Abu Camp

The oldest elephant camp on the continent, Abu specialises in elephant-back safaris, and allows incredible interactions between guests and these imposing beasts. The camp’s small herd of resident elephants is trained to transport guests through the surrounding Okavango Delta, so they can spot game from above.

This is the best African camp for seeing elephants up close – they have been handled here for more than two decades, so guides know what they’re doing. The Big Five can be seen in the area, among lots of other game – and you can take water safaris by local mokoro boat.

Camp decor is cool, contemporary and understated, decorated in shades of greys and creams, its furnishings made of light woods, leather and rattan, its textiles natural. The communal living space is spacious and airy, and houses a good library (with lots of books on elephants). Interiors are African-themed, but not traditional or particularly local: chandeliers made of shells, walls decorated with black and white photographs. Each tent has a deck overlooking the Delta with beautiful views, shaded by large jackalberry and fig trees. One suite has a private pool.

It’s one of the area’s most expensive camps, thanks to its exclusive set-up – just six A-frame tents on 180,000 private hectares, set high on wooden decks overlooking the Delta. As such, Abu regularly hosts presidents, royalty and Hollywood glitterati, who come for some of the best food, wine and service available in Botswana.