Qorokwe Camp

Set in a high-density game area in Botswana’s southeastern Okavango, Qorokwe is a four-star camp with the service, cuisine and game viewing of a five-star lodge.

The name Qorokwe means “the place where the buffalo broke through the bush into the water.” It’s an apt description that captures both the impressive quality of the camp’s game viewing and its prime location overlooking a watering hole that is home to several families of hippos. Located on the nearly 65,000-acre Qorokwe Concession, Qorokwe Camp occupies a former hunting reserve that only transitioned into tourism during the 2000s, so the animals remain slightly skittish around vehicles, but the wildlife sightings still abound. On any given day in Qorokwe, guests are likely to see any or all of the Big Five. The reserve owes its large population of animals to the rich variety of habitats that can be found between its western and eastern borders, including vast flood plains, wooded forest and wild, sprawling savannah. The guides are intimately familiar with the region, as many of the camp’s staff members are from the local community.

The camp has nine tented suites that are spacious and comfortable with wraparound decks and views of the hippo-filled waters beyond. The design here is chic and contemporary, setting it apart from many other safari lodges. The one family unit has its own plunge pool. Unlike most of the country’s other four-star properties, Qorokwe feels more like a lodge than a camp, with structures made from wood rather than canvas. In fact, the only noticeable difference between Qorokwe and its five-star counterparts is that an unpaved path (rather than a raised boardwalk) links the guest rooms to Qorokwe’s main restaurant and lounge.

Qorokwe is perfect for couples and small groups. Parents should be advised that the walkway between the rooms and main camp is not elevated.