The Elephant Trail Experience

Your elephant trail experience begins in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve at Kalahari Plains Camp, which will be your home for the next three nights. This is the land of San Bushmen, and although it’s a desert, is home to a surprising variety of wildlife. From the Kalahari black-maned lions to the more unusual aardvolf, honey badgers and brown hyena, there is so much to be seen. Aside from discovering new species, much can be learned from the San Bushmen who can provide insight into their unique culture. Although you may find a few lonesome bull elephants here, the herds will be moving across these lands and continuing their journey further north in search of water.

From the Kalahari, the elephants make their way up to the Okavango Delta, where water is readily available following the flooding of the delta which arrives into Botswana in the dry season. You will spend your three nights here at Tubu Tree Camp, located on Hunda Island in the 60,000 hectare Jao Concession. The island offers the most diverse game viewing in the concession and wildlife can be spotted on game drives, boat safaris, or whilst gliding between lily pads on mokoro canoes – and is likely to include the magnificent elephants themselves.

Our elephant trail ends at Savuti Camp, situated in the private Linyanti Concession along the Savute Channel. A natural phenomenon occurs here, where the waters of the Savute either flow strongly (attracting thirsty animals) or recede to leave behind a rich grassland where plains game and therefore predators thrive. This creates fantastic game viewing opportunities, particularly in the dry season when there are regular sightings to be had at the camp’s watering hole – a favourite spot for their elephant herd!