Getting to know the elephants at Abu Camp on a personal level is a rare and humbling experience. Meet each member of the herd, learn their history and begin to understand a little of what makes these grand, wise creatures what they are. Watch the interactions of the herd, how they walk silently and majestically along through the bush, trunks swinging, ears flapping – and then join them.

Whether walking alongside them or seated in large padded saddles mounted behind experienced elephant-handlers, to join a herd of the largest land mammals on a walk through the bush is to see Africa from a completely different perspective. Surrounded as you are by the herd, many other animals allow you to approach closer than ever. Herds of giraffe, zebra and antelope continue to graze, unconcerned by the approach of the elephant herd of which you are now an honoured part.

Also available are game drives in open 4x4 vehicles, night drives, guided nature walks, bird watching (Abu boasts a list of nearly 500 species) or time spent drifting on the tranquil waters of the Okavango Delta in a mokoro. In the evenings formal and informal talks will be given to enhance the elephant learning experience.

Abu Camp offers a three-night safari for a maximum of twelve people, ensuring that all the guests grow with the herd as they get to know them, offering a superb learning experience that is also a journey through the eyes of the elephants. All guests arrive and depart at the same time, allowing them to begin to relax and absorb the tranquility of their surroundings and to get to know the herd at the same pace. Cathy and her loving patience with the small calves in her herd, the antics of the youngsters, and the obvious wisdom of the elders all come together to create a rare glimpse into the lives of these intelligent and extraordinary animals.

Abu Camp, set deep in an ancient riverine forest, consists of six custom-built, stylishly furnished “tents” with en-suite bathrooms. Each tent has its own tree-shaded deck overlooking the lagoon, which thrives with abundant bird and animal life. The main deck is sculpted around giant trees, creating a dappled, cool atmosphere where meals and drinks are enjoyed. Sundowners around a traditional campfire are followed by five-star meals prepared by our expert safari chefs and served with the finest of South African wines. All of which is accompanied by the nocturne of the African bush: the roar of the lion, grunt of the hippo and haunting calls of the owl and nightjars.

Dress at Abu Camp is casual but in keeping with our ethos of complete harmony with our surroundings, we recommend subdued, safari-hued clothing. A sweater is advisable for alfresco evenings in the camp and on night game viewing drives.

Each guest leaves Abu Camp not only with a greater knowledge of the largest land mammal on Earth, but an in-depth, intrinsic understanding of what it means to be an elephant, the pressures and challenges of pachyderm life from within the herd. To be an elephant is to be an intelligent, emotional being with complex social structure, a deep capacity to feel, and a bone-vibrating ability to communicate across miles of African bush. Once you've been to Abu Camp, you will always be a part of the greater elephant herd.