Abu Camp

Abu Camp is one of the most luxurious and expensive camps in Botswana. For many years it gained a reputation as the place to ride African elephants in a pristine wilderness environment, and attracted many safari enthusiasts. However, Abu Camp has stopped this practice and instead has focused on elephant conservation and the opportunity to spend time walking with them through the bush, observing them up close in the wild and getting to know their individual characters.

Abu Camp is an immaculately designed safari lodge, with rooms the size of small apartments finished to the highest specifications, with quality furnishings and service of the very best standard.

Accommodation at Abu Camp consists of just six tented suites which all face out onto the lagoon. Their basic design – of timber frames with canvas walls and with large mesh windows that keep insects out but let the breeze in – is relatively typical of many other safari camps in the Okavango Delta. Where Abu Camp’s suites differ, however, is in their décor: each is unique.

Suites stretch along the bank of the lagoon so that the bedroom, study area and bathroom all faced out onto the water. The other side of each suite is taken up with a king-sized bed and a couple of chairs, plus a cabinet containing a minibar and tea and coffee station. There’s no air-conditioning at Abu but it’s hardly needed given the open nature of the suites. When it does get really hot, a couple of ceiling fans, one right above the bed, do a really good job of keeping the temperature down.

Around the corner from the bathtub, the wooden veranda extends to the front of each suite, which, depending on the water levels has water from the lagoon lapping right up to its stilts. With some really comfortable sala beds, this is a great place to relax and take in the birdlife. Guests in the honeymoon suite have their own private plunge pool, too.

Abu Camp’s split-level main area is very impressive indeed. It was designed with ‘free-flow’ as its inspiration, and the colour scheme of beige and greys taken from the elephants. It is all very contemporary. The open nature of the camp means that its elevated position provides great views across the floodplains.

The first thing that visitors notice as they enter camp is a termite mound. Next to this is a small, open-air lounge with several comfortable sofas and chairs. From this central spot, the main camp facilities radiate out across decks at various levels, each with about three to four steps separating them. The upper most deck has a large lounge divided by the stylish yet comfortable sofas and chairs into several small private lounge spaces. It also has the main dining room to the back. Here tables can be laid out for one sociable gathering or very easily into individual tables for private dining – whichever is preferred. This is also where a large tea and coffee station is located.

The lowest level leads to the fire pit where breakfast is often served. This is also a lovely spot for before and after dinner drinks.

Down at ground level, and set to the side of the main area, is the swimming pool with a wooden deck set with a few recliners. Slightly further back there is also a simple gym with a treadmill, rowing machine and a few free weights. For snacking, there’s a large pizza oven just outside the door. Here, under the guidance of Abu’s chef, guests can create their own pizza combinations.

For those wanting to spend time with the elephants, guests can sleep under the stars for one evening of their stay while the elephants slumber below. A wooden platform, The Star Bed, is set up to overlook the elephant’s enclosure and equipped with a very comfortable king-sized bed under a mosquito net, with a bathroom on a lower level.

*For a full list of available activities, the best time of the year to visit, and any other relevant enquiries, please contact a Sister Hippo Travel Consultant!