This is the original elephant-back safari operation, which has since been emulated by several camps in various parts of southern Africa. (Grey Matters, in NG26, is the Okavango’s only other place which offers interactions with non-wild elephants.) It’s the Delta’s most expensive place to visit and is run by Randall Jay Moore, one of its more colourful characters.
Some claim it’s simply the ultimate in amazing safari experiences; others detest the whole idea of riding on trained elephants. If you can afford it, you can make up your own mind.

The elephants
The camp is named after the lead elephant, Abu, which has starred in various films, including White Hunter Black Heart and The Power of One. Abu was brought over to Africa from the USA by its trainer, Randall Moore, and gradually a small herd of 12 elephants has been assembled – most of which are orphans. They range from youngsters of six months to Abu, who is 40 years old.

The experience
The activities here are flexible, depending on both the guests and the elephants, but will usually include either a morning elephant ride, or a whole-day excursion, travelling with the elephants to a shady spot for a long picnic lunch, and then back with them in the late afternoon. Alternatively 4WDs and, depending on water levels, mekoro or boats are always available.
Riding on the elephants involves using large custom-made saddles. Although comfortable, in many ways this feels more detached than walking beside them. When you’re riding, the other game is largely unaware of your human presence, but the real fascination of these trips is not the other game that you see, or even the ‘riding’ itself. It is the experience of being so close to the elephants; being able to walk beside them as they plod along and being comfortable with them at close quarters, rather than viewing them from afar.