Elephant Pan — A Front-Row Seat to Botswana’s Wild Heart
If your hearts are pulled toward the raw, untamed wildlife of Africa, this Botswana safari camp delivers it in its purest form. Elephant Pan sits deep within the Khwai Private Reserve, overlooking a permanent waterhole that never sleeps. At dawn and dusk, elephants emerge through the golden dust, their reflections rippling across the surface as you sip your morning coffee or evening gin. This is not a safari you observe — it’s one you feel.
Canvas tents open directly to the wilderness, where the sounds of trumpeting elephants and the low purr of lions replace the hum of city life. Spend lazy afternoons watching herds gather from your deck, then fall asleep to the gentle splash of antelope or the echo of distant hippos.
The Essence of the Wild
Elephant Pan celebrates simplicity, not excess. Its eight solar-powered tents are designed to dissolve into the bush — understated, eco-conscious, and attuned to the rhythm of the land. You’ll find everything you need and nothing you don’t: twin or double beds, ensuite showers with solar-heated water, mosquito nets, and private decks overlooking the waterhole.
At the heart of camp lies a relaxed dining deck, a small pool that mirrors the elephants’ bathing spot below, and a cozy boma where evenings unfold under starlit skies. Meals are wholesome and shared fireside, often with the Milky Way blazing overhead.
This is the Botswana you come for — unfiltered, grounded, and endlessly alive.
Adventures That Bring You Closer
Every day at Elephant Pan feels like a new chapter in a living wildlife documentary. Head out on guided game drives through the 200,000-hectare Khwai Private Reserve, home to one of Africa’s densest big-game populations. Giraffe graze alongside zebra, while buffalo herds cross open plains. Lions prowl the mopane woodlands, and if luck is on your side, you may catch sight of cheetah or wild dog on the move.
For those who crave even deeper immersion, step into the underground photography hide — eye-level with elephants and antelope for cinematic close-ups. Guided bush walks reveal animal tracks, medicinal plants, and the subtle art of reading the land. After sunset, join a night drive to spot leopards, hyenas, and owls beneath a sky dusted with stars.
Adventurers can even take to the air with a heli safari over the Okavango Delta or join the KPR Ranger Experience, helping track predators and collect conservation data at dawn.
Beyond the Camp
While the camp itself feels like a world apart, nearby adventures expand the experience. The Khwai region forms a vital wildlife corridor between Chobe National Park and the Okavango Delta, creating an ever-changing landscape of dry woodland, floodplains, and lagoons.
Visit Khwai Village to meet the community that co-manages the reserve and learn how eco-tourism sustains education and conservation programs. Or, if you’re after a truly wild night, book a Skybeds sleepout (April–October) to slumber under a sky so clear you’ll trace constellations with your fingertips.
Purpose Meets Conservation
Your stay at Elephant Pan supports real impact. The camp works in partnership with the Khwai Development Trust and organizations like Botswana Predator Conservation to protect endangered species and uplift the local community.
Projects include the Wild Dog Disease Prevention Initiative, vaccination drives for domestic animals, and the Maria Ramsden Learning Centre, which provides safe spaces for children and single mothers. Every guest plays a role in this story — contributing directly to the protection of one of Africa’s most important ecosystems.
Why We Love It
At Atlas + Wild, we’re drawn to places that redefine connection — to nature, to stillness, and to wonder. Elephant Pan captures that essence perfectly. It’s not about luxury for luxury’s sake; it’s about immersion — waking to elephants outside your tent, hearing lions on the wind, and realizing you’re part of something infinitely larger.
Here, design and wilderness coexist in quiet harmony. Every element feels intentional, crafted for travelers who crave authenticity over artifice. Elephant Pan reminds us that the truest form of luxury is being fully present in the wild.
Quick Facts
Location: Khwai Private Reserve, Botswana
Elevation: Interior mopane forest with a permanent waterhole
Accommodations: Eight canvas tents (family suite coming June 2025)
Property Size: 200,000 hectares of private concession land
Amenities: Ensuite bathrooms, solar power, pool, dining deck, Wi-Fi, laundry service
Nearby Adventures: Okavango Delta heli safaris, Skybeds sleepouts, guided bush walks, birding, game drives, Khwai Village visits
Seasonal Operation: Year-round
Community Impact: Supports anti-poaching units, children’s education, and wild dog conservation initiatives
Click here for the Elephant Pan Website