King’s Pool
Steeped in nostalgia and named for Scandinavian royalty, newly-renovated and elegant King’s Pool overlooks the handsome oxbow lagoon of the same name in the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, bordering Chobe National Park – at the crux of the important wildlife corridor that straddles Angola, Namibia, Zambia and Botswana. It was in 1976 that King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden arrived as newlyweds in Botswana on honeymoon. In an effort to escape the paparazzi, they made their way to a remote place close to Chobe called the Linyanti. There they camped on the banks of an oxbow lagoon and fell in love with Botswana.
That love of the unspoilt wild lived on in this place. The newly built stylish camp overlooks the oxbow-shaped King’s Pool Lagoon and Linyanti River system. Activities include day and night game drives, walks, and nearby hides, ideal for photographing birds and wildlife.
In the dry season, guests can spend their siesta watching game come down to drink at the unique underground hide, where the water is at eye level. Seeing elephant feet and trunks almost within touching distance while safely inside the hide, is an experience that transcends that of an ordinary safari. There are nine well-appointed rooms (including a family unit) of canvas and thatch each with a veranda and thatched sala from where guests get to soak up the views. The main areas, set on expansive decks, include a pool and an open-air “kgotla” (boma) for dining under the stars.
Why we like it here
King’s Pool is a place of memories, but also of migrations and movement – from meta-herds of elephant to carmine bee-eaters. It is the centre of ancient paths that cross borders, and even older tectonic plates, whose movements create vistas and the Savute Channel.
The camp is within Botswana’s “elephant corridor” which means it is the centre of elephant conservation initiatives.
This is a 100% solar-powered camp.
The barge has been named after the Swedish queen, “Queen Silvia”, who spent her honeymoon here.
The Olympus Photo Hub experience gives guests the opportunity to photograph wildlife and scenery using professional photographic equipment.
Massages are available to enjoy in the privacy of your tent.
Things to be aware of
A trip on the colonial-style Queen Sylvia barge along the Linyanti River is dependent on the water level.