Baines' Camp - exclusivity in the hearth of the Okavango Delta - June 2004
BAINES' CAMP - EXCLUSIVITY IN THE HEART OF THE OKAVANGO DELTA
Sanctuary Lodges & Camps are proud to announce the opening on 1st August 2004 of their latest luxury camp, Baines'' Camp, named after the famed explorer and painter Thomas Baines, born in 1820. Thomas Baines, aptly known as an "Africana" painter with his paintings and sketches of new species of fauna and flora, left England at the age of 21 for the Southern African shores, venturing alongside David Livingstone exploring the upper Zambezi and Botswana.
Well shaded with excellent wildlife and panoramic views, Baines'' Camp is located on a private concession, on the southern edge of the Okavango Delta, overlooking a large, perennial lagoon off the Boro River. The concession is within a natural resource management area.
Baines'' Camp is a joint venture community based project, which will result in the socio economic up liftment of the community. This project has resulted in the creation of temporary and permanent employment as well as revenues from rentals and resource royalties. The community''s involvement has extended to include the supply of building materials, which formed part of their ancestral activities of collecting veld products (e.g. thatching grass and mopane poles).
Construction commenced in March 2004, on a greenfield site, following the management plan of the area. The design concept of the camp was the brainchild of the Sanctuary Lodge Development Team, headed by Graeme Labe, in conjunction with the consulting architect Jonathan Gimple. To ensure that the individual and environmental integrity of the camp was created and maintained the design team has spent considerable amount of time on site. In keeping with Sanctuary Lodges and Camps environmental practices care has been taken to ensure that environmentally sensitive sewage systems, power generation and water heating have been implemented. All of these systems will afford our guests state of the art services whilst with the knowledge that these systems are environmentally sound.
In keeping with the environmental theme an innovative, ecologically friendly concept has been developed for the design and construction of the camp''s walls. This has been achieved by the use of recycled beverage cans sealed in wire mesh and hessian panels and then finished with an elephant dung plaster mix. The beverage cans were collected by the introduction of an incentive programme given to the local schools and communities in and around the town of Maun, which resulted in the collection of 150,000 used cans. The benefits of the incentive programme were not only financial but also helped in a clean up process of the town.
This is a pile of 70,000 cans
Baines'' Camp will be a small intimate camp comprising 5 rooms thus making it the ultimate in exclusivity and luxury. For aesthetic and safety reasons the accommodation units will be raised 2 metres off the ground. The units will be linked by raised timber walkways and set in a tree line of huge Sausage, Jackal berry and Leadwood trees. The unique walling system in conjunction with the thatched roof provides both acoustic privacy and thermal regulation. The accommodation facilities include a mini bar, large wardrobe, ceiling fan, a four-poster bed enclosed with in soft mosquito netting, an en-suite bathroom and private viewing decks. The innovative design of the self-contained four-poster bed on wheels, coupled with the electrical system, will afford our guests the opportunity to choose whether to sleep in doors or out by merely having the bed rolled out creating a "star bed" experience.
The décor of each room is themed around a Thomas Baines'' historical painting, allowing for simplicity and rich textures. Attention to detail has also been given to the architectural design of the buildings and its finishes creating an individual and innovative camp. The main area circles a termite mound, which has a large Fig Tree and Knob Thorn Acacia. When the lagoon is in full flood building itself forms part of the termite island completely surrounded by water. There will be a fully stocked wine cellar, relaxing lounge and intimate dining area. The oversized open deck situated on the waters edge includes a suspended fireplace. A rim flow swimming pool with extensive views located in the privacy of a termite mound and palm tree will be completed in October 2004; this late completion date is due to high water levels.
Meals will be designed for flexibility and offer the ultimate dining experience either in the dining area, on the outside deck, in the intimacy of the private room deck or out of camp in the bush under a shady tree.
The concession area has superb game and bird viewing activities, which can be experienced as day and night game drives in open land cruisers; walking safaris with skilled armed professional guides, a world of "floating safaris" by poled mokoros (water levels permitting) or from a comfortable 8-seater motorised boat. The choice of activities will not end there with the unique and educational elephant interaction and hot air balloon safaris on offer.
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