Wilderness Adventure at King's Pool Camp, Okavango Delta

Wilderness King’s Pool was the very first camp I stayed at in Botswana, and honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to the country or to safari life there. Going into the trip, I was definitely a little nervous because it was my first solo trip to Botswana. Between being completely off the grid and having almost no service with T-Mobile that close to the Namibia border, it felt a little intimidating at first. But the second I arrived at camp, all of that anxiety completely disappeared. The staff made me feel so welcomed, comfortable, and genuinely cared for from the very beginning. Traveling solo can sometimes feel awkward at meals or activities, but everyone there went out of their way to make sure I never felt alone. One of my favorite memories was the Boma dinner. Tilly sitting and eating with me made the whole evening feel so warm and personal instead of just another hotel experience. That kind of kindness and hospitality is something you can’t fake, and it made such an impact on me. The camp itself is absolutely stunning. Sitting right along the water with elephants constantly wandering through camp felt surreal. One of the most special parts of the stay was simply walking around the grounds and suddenly having elephants right there beside me. It never stopped feeling magical. Everywhere you looked there was wildlife, and yet the camp still felt peaceful, intimate, and incredibly luxurious without losing the authentic safari atmosphere. One of the absolute highlights of my stay was getting to do the barge experience. Before arriving, I had actually been told that the barge hadn’t been operating for almost two years because there hadn’t been enough rain. Coincidentally, I’d like to think I brought the rain from Miami because during my stay the water levels finally allowed it to happen. Being out on the water surrounded by hippos was absolutely incredible and ended up being one of the most unique safari experiences of my trip. There was something so peaceful and exciting at the same time about being that close to the wildlife in the middle of the water. When I first arrived, I mentioned to my guide, Wise, that I had already seen the Big Five while staying at Sabi Sabi in South Africa, so my main hope was really just to see another lion, maybe a leopard, and whatever else the bush decided to give us. Wise was incredible. He was so knowledgeable, calm, and genuinely passionate about tracking animals, and you could tell how determined he was to make every drive special. He had an amazing instinct for finding wildlife, and every game drive felt exciting because of him. The food was also phenomenal. Every meal felt thoughtful, fresh, and beautifully done, and sitting overlooking the water while eating made the whole experience even more memorable. Between the incredible setting, the amazing staff, and the wildlife all around camp, it was the perfect place to begin my Botswana adventure. Even though I only spent one night at King’s Pool, it ended up being one of the highlights of my trip simply because of how welcomed and at ease everyone made me feel as a solo traveler. Looking back now, I honestly can’t imagine a better first safari camp experience in Botswana.

It was a dream to have been there as a guest. Everything was perfect, we saw

Very gladly

Great destination! Enjoyed the open trail and peaceful outdoor atmosphere.

Wilderness Kings Pool in the Linyanti is a wonderful camp with a fantastic staff. We were waited on like Royalty and the food can compare with any 4 star restaurant. Our tent was luxurious and looked over the Linyanti River, where we were treated to constant sighting of hippos. We also had a bush buck that liked to hang around outside our tent. Oris, our guide, made sure that we didn’t miss anything. All of our game drives were full of animals. We even got to see a lion chase away a leopard and steal its kill. Kings Pool is a perfect place to spend part of your Safari in Botswana.