Travel & Leisure recently named Botswana’s Mombo Camp and Little Mombo Camp Best Hotel In the World. Here are 10 reasons we think they deserve it.
The open-air structure
Almost every structure in Botswana’s Mombo Camp and Little Mombo Camp is open-air and connected by elevated walkways, so wildlife can easily wander through (and under) the camp, and you can spot wildlife from almost everywhere.
The living room
There’s a shared living room area outfitted in elegant furniture crafted from local materials and re-purposed items. These include a pygmy bed from the Congo-turned-coffee-table, long bench couches, fairy-tale lanterns and plush pillows. What’s best, the room has a giant thatched roof and overlooks open plains.
The tents
The luxurious tents make you feel like you’re on a safari without losing anything in comfort or elegance. Guests sleep in romantic beds surrounded by light, translucent curtains. There’s a generously sized living area, office space, charming local trinkets and decorative items everywhere. The rooms also overlook the plains so guests can spot lions, zebras and other game from their windows.
The amenities
The tents deserve a little more attention for their his-and-her sinks in the bathrooms, bamboo-back open showers and outdoor showers, and private verandas. And as for the bedding…you may never want to leave your room.
The bathroom views
Instead of a giant wall of mirrors, each bathroom sink has just a small, adjustable mirror because there is no wall behind the sinks. Bathrooms are covered by a tent-like device that guests can open and close at will, so they can wash their faces while taking in sunrise over the plains.
The dining areas
The hotel has several dining areas, all of which are open air. Each lets guests take in views of distinct parts of the surrounding grounds.
You can breakfast with the zebras
Guests can request to have a breakfast table set up on the actual campgrounds, amongst the wildlife. A server will still assist, just like in the normal dining areas.
You can enjoy a wilderness bar
In the evening, the hotel often sets up a bar right on the campgrounds, lit by nothing but candlelight, the moon and stars, and stocked with top-shelf local liquors, beer and wine.
The Big Five
The resort organizes driving safaris so guests can spot The Big Five (lions, leopards, buffalo, rhinoceros and elephants), along with other wildlife like hippos.
The gym
The photo speaks for itself but, if you’re someone who likes pretty scenery as motivation to work out, you will have the fittest week of your life here.