andBeyond Chobe Under Canvas

Mesh windows are the only barrier here, left open so the breeze and birdsong move straight through the tent. Chobe Under Canvas holds just five of them, pitched along animal paths in the park's northern stretch, within reach of the Chobe River by vehicle. Lanterns light the walkways after dark, and a bucket shower delivers hot water on request. Each tent has a queen or twin bed, an ensuite bathroom, a separate flush toilet, and its own verandah facing the bush. There is no power point for a hairdryer and no signal for a phone. Meals are cooked over coals and eaten together by firelight, with a private butler on hand between drives. Chobe National Park holds one of the largest elephant populations on the continent, and the herds gather along the river to drink and bathe, often with buffalo, hippo, and crocodile close by. Morning and afternoon game drives cover floodplain and dry savannah in search of lion, hyena, sable, and roan. A photographic safari runs from a custom river boat fitted with swivel chairs and camera mounts, guided by a photographer. At night the camp goes dark and the stars take over. It is a stripped-back way to see Chobe, five tents and no distraction, with the river and its animals doing all the talking.