About the Camp...

Kind of a random entry, but I want to share some info about where I've been staying for the last 4 nights in Chobe National Park.

In both camps (Savuti and Chobe River), I did this "under canvas" thing. Self explanatory. No running water or electricity. For showers, they heat up the water for you and put it in this overhanging barrel/tank - works fine. The only problem was that the hot water temperature was inconsistent each day and tended to be on the colder side (FYI - I am a HOT shower lover). And on the first night at each camp, they put the shower knob too high for my height, so I had to wrap myself in a towel to have them lower it (a lot).
Somehow, the toilets flush. I don't know how the apparatus works, but I'm sure it has something to do with the green tank next to each tent.

Of course there's no heating, even though the temperature outside is near freezing at night. The most comfortable and amazingly warm comforter, combined with the bush babies, were a life saver! No, the bush babies are not the animals (I wish!), but one of those hot water bottles. I don't exactly know why they refer to them as "bush babies". Doesn't matter - they are wonderful. I was completely hooked on them, requesting 2 in the bed each night, and 2 for the morning safaris :)

What's amazing is that according to the national park regulations, they cannot set up camp for more than 5 days. So, every few days, they dismantle the whole tent, including the dining area, kitchen, and staff areas, and move it all to a new location. Hard work. Ridiculous regulation. It seems more harmful to the environment to dig, build, and dismantle so frequently than to allow a more lengthly time frame (the nature loving game drivers and staff seem to agree).

By the way, the kitchen is awesome. Food delicious - hard to believe that they cook everything up in a mobile kitchen. I don't know how they do it. Oh,the cook at the Chobe River camp looked like Usher, only a nicer version. I'm serious! I wish I'd taken a picture...

All in all, I'm really happy about the safari choice I made. I was a bit worried before I came, since I did very little research and the booking was a last minute, spur of the moment decision.
If I ever do another safari, though, I think I'll do this type again!!! The staff were telling me about the "under canvas" safaris they do in Tanzania, following the great migration - very tempting, I must say.