Elephant Sands
Our thoughts
The campsites at Elephant Sands are very close together, but the ablutions are good, with hot and cold water, and every site has a braai and a covered area to park your car or pitch your tent. The restaurant was good, there's a pool, and the staff are amazing and so helpful. The downside is that it's very dry and open, so on a windy day sand blows everywhere and there's nowhere to shelter. The waterhole is now heavily built up, with safari tents all around, and the place is busy and noisy with buses and overland trucks. Honestly, if it wasn't for the elephants at the waterhole, I wouldn't go back.
What's Hot
Elephants coming to the waterhole
Amazing, helpful staff
Good ablutions with hot and cold water
Braai and covered area at every site
Good restaurant
Swimming pool
What's not
Campsites very close together
Super busy and noisy, lots of buses and overlanders
Sand blows everywhere when it is windy
Nowhere to shelter from the wind
Waterhole heavily built up with safari tents
Elephant Sands Gallery
Overview
Elephant Sands is a bush lodge and campsite on an unfenced private conservancy, about 52 km north of Nata on the road to Kasane. The big attraction is the natural waterhole, where herds of elephants come to drink, often just metres from where you're sitting. Each campsite has its own braai and a covered area for your car or tent, the ablutions have hot and cold water, and there's a restaurant and a swimming pool. It's a popular stop for buses and overland trucks, so expect company.
FAQ's
About 52 km north of Nata, just off the A33 road to Kasane, north-eastern Botswana
Not at the campsites, bring your own power
Closely spaced campsites, braai and covered area at every site, good ablutions with hot and cold water, swimming pool, restaurant, bar, safari tents and chalets
About BWP150 per person per night for camping, check current rates when booking
Yes, with close supervision, the camp is unfenced
No, not with wild elephants roaming freely
No, completely unfenced, elephants walk through camp
Book directly with Elephant Sands Lodge. Camping can often be arranged on arrival, but booking ahead is wise in the busy dry season. Book restaurant meals in advance.
Elephant Sands Lodge, Nata, Botswana. Cell: +267 7344 5162, landline: 247 0013
July to October, when the dry season brings the most elephants to the waterhole
Short sandy access road, a high-clearance vehicle helps
Nata (about 52 km), Nata Bird Sanctuary, Makgadikgadi Pans, Pandamatenga, Kasane and Chobe National Park
Check the wind forecast before you go: the area is dry and open, and on windy days sand blows everywhere with nowhere to shelter. Use the covered area at your site for your car or tent, and come for the elephants at the waterhole rather than peace and quiet.
