Abu Camp

Abu Camp has received worldwide recognition for its innovative work with orphaned and rejected elephants who have come together to form the Abu Herd. This herd of personalities, from matriarch Cathy to naughty youngest, Naledi, forms the heart of the interactive elephant experience, where guests meet, walk and intermingle with the animals. Abu is a place that concentrates on the broader and more meaningful element of elephant conservation and involves its guests in these efforts.

And this the camp has been doing for over 20 years, offering its guests a rare African experience of walking and interacting with elephants in the wild. Located within the vast 180,000-hectare (450,000-acre) Abu Concession, a pristine, exclusive wilderness in Botswana’s Okavango Delta, guests can closely observe and interact with the Abu Herd and learn about wildlife and habitat conservation from guides, elephant experts and researchers. The Camp’s programme focuses on respectful, unintrusive forms of elephant interaction and education consistent with the highest industry standards, including its immersive walking-based experience.

The Camp’s vision is to care for abused or orphaned elephants and, where possible, to return these elephants that have spent much of their life in captivity back into the African wild. The movements and behaviour of the reintroduced elephants are studied by scientists in the wild, thus contributing significantly to our understanding of the conservation issues that the species faces. Since the inception of Abu Camp, nine elephants have been successfully reintroduced into the wild.

Named after a very special bull elephant, the camp is set in a pristine copse of riverine forest and blends in seamlessly with the magnificent surrounding hardwood trees. Looking out over a large lagoon, an imaginative use of canvas has created a unique and luxurious style of tent. Each of the six en-suite tents has its own distinctive furnishings and fittings, imparting an air of opulence in the bush, and featuring an indoor and outdoor shower, an outdoor copper bath and a plunge pool sunk into the elevated teak deck. And for an unforgetable experience, sleep under the stars in the popular Star Bed near the elephant boma; be lulled to sleep by elephant rumblings from the nearby resting herd.

There is a multi-decked lounge, filled with comfy sofas from which to enjoy breathtaking views over the lagoon. The inviting dining and bar areas are beautifully designed on raised wooden decks interwoven through the African ebony, sycamore and fig trees. A well-stocked library and study, gym and pool will keep you entertained, informed and energised while at Abu Camp.