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Elephants
Abu Camp's resident elephant herd offers an unparalleled opportunity to become steeped in the African environment and transform your perception of elephants, wildlife and hopefully, your outlook on life itself.
During your stay you are invited to immerse yourself in the elephant herd. Explore the pristine environment with the herd, and get to know the personalities of each family member, from playful babies to precocious teenagers and doting mothers, all led by the sage, experienced matriarch, Cathy. By the time you leave Abu, you will feel a special, emotional connection to the herd which is humbling and rewarding.
The Abu herd offers an incomparable opportunity to intimately engage and physically interact with elephants through varied activities. Shortly after arriving at camp, guests will be personally introduced to the herd, with the activities that follow over the remainder of the stay offering an all-encompassing and satisfying experience in the world of the elephant:
• Walk with the elephants
• physically interact with the herd
• participate in or just observe activities such as mud bathing, training and veterinary care
• engage in elephant-back safaris
• view wildlife from the back of an elephant
• discuss elephant conservation and care with local researchers
• gain insightful interpretation of elephant behavior
For those seeking the ultimate immersion experience into the serene, sensory world of the African elephant, Abu Camp now offers the opportunity to sleep out under the stars, in the new Star Bed overlooking the elephant boma.
On request, guests are escorted to the large double bed of the Star Bed after dinner on one night of their stay at Abu Camp. Here, raised high above the ground, they sleep beneath the incredible canopy of stars so iconic of the southern hemisphere, and are lulled to sleep by the contented rumbling and low snores of the elephants below.
The Star Bed offers an opportunity to "sleep with the elephants" found nowhere else in Africa. To ensure complete comfort a bathroom, including an open shower, is found on the tier below the top deck.
Land
For those wanting to explore further afield and wishing to track and photograph specific mammals, especially big game such as predators and herds of elephant and buffalo, game drive activities in open safari vehicles are offered. Early morning or late afternoons provide the best opportunities to see wildlife as this time of day is cooler. Wildlife tends to be more active at this time, often choosing to hunt, feed and drink then.
Part of the enjoyment of these drives with a highly qualified, interpretive guide is experiencing the expanse and diversity of the area, as well as stopping at spectacular locations and enjoying either early-morning tea or coffee or a sunset drink while taking in the splendour of the Delta and its active inhabitants.
Water
Float in tranquil reflection down the quiet channels of the Delta on a motorboat or mokoro (seasonal), a traditional dugout canoe, navigated through the waters by a skilled poler. A romantic way of viewing the Delta, the mokoro will give you a completely different perspective of the area and your safari experience.
The beauty of the mokoro is the silence and tranquillity of your travel. The enjoyment of being at one with nature and causing little disturbance to the surrounding wildlife enhances the experience. Bird-watching is at its best from a mokoro. Expect to see delicately patterned reed frogs and myriad colourful water birds, such as kingfishers seeking their next meal.
Air
Flying is a wonderful way to appreciate the diversity of the Abu Concession and the Okavango Delta as a whole. Scenic light aircraft or helicopter flights, which can be arranged at camp, offer a bird's-eye view of the entire ecosystem and an insight into its formation. The densely matted papyrus waterways, palm islands and the role of termites all take on an entirely new perspective when seen from above.
Finding the Abu herd from the air is part of the journey, along with looking for wild elephant herds and other wildlife. |
