Pangolin Mobile Camp
There is something deeply primeval, exhilarating and nourishing about camping out in the wilds of Africa. It takes us back eons to our primitive selves where we were not cossetted by bricks and mortar nor detached from the sounds and smells of nature at its purest. It’s a magical experience. The Pangolin Mobile Camp is by no means a self-flagellating experience of pitching tents, digging latrines and foraging for one’s dinner.
It is a proper bush experience but with a healthy dose of “glamping”. The camp is set up in one of a handful of demarcated locations in the Chobe National park made available to local operators by the parks department. These spaces are allocated on a private basis, so the site is for the exclusive use of our camp.
The Pangolin Mobile camp uses one of a handful of private campsites, set aside for Botswana safari companies, deep in the Northwesterly section of the Chobe National Park.
This area is very game rich with more plains game than other areas and is away from areas used by most other companies. Getting to the camp involves a two to three hour game drive through the National Park and once there we rarely see anyone one else. Its a beautiful place to camp!
We have five tents in total with additional accommodation for the camp staff and guides. We do however limit the total number of guests in camp to only eight as that allows everyone a window seat on the game viewer on drives.
Each of the large tents have an ensuite toilet with a basin and bucket shower that is filled with warm water whenever required. The tent itself has twin beds with proper mattresses and linen and storage shelves. The front of the tent has a covered area with camping chairs to enjoy a good book. the tents are very comfortable with mosquito netting all around which allows for good ventilation.
The support truck that brings in all the gear doubles as a mobile water carrier, fridge and electrical source once the camp is erected. there are plug points for charging of cameras and other electronics in the dining tent.
The communal areas of the camp centre around the fire and the dining tent, which doubles as an editing suite during the day. All the meals are lovingly prepared in the bush kitchen nearby and you will be amazed at what can be produced from an open fire by skilled cooks.
In the morning you will have a light bite to eat and some tea/coffee before we head out at first light to go on a game drive. These tend to last three hours with another coffee break along the way.
When we return to the camp a delicious brunch awaits our return and then the dining tent miraculously transforms itself into an al fresco editing suite. Here the Pangolin Photo Host will be able to review your images with you and offer advice for your next drive. Please note that to make the most of these sessions its best to have a laptop with you or a tablet with an SD card reader.
After an afternoon siesta we head out on another game drive for a few hours before returning as the last vestiges of daylight bid farewell and return to a roaring fire and perhaps a gin and tonic!
While you are out exploring and photographing the chefs will have been hard at work in the “bush kitchen” and you will be served a delicious dinner in the on sided dining tent next to the fire.
A nightcap around the fire before retiring to bed completes another memorable day in the African Bush.
As we are in the national park, we start game drives at first light (after warm coffee and rusks around the fire) in our custom Toyota land cruiser with your photo host helping you to make the most of each photo opportunity. Onboard everyone has a window seat with bean bag mounts for cameras and lenses. We go out for the best morning light returning to camp for a delicious mid-morning brunch. The day is then spent relaxing in camp going through the images taken that morning with the photo guide or simply relaxing and keeping an eye out for passing game who regard us as just another part of their world.
After a delicious high tea we head out again on a game drive in search of more photo opportunities returning just after sunset to the camp where you will be welcomed home by a roaring fire, chilled drinks and an evening of genteel camaraderie and delicious food under the African night sky.
For guests not travelling without a camera of your own we will happily supply you (free of charge) with a state of the art DSLR camera with a 100-400 telephoto lens to use at the camp along with plenty of fresh memory cards.
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