As close to nature as it gets, Chobe Under Canvas epitomises all the charm of rustic camping – with none of the discomfort. Here, flexibility is the word, with your guide attuned to all your safari expectations. Set in an area hosting the world’s largest concentration of African elephants, it’s a wildlife photographer’s dream.
Location
Covering some 11 000 square kilometres in northern Botswana, Chobe is the country’s oldest national park having been established in 1967 – although it was already proclaimed as a game reserve some 10 years earlier. World-famous for its phenomenal elephant and buffalo populations, the evocative Chobe River is prime territory for absorbing the phenomenon of the herds.
Camp description
Under Canvas camps are designed to be picked up and moved without leaving a trace. Chobe Under Canvas is no exception. But that doesn’t mean it’s light on comfort. The main guest area is set under a spacious open-sided tent where you feast, enjoy pre-dinner drinks or simply relax at siesta time. We like to think that the simplest meal can be elevated to exceptional cuisine when cooked over the coals, especially when a delicious dash of story-time about the day’s adventures is added.
Rooms
Chobe Under Canvas’ mobile tents are fitted with double or twin beds, and have their own en-suite bathrooms with separate flush loos. Throw yourself into the safari spirit under an outdoor bucket shower, and all the hot water you need. A table and chairs outside your tent entrance suggests time for a journal entry, or a spot of birdwatching during siesta time. And don’t hesitate to ask the private butler for any assistance. The absence of Wi-Fi simply amplifies the remoteness of your situation, offering precious quiet time to just take it all in.
Activities and experience
With the spectacle of the elephants, and the camp’s situation so close to the famous river, a boat-based photographic cruise* is an absolute must. And of course game drives, taking in the national park’s wild fabulousness. Game paths winding through the camp to the river offer a thrilling clue to the sightings to come.
* The Chobe River photographic boat cruise on is available for guests staying two or more consecutive nights.
