In the north-west of Botswana, Maun International Airport serves as the main gateway to safari lodges in the country. Good news: Feline Fields by Mantis has recently opened a private guest lounge at the airport and has reconfirmed its partnership with private jet company Luxaviation. Services by Luxaviation include direct travel from Europe to Botswana for up to 16 people, and flights can depart from major cities, including London, Paris and Brussels.
The lounge is located approximately 800 feet from Maun Airport and is accessible to guests taking commercial or private charter flights. Complimentary refreshments as well as Wi-Fi are provided at the lounge. Additionally, Feline Fields by Mantis now offers guests booking seven nights or more at the camp and the lodge complimentary road transfers and a scenic one-hour flight when transferring between Khwai and the Kalahari, all year round.
Feline Fields by Mantis has two distinct offerings in Botswana that can be booked individually or combined. These are Feline Fields The Lodge, a luxurious safari lodge situated within the Kalahari Desert and the Khwai Camp, an intimate tented camp in the Khwai concession—adjacent to Moremi Game Reserve along the banks of the Khwai River. No two itineraries are the same as bespoke experiences are curated for guests to enjoy their stay, their way.
Feline Fields The Lodge comprises a main building, which houses a contemporary lounge overlooking a 80-foot lap pool. Guests can dine on the raised deck, and the kitchen is under the supervision of chef Pauline, who has many years of experience at some of the most renowned lodges in Botswana. Menus are inspired by French cuisine and incorporate the region’s specialty dishes and seasonal produce.
Guestrooms include three two-story pool suites, three bush suites and one two-bedroom family villa. The suites have views over the wilderness and provide guests with total privacy.
Activities include morning and evening game drives where guests can spot wildlife, including the oryx and eland, leopards, the rare brown hyena and elephants. The area can also be explored on foot or by sand-bike with a guide, and a wide array of birds can be observed onsite at the lodge. Guided Kalahari horse-riding experience is highly recommended and offered complimentary at the lodge.
Feline Fields The Lodge operates in harmony with its surroundings with architecture designed for ecological conservation and materials from low energy and renewable sources, coupled with operational practices for efficient energy and water usage.
Special Experience: Exploring the open plains with the San Bushmen of the Kalahari. Accompanied by a translator guide, guests have the opportunity to follow these ancient nomadic hunters and gain insight into the culture and time-honored traditions of the three oldest inhabitants of Southern Africa. A veritable step back in time, walking alongside the Bushmen reveals the untold world of these charismatic people.
The Khwai Camp is designed to evoke the experience of African bush safaris taken by the explorers of yester-year, with the added element of luxe touches. The camp has nine bell tents (perched on raised decks) furnished with carpets, double or twin beds, hanging canvas shelves and bedside tables with small solar lanterns. All the tents have an en-suite bathroom with a copper basin and a large eco-friendly bucket shower that is filled with warm water each morning. The camp also benefits from a main lounge tent for dining and relaxation.
The wildlife sightings in Khwai are the focus of the guest itinerary with morning, afternoon and evening game drives available. Wildlife that can be spotted in the concession includes zebra, giraffes, leopards, hippo, buffaloes, and wildebeest. There are also bird-watching opportunities, in particular waterfowl and birds of prey. Popular experiences include fishing and an African lunch experience serviced on a boat expedition on the Delta.
An advantage of a stay here is the opportunity to explore the Khwai River in a mokoro (a traditional dugout canoe) where guests can spend around two hours gliding along the river steered by a professional guide.
The Khwai Camp has been designed to have the lightest possible footprint on the ecosystem. Lighting is provided by lanterns powered by bio paraffin or solar energy.
The Feline Fields Trust, a non-profit organization, supports wildlife talks at local schools, cultural preservation projects, and transport facilities for local school children, as well as computers and uniforms donation.
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