Botswana is buzzing
CC Africa will be welcoming guests to its two new Under Canvas camps in Botswana from March 2008 – Chobe Under Canvas and Savute Under Canvas. These intimate semi-permanent luxury tented camps, situated in the game-rich Chobe National Park and the expansive Savute area, will offer the ultimate in luxury camping and exceptional game viewing opportunities. They each consist of just six tented suites each, and are available to guests on a nightly basis – just like CC Africa’s lodges.
AA Gill wrote about this type of holiday in last month’s Australian Gourmet Traveller. He referred to it as “glamping” (glamour + camping). At first I thought he’d made up the word but a quick Internet search showed that this form of luxury camping has been increasing in popularity for several years now.
Oh yes… the term ‘glamping’ has been around for a few years now. I think it harks back to luxurious safari camps in Africa (eg. https://www.aluxurytravelblog.com/2006/07/01/tanzania-under-canvas-with-cc-africa/ ), but now you see them springing up all over the place.
Keep in mind that the Chobe and Savute ecosystems where the under canvas program operates is significantly different from a wildlife viewing standpoint in the winter/dry season (June-Octoer) than during the summer/green season (November-March). When the rains stop (usually in March), the temporary water sources start to dry up. By mid-June there are literally tens of thousands of elephants congregating at the Chobe River (in the Chobe) and in the Linyanti. They are in search of water. Many other animals (and predators!) follow. The spectacle is amazing until the rains begin in November and the animals go back to the interior in search of new food sources.
The Linyanti is private land under long term lease by Wilderness Safaris. It is directly West of the Chobe. In the Linyanit, Wilderness Safaris operates Duma Tau, Savuti Camp, and Kings Pool. The Savuti Channel and the Linyanti Spillway and Selinda Spillway provide water for elephants and other animals in this area. The big benefit to the Linyanti is getting away from the crowds in the Chobe!