Hyena Pan is one of the newest safari camps in the Khwai Private Concession, nestled between Botswana’s Moremi and Chobe Game Reserves. It has opened its doors to much applause and as another generous offering alongside its sisters, Sable Alley and Skybeds, which are also located in the Khwai Private Reserve. Hyena Pan is described as “water for elephants”, after the popular book and film of the same name. This very apt nickname speaks to the camp’s sensational positioning next to the only permanent water source for miles, and as a result, the elephants – among others – arrive en masse to drink and enjoy the abundance. To even further enhance the undeniably special wildlife viewing quality at Hyena Pan, they’ve built an underground hide to give keen wildlife watchers the ultimate view of the herds upon herds of elephants. The hide at Hyena Pan is a photographers dream! Take a look at the view.
As the enormous, ambling mammals arrive from the dust of the Kalahari veld, they celebrate in true style with some thirsty drinking and bathing in the waterhole in front of Hyena Pan. The little lagoon that pools in perfect view of the eight tented suites offered up at Hyena Pan is one of the only spots for year-round in the area, and it is utilised with great pleasure by migrating elephant, buffalo, lion, hyena, giraffe, eland, and many others. The performance that plays out around the waterhole is endless, and it isn’t even necessary to leave the comfort of the elevated tents in order the watch the animals wallow and slurp. But do it anyway, because game drives and sessions in the hide are worth it!
The underground hide is built so as not to obstruct the natural area, keeping its human occupants a secret hidden from the hundreds of elephants and other animals that wander by and stop to drink and bathe. The only part of the hide that is visible above ground is its roof, raised slightly to leave a viewing window open for guests to peek through and position their cameras. It is topped with natural wood and debris to protect it and to help camouflage it even more from the wandering wildlife. In this secret ‘den’, guests sit quietly and patiently and watch the arrival of sandgrouse, baboons, kudu, hyena, buffalo, lion, an elephant. There is no knowing what might present itself on any day, so the element of surprise is forever lingering in the air. Keep those cameras at the ready!
Interested in including some photographic hides in your safari itinerary? We’ve recently covered some of our favourite safari lodges that have built hides overlooking waterholes and along riverbanks. Check it out here in photographic hides you have to discover.
