Married
on the Mbudi
Friday, 18th to Sunday, the 20th of April 2025
We're incredibly lucky to be able to welcome you to our close-knit wedding set on the banks of the Mbudi river in Khwai, Botswana. Over the Easter weekend, we’ve invited a group of beloved friends and family to mark the occasion with a festival-style jaunt in the Delta.
​
What to Expect
Peruse this site for the answers you seek...about this wedding - we can't offer answers to life's bigger questions (sorry)!
Guests will make their way to Maun either by Thursday (and stay over in Maun) or on Friday by driving or flying in.
On Friday, we have arranged for game vehicles to collect everyone from Maun. In convoy, we'll embark on a 3-hour journey into the Mopane - much gees and 20/20 vision for a game of eye spy is preferable.
See "Getting There" for more info on getting to Maun and the voyage to the wedding site.
​
On Friday 18th
From Maun, a convoy heads to Mmatsebe, the setting for a spectacular celebration of lurrrve, leopards and cold lager.​​
Upon arrival, you'll be shown to your meru tent - a simple yet charming setup within a mobile camp we're calling "Mbudi Village".
​
At Mmatsebe, there's a small pool, plenty lounging spots, bird watching and we expect general merriment will ensue henceforth. That evening, we'll enjoy a braai in camp before being wooed to sleep by the sounds of the Delta choir (tenors are obviously bull frogs, sopranos mosquitos...you get it).
​
To read more about Mmatsebe and your accommodation, please see "Lodgings".
​
On Saturday 19th
This is wedding day!
​
​The day kicks off with an early morning game drive, where you’ll be treated to stunning scenery, hopefully some animals and a masterclass in birding from one or all of the Lovemore clan. Kelly Butler’s legendary tea boxes will be on hand to stave off any hunger-induced dramatics.
That afternoon —we relax, play games, and overlook nature's glory from the camp’s deck - and if you thought that meant naked men running across the pan...you may not be that far off. As a special request from us, kindly keep an eye on Angus so he doesn't overdo the beers before 4 p.m - otherwise we're an officiant down.
As the sun dips low, guests will head to a breathtaking bend on the Mbudi River, where a beautiful wedding ceremony will have everyone crying so many of their own personal rivers that the people of Maun will rejoice for relief from the drought. The night gets going with a bush feast followed by a quiet joll and a comprehensive reading of The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. And that's it you guys - no funny business!
All food will be provided for the whole weekend. Drinks are also available all weekend, so aside from any niche hard tack there is no need to BYOB to the bush. Drinks are on us on Saturday, and we'll have a 'cash' bar for the rest of the weekend (see Guest Budget).
​​​
On Sunday 20th
Goodbye my lovers, goodbye my friends! There will be vehicles available to take guests to Maun at 9:30-10am should they be catching the afternoon flight back to their motherland. Similarly, those of you that are extending your stay we advise setting off on Sunday afternoon.
If you're departing from Maun on Monday, and would prefer another night in the bush, we welcome you to stay with us for a final day of chilling and leftovers - there will be early morning vehicles to Maun on Monday 21st.
​
Before you RSVP, kindly visit the "Guest Budget" section for a breakdown of expected costs for this little adventure.
It covers everything from travel expenses to a modest contribution toward your stay. ​
Why Khwai
Khwai is woven into the fabric of both our lives and love story. For Meg, it’s where she spent her upbringing - believing that birds were following her everywhere she went, protecting her from baddies - fishing with her brothers and dad with black bin bags wrapped around their legs to guard off leeches. For Rich, it’s a cherished destination of many a family trip, a place brimming with nostalgia and where he cut his teeth as a rookie contractor building a lodge for the Butlers alongside Angus - in true Lovemore fashion requesting rigging gloves for the job...and in true Butler fashion being laughed off the site. In recent years, it’s become the setting for some of our most treasured moments together. It was here that Meg had her first big trip with Rich, celebrating her 21st surrounded by fellow Rhodents, and then nine years later, on a trip to Mmatsebe, Rich proposed!
This year - it's where we'll get married.
Khwai is not just a place to us; it’s where love, family, and the essence of who we are intertwine.​
​
We welcome guests to continue their adventure in Botswana with a trip to the beautiful surrounds. Check out the section "Extending your Trip".