details but sworn to secrecy until the Sankuyo Plains Camp opens. It will be a small camp limited to eight tents with en-suite bathrooms. Sankuyo will be very luxurious yet retain the elements of a traditional bush camp. Despite the high level of luxury and quality wildlife area high season pricing at Sankuyo Plains will be 25% below other comparable camps in Botswana, making Sankuyo Plains Camp a fantastic value. We are able to book this camp now for dates after April.