Seronga community loots own tourist camp

“Owaii! Mbiroba bae nyombile!” This was the response we got from a friend in Seronga when we were looking for a place to stay in the area recently. The saying is Ngamiland’s equivalent of “they have totally looted the place”. And now there is no accommodation, no campsite, nor guesthouse in Seronga – a big village where the Okavango Delta starts.

About a decade ago Seronga had a booming tourist camp called Mbiroba Camp named after the location next to it. With its lush green lawns under the shades of cool giant acacia trees, cosy chalets with thatched roof, big ablution area with hot showers accommodating overland trucks, large common area with a kitchen, and fully serviced campsite, Mbiroba was beautiful.