Chobe Under Canvas is a semi-permanent tented camp, that relocates around the Chobe Riverfront every 5th day to conform with Botswana's National Park rules. It combines all the advantages of mobile camping, without losing its luxurious and adventurous appeal. Chobe National Park is probably the most affordable of Botswana's parks and the most-frequented areas, such as on and beside the river, can become quite crowded. A safari into this outstanding park is usually combined with a tour that includes Victoria Falls and the Okavango Delta.

Chobe National Park is Botswana's most well-known conservation area after the famous Okavango Delta. It is also the country's 2nd largest national park covering an area of some 10,566km². It borders the Chobe River to the north, down to the Savute Channel and beyond, to the far western reaches of the Moremi Game Reserve and the Delta itself. Chobe is often associated with its huge elephant population, diverse and distinct eco-systems and fabulous birdlife.

Chobe Under Canvas is a short 30 min self-drive from Kasane, depending on the wildlife activity en-route. Fly-and-transfer to the camp by road is also possible as are tours that visit Savute Under Canvas, Sandibe Safari Lodge, Nxabega Safari Camp, Xaranna Okavango Lodge and Xudum Delta Lodge.

Guests congregate under an open-sided marquee style tent, for group meals, sat around a long table. There is no electricity in the camp and lanterns add to the romance of the location. The temporary bar table supplies a selection of drinks and there is a small reference library and a selection of board games.

As Chobe Under Canvas is a mobile camp, the kitchen facilities tend to be basic. However, they pride themselves, and many guests complement them, on the impressive standard of meals on offer. Breakfast is usually a selection of cereals, fresh fruit, yoghurt and toast. Salads, cold meats, cheeses and freshly baked bread are served for lunch. Snacks, with a tasty variety of fillings are taken on the morning activities or served for afternoon tea.

The evening begins with pre-dinner drinks around the camp fire, followed by a substantial meal such as creamy sweet corn soup, basmati rice, marinated chicken pieces, mixed vegetables and a fresh green salad. Grilled apple rings and cinnamon cream follow! A good selection of soft drinks, beer, wine and spirits are on offer with plenty of drinking water available.

Chobe Under Canvas camp has 5 spacious, walk-in tents. Each unit is furnished with a comfortable twin or double bed, with sisal matting covering the floor. Bedside tables, with rechargeable lanterns, a hanging rail, canvas wardrobe and luggage chest are standard. A rolled-up doorway leads through to your en-suite bathroom, flush toilet, shaving mirror, tin basin, water jug and a selection of complimentary soaps. Hot water is supplied after your activities and the bucket shower hangs above a slatted wooden mat.

Chobe is celebrated for its huge elephant population, and all of the major species are here including: giraffe, hippo, crocs, zebra, impala, tsessebe, roan, sable, wildebeest, kudu, buffalo, waterbuck, warthog and eland. Predators include: lion, hyaena, jackal, bat-eared fox and possibly cheetah and the African wild dog. Game viewing is at its best during the dry season, (May-Oct) when the majority of natural pans have dried up.

Chobe is known for its specials: African skimmer, pygmy goose, rock pratincole, African finfoot, half-collared kingfisher and white-backed night heron, western banded snake eagle, pennant-winged nightjar, racket-tailed roller, collared palm thrush, swamp boubou, coppery sunbird, brown firefinch, broad-tailed paradise whydah, golden-backed pytilia, slaty egret, rufous-bellied heron, pink-throated longclaw, chirping cisticola, luapula cisticola, greater swamp warbler, white-crowned plover.

All activities are led by professional and very knowledgeable guides in this ever-increasing popular part of the park. Your guides have become expert at hunting out the more secluded, but just as spectacular wildlife intense areas of the riverfront.

Chobe Lodges | Botswana

Game drives

Traditional morning and afternoon game drives conducted in open-sided 4x4 safari vehicles along the Chobe River offer fantastic game viewing opportunities.

Boat Trips

Cruise along Chobe River and watch all the big game drinking and grazing at the waters edge. Birders in particular will enjoy the great variety of species to be found here.

• Unfortunately no children under the age of 12 years are permitted at Chobe Under Canvas