ELEPHANT PAN

The camp reopened following refurbishment in 2025, having previously been known as Hyena Pan Tented Camp. Its emphasis is on an authentic, intimate safari rather than the highly polished luxury found at some of Botswana's more elaborate camps. The atmosphere is deliberately relaxed and understated, with the wildlife and wilderness very much at the centre of the experience.

Elephant Pan has just eight tented rooms, including a family tent, giving the camp a small and personal character. The accommodation is classic raised safari-tent design, with canvas walls and large openings facing towards the waterhole. The tents are comfortably furnished in a contemporary African style, using natural materials with touches of colour and local character. Each has twin beds that can be converted into a double, mosquito netting, seating, storage, an electronic safe and solar-powered lighting and charging points. The tents have private en-suite bathrooms with hot-water showers, and each has an elevated veranda or sitting area where guests can relax and watch the wildlife around the pan. The positioning is particularly appealing because the tents look towards the water, so guests can often see elephants and other animals from the privacy of their accommodation.

The main guest area is built on raised decking beneath thatched roofs and has a relaxed safari-camp feel. There are comfortable lounge and dining areas, a bar, outdoor dining space and a boma around a campfire. A small swimming or splash pool provides a place to cool off during the heat of the day, while the decks overlook the waterhole. At night the waterhole is illuminated, creating the opportunity to sit quietly and watch animals coming to drink after dark.

Elephant Pan lies in the Khwai Private Reserve, in the northern part of the Okavango region, in an area bordering the Moremi Game Reserve. The reserve provides an extensive wilderness area in which wildlife can move freely, and the Khwai region is particularly well known for elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, wild dog and a wide variety of plains game. The permanent pan immediately in front of camp is a major attraction. During the dry season it can become a remarkably busy wildlife theatre, with elephants arriving to drink and bathe and other species gathering around the water. There is also an underground photographic hide, allowing guests to get down close to water level for a very different perspective on the animals.

The focus at Elephant Pan is very much on land-based safari, with morning and afternoon game drives exploring the private reserve. Because it is a private concession, guests can also enjoy night drives and guided walking safaris.

There is also a sleep-out experience, with the opportunity to spend a night beneath the African sky in an elevated sleeping platform overlooking the wilderness. This is generally offered seasonally and provides a more adventurous alternative to the comfort of the main camp. Scenic helicopter flights can also be arranged at an additional cost.

Overall, Elephant Pan is best suited to travellers who value good wildlife, an intimate camp atmosphere and authentic safari experiences over five-star extravagance. Its small size, permanent waterhole, photographic hide, night drives and walking opportunities make it a particularly interesting choice for guests wanting a more traditional and immersive Botswana safari.