
Botswana
Pelo
A Secluded Paradise
Tucked onto an island in the heart of the Okavango Delta, Wilderness Pelo is the perfect setting for a water-based safari.
DESTINATIONS
Wilderness Pelo
Wilderness Pelo
Nestled in the heart of the Delta.
Remote, pristine and utterly charming. Pelo means heart in Setswana – a fitting name for this light-footprint camp, which sits on a heart-shaped island in the deepest part of the Okavango Delta. A birder’s paradise, explore the myriad channels on a traditional mokoro, spotting a Pel’s fishing-owl, African jacanas and ‘umbrella fishing’ black herons - with elephants and other African wildlife seen feeding in the distance on the floodplains.




Pelo moments
Wilderness Pelo is an Okavango Delta treasure. Spend sunny days gliding through the peaceful waters by boat or mokoro, getting to know the residents: hippos, crocs, tiny reed frogs, and elephants, and (if you’re lucky) a beautiful aquatic sitatunga. Not to mention hundreds of bright and beautiful birds - jewelled malachite kingfishers, a Pel’s fishing-owl, and stately saddle-billed storks.




Pelo moments
Wilderness Pelo is an Okavango Delta treasure. Spend sunny days gliding through the peaceful waters by boat or mokoro, getting to know the residents: hippos, crocs, tiny reed frogs, and elephants, and (if you’re lucky) a beautiful aquatic sitatunga. Not to mention hundreds of bright and beautiful birds - jewelled malachite kingfishers, a Pel’s fishing-owl, and stately saddle-billed storks.
Accommodation
Cuisine
THE DETAILS
Wilderness Pelo
Pelo is the perfect complement to your land-based Botswana safari. Five elegant tents sit close to the waterway, amplifying the sense of being in the heart of the Delta. Birdlife is exceptional here, with the largest concentration of endangered wattled cranes, and rare antelope species such as the sitatunga and red lechwe.

Follow the flow of nature
As you wake to melodious birdsong and the stirrings of wildlife, you’ll soon feel the beating pulse of Africa’s wild. And understand why we are passionate about conserving the wildlife at Pelo. We do this by using only natural materials in our camp, and offering low-impact, carbon neutral activities and using 100% solar power.
Pool
Cool off in our inviting plunge pool with views over the Delta.
Solar Power
Passionate about conservation, Pelo is 100% solar powered.

Sitatunga
Spot this rare & elusive, water-loving antelope.

Elephant
Botswana is home to over 130 000 elephants.

Hippopotamus
Hippos spend up to 16 hours a day submerged.

Spotted-necked otter
A small otter with distinctive spots and adorable whiskers.

Explore the Jao Reserve
Pelo sits in the Jao Reserve, which encompasses 60,000 hectares and sits at the very heart of the wetlands of the Okavango Delta. In the east, the Jao Flats boast water channels that cut their way through the papyrus and reed beds, creating the perfect environment for wildlife. Further west, the land gets drier and Hunda Island is the largest area of dry land in the area.

Boating
Explore the Delta’s beautiful waterways by boat.

Nature walks
Take a guided walk around Pelo’s delightful island.

Mokoro
Discover the smaller on a traditional mokoro ride.

Catch-and-release fishing
Try your hand at catch-and-release fishing.
Purpose

Follow the flow of nature
As you wake to melodious birdsong and the stirrings of wildlife, you’ll soon feel the beating pulse of Africa’s wild. And understand why we are passionate about conserving the wildlife at Pelo. We do this by using only natural materials in our camp, and offering low-impact, carbon neutral activities and using 100% solar power.
Facilities
Pool
Cool off in our inviting plunge pool with views over the Delta.
Solar Power
Passionate about conservation, Pelo is 100% solar powered.
Wildlife

Sitatunga
Spot this rare & elusive, water-loving antelope.

Elephant
Botswana is home to over 130 000 elephants.

Hippopotamus
Hippos spend up to 16 hours a day submerged.

Spotted-necked otter
A small otter with distinctive spots and adorable whiskers.
Area

Explore the Jao Reserve
Pelo sits in the Jao Reserve, which encompasses 60,000 hectares and sits at the very heart of the wetlands of the Okavango Delta. In the east, the Jao Flats boast water channels that cut their way through the papyrus and reed beds, creating the perfect environment for wildlife. Further west, the land gets drier and Hunda Island is the largest area of dry land in the area.
Activities

Boating
Explore the Delta’s beautiful waterways by boat.

Nature walks
Take a guided walk around Pelo’s delightful island.

Mokoro
Discover the smaller on a traditional mokoro ride.

Catch-and-release fishing
Try your hand at catch-and-release fishing.
Pelo experiences
Map
Explore camps in the Okavango Delta
Pelo is located in the Jao Reserve bordering the Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta. Pelo lies in the deepest part of the Okavango Delta and embodies all the magic and mystique of this wondrous wetland. Think glittering lagoons, crystal-clear channels, floodplains and palm islands.
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General
Journal
Pelo featured stories

A family legacy in Botswana’s Jao Reserve
When the Batawana decided to establish a new village at Maun around 1915, the Kays were a part of th...
Read moreJanine Avery
08.08.2023

Guardians of the giants: Preserving baobabs in the Okavango Delta
Discover how Wilderness is protecting ancient baobabs in the Okavango Delta, ensuring these iconic t...
Read moreLauren Dold
12.02.2025

Wilderness Mombo newsletter – January 2025
January proved to be a remarkable month filled with memorable events and developments.
Read moreCamp Manager
07.02.2025

Big cats of Qorokwe
Discover the Okavango Delta’s big cats as Robyn Keene-Young reflects on the making of her and Adrian...
Read moreRobyn Keene-Young
22.01.2025

Wilderness Nominated In Travel + Leisure's 2025 World's Best Awards
Wilderness has been nominated in Travel + Leisure's 2025 World's Best Awards
Read moreWilderness Blogger
22.01.2025

Otsile Kgosi
20.01.2025

Let’s plan your next journey
Ready?
When we say we’re there every step of the way, we mean it, literally. From planning the perfect circuit, to private inter-camp transfers on Wilderness Air, and easing you through Customs. We’re with you on the ground, at your side, 24-7, from start to finish. Ready to take the road less travelled? Contact our Travel Designers to plan an unforgettable journey.