Abu Camp | Okavago Accommodation | Elephant Back Safaris

Elephant Back Safaris

Abu Camp

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, 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 tranquillity 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.

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 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 nightjarsDress 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.

A new addition to the Abu Camp experience is the Abu Elephant Villa. The villa sleeps four comfortably and is the perfect venue for those wanting privacy.

The villa is five minutes from Abu Camp and is situated across the lagoon from the camp. Elephant activities are combined with the main camp, however all other activities can be done separately. Guests enjoy their own butler, chef and guide with exclusive use of a vehicle. Mingle with the guests at main camp or enjoy your own piece of paradise with your own private pool. Abu Elephant Villa - secluded paradise for you to enjoy.

The Okavango Delta is served daily from Johannesburg, Windhoek and Gaborone, and three times a week directly from Cape Town into Maun the gateway into the Okavango. Abu Camp should be weaved into your safari itinerary, and combined with interesting and contrasting areas and camps in Botswana and southern Africa.

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.

The Abu Herd

ABU Abu Camp is named after our legendary lead elephant, Abu, who died in 2002. He was a truly unique elephant, with the most amazing intelligence and gentleness towards people and other elephants. He was born in 1960 and is thought to be from either East Africa, or from the Kruger Park in South Africa. As a youngster he was taken to the United States where he was used as a ride elephant at a wildlife park in Grand Prairie, Texas. He was brought back to Africa in 1988 for the filming of 'Circles in a Forest', and moved to Botswana in 1990 where he was instrumental in setting up the first elephant back safaris on the continent. He continued to lead the Abu herd throughout the following twelve years.

CATHY The matriarch of the herd, Cathy, born in 1960, is the largest adult cow and is distinguished by her shorter left tusk. While still a youngster, Cathy was captured in Uganda from Murchison Falls National Park. She was taken to a zoo outside Toronto, Canada where she remained until she was returned to Africa for the filming of 'Circles in a Forest'. Like Abu, she came to Botswana in 1990. Due to her stable temperament and tractability, Cathy now leads the safaris.

MTHONDO MBOMVO - "Painted Penis" A strong and stocky bull with a broad head and even splayed tusks, Mthondo was born in 1975. He has a distinct lack of pigmentation on his penis, hence his given name. Originally from Zimbabwe, he was translocated when young to the Pilanesburg Reserve in South Africa. Here he became a nuisance, knocking down tents in a hunting camp and harassing visitors in the park. He was subsequently removed and then joined the Elephant Back Safaris herd in 1993. Now quiet and dependable, Mthondo has adapted quickly to his new life.

SHIRHENI - "Where the Old Cows Meet" Shirheni, another of our young females, was born in 1986 and is also a Kruger Park orphan. She joined the herd in 1990. She gave birth to a young bull on the 27th November 2000 (Pula, after she was mated by a wild bull on the 20th February 1999.

PULA - "Rain" Pula was born to Shirheni on the 27th November 2000, after a night of heavy rain. Pula is the Setswana word for rain, success, and also the local currency. At birth he measured 91 cms in height, and it took him one hour before he made his first hesitant steps. Now a boisterous 2 1/2 year old he charms everyone with his enthusiasm for life.

GIKA - "Turned Over" (refers to her ears) Gika has very short tusks that are close to her trunk. A Kruger Park orphan, born in 1988, she also joined the herd in 1990. She is our "dizzy blonde"! She has just given birth to the latest baby to the herd (see below)

NAYA - "To Give" Born to Gika on March 30th 2003, Naya is our latest addition to the family. At two days old she was introduced to everyone in the herd to great acclaim. Small, delicate and very sweet natured she is sure to become a favourite.

KITIMETSE II - "I'm Lost" Kitimetse was found in our area at the end of 1999, after she had been injured by a crocodile and abandoned by her own wild herd. She was brought to the boma at Abu Camp where her wounds healed and she was slowly introduced to the rest of the Abu herd. She has been totally accepted by the other elephants, and has bonded with our younger cows, Gika, Nandipa, and Shirheni. We estimate that she would have been born in 1996.

THE WILD ONES

BENNY Released 9th July 2005 A large, mature bull born in 1959, Benny has a floppy right ear and no tusks. He was captured in the Kruger National Park in South Africa as a youngster and was initially moved to Brookfield Zoo in Chicago. At the age of five he was moved to the Fort Worth Zoo in Texas. Along with Abu and Cathy he was returned to Africa for the filming of 'Circles in a Forest', and then moved to Botswana in 1990. Shy and nervous, Benny took the longest time to habituate to his new surroundings.

MUFANYANE - "The Irritable One" Mufanyane is another Kruger Park orphan who joined Elephant Back Safaris in 1990. In February 2002 the 14 year old bull was released back in to the wild as part of a long-term research project. Released with a satellite tracking collar around his neck so his movements can be plotted, he is becoming accustomed to his new life as a wild elephant, but still stays fairly close to Abu Camp.

SEBA - "Whispers" Seba is the second of the Abu elephants to be released back into the wild, along with Thando below. They were both released in February 2003, and can still often be seen in the area. Seba was the star of the Walt Disney film Whispers, much of which was filmed around Abu Camp in 1995.

THANDO - "To Like/The Lucky One" One of our young bulls, born in 1986, Thando has distinctive red hair on his head. He was brought to Botswana from the Kruger Park as a young orphan in 1990, and then released in February 2003 along with Seba.

NANDIPA - "A Gift" One of our young female elephants, Nandipa is easily distinguished by the hole in her right ear. Her tusks are even and straight down, close to the trunk. Born in 1988, she is an orphan from the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Nandipa joined the Elephant Back Safaris herd in 1999 and was released into the wild to join Mufunyani, Thando and Seba in August 2003.