The luxurious Kings Pool Camp overlooks the Linyanti River and the oxbow-shaped Kings Pool Lagoon. Named after a Scandinavian monarch who camped on the banks of the lagoon, Kings Pool Camp is most famous for its large elephant population but is also home to a great variety of other wildlife. Regular sightings at Kings Pool include sable, waterbuck, buffalo, lion, leopard and wild dog.
Kings Pool Camp has 7 luxurious tented rooms with thatched roof bathrooms and 1 suite connected to the main area by a raised wooden walkway. The rooms are built on raised saligna decks on the edge of a high riverbank giving guests stunning views of the lagoon from their private balconies, where they can see elephants drinking on the riverbank below. The room interiors are spacious, with high ceilings. All the standard tents have private, tiled bathrooms with a double shower and a separate outdoor shower, while the 2-bedroom suite includes a plunge pool.
The main lodge is a large wood-and-thatch structure boasting an expansive viewing deck overlooking the hippo-filled oxbow lagoon where elephants can often be seen crossing. The dining area is covered but open-sided, allowing views over the water, and an open-air boma is an ideal alternative for dining under the stars. The lodge is stylishly decorated with traditional Botswana basketwork and other local artefacts.
Game drives concentrate on the riverine forest areas beside the water and, when dry, the wide grassy floodplains. Walking safaris are also possible when elephant densities are not as high during the summer. There are good populations of impala, lechwe, kudu, zebra, giraffe, sable, waterbuck, buffalo and the smaller plains antelope, and the major predators such as lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog and hyena are regularly sighted. The reed and papyrus swamps are ideal for numerous species of birds, such as fish eagles, waterfowl, cranes, storks, plovers and herons and are a magnet for game in the dry winter months. Kings Pool Camp has two hides - one located at the western end of the camp where guests can spend siesta time watching the game come down to drink. The other is an underground hide where the water is at eye-level with guests so that elephant feet and trunks are almost within touching distance.
Why we like King's Pool Camp
The opportunity to photograph elephants at ground level at King's Pool Camp is a highlight. At the same time, its position alongside the park provides excellent photographic opportunities, making it an ideal lodge for photographers.
