Elephant Sands Lodge

Elephant Sands Lodge is a bush lodge and campsite built around a single striking feature: a natural waterhole just metres from the guest chalets, where wild elephants (and other game) come to drink, unfenced and unrestricted, throughout the day and night. Founded in the early 2000s by conservationists Ben and Marie Moller as what began as a retirement venture, the lodge sits within its own unfenced 6,000-hectare private conservancy in north-eastern Botswana, roughly midway between Nata and Kasane on the road toward Chobe — making it a popular overnight stop for self-drive and mobile-safari itineraries linking the Makgadikgadi Pans/Nxai Pan area with Chobe National Park and Victoria Falls.

Accommodation is a mix of en-suite chalets and safari tents: Twin Chalets and Twin Tents (each with two single beds facing the waterhole, ceiling/standing fan, and en-suite bathroom), a Single Chalet for solo travellers, and a Family Tent (one double bed plus two single beds) for families. All guest units face the waterhole. The Campsite offers individual shaded pitches with private braai stations, shared ablution blocks with hot showers, and firewood for sale at the lodge; there is no electricity at individual campsites, though device charging is available at the main lodge.

Guided activities include game drives and bush walks across the private conservancy, traditional bush braai dinners under the stars, sleepout/bush-camp experiences, horse riding, and excursions to the Makgadikgadi Pans for sundowners or overnight stargazing trips. All guests — whether in chalets, tents or the campsite — have access to the main lodge's restaurant, bar and swimming pool. The lodge is genuinely a wildlife-focused bush property (not a town hotel), built specifically around its waterhole elephant sightings and conservation history in the area.

At a Glance - Property type: Private bush lodge & campsite on an unfenced 6,000-hectare private conservancy — a genuine wildlife/waterhole property (not a town hotel) - Rooms: Mix of en-suite Twin Chalets, Twin Tents, 1 Single Chalet, and Family Tents (double + 2 singles), plus a shaded campsite with private braai stations - Max guests: Not stated as a property-wide total; room types cover solo travellers, twins, and families - Children policy: Family Tents accommodate parents and children; no formal minimum age stated on site - Key activities: Guided game drives and bush walks across the private conservancy, waterhole elephant viewing, traditional bush braai dinners, sleepout/bush-camp experiences, horse riding, Makgadikgadi Pans sundowners and overnight pan trips - Facilities: Restaurant, bar, swimming pool (shared by lodge and campsite guests), shared ablution blocks with hot showers for campers, firewood for sale - Power/Wi-Fi: Ceiling/standing fans and plug points in chalets/tents (no air-conditioning stated); no electricity at individual campsites — device charging available at the main lodge - Ownership/history: Founded in the early 2000s by conservationists Ben and Marie Moller; noted for pioneering sustainable dry-season water access for elephants and for its up-close, unfenced waterhole wildlife viewing