Tuskers Bush Camp: Our View

Tuskers Bush Camp is a well run, budget, tented Safari Bush Camp in the classical African Safari style, set in extensive Acacia Scrub and Mopane Woodland, an hour or two North East of Maun by road. As the name suggests, Tuskers is indeed a Bush Camp and is not situated on a permanent water source. Nor do the floodwaters of the Okavango Delta reach this Camp. As such, Tuskers doesn’t offer water based activities such as traditional Mokoro, nor motor launch excursions. Consequently we often combine this Camp with a “Wet” or “Water” Camp, when clients have enough time on Safari to visit both.

Tuskers Bush Camp is set in a huge (365000 hectare) private concession which boasts an abundance of wildlife, including leopard, lion, wild dog and hyena, as well as elephant, buffalo, giraffe, wildebeest, zebra and hippo.

The relatively close proximity of Tuskers to Maun makes it an attractive first Safari Camp for those self drivers who arrive in Maun late but still want to drive to their first Safari Camp that day, before dark. “Before dark” is always a good idea when travelling around Africa, and in particular around Maun, as there are many domestic (and sometimes wild) animals that frequent the roads at night. These animals are difficult to spot at night. Collisions with such animals can and do regularly cause damage and injury.

Tuskers Bush Camp is only accessible by 4X4 vehicle and requires what they call “a proper 4X4” to drive in. That means that you shouldn’t try and get there in a “soft” off-roader. However Tuskers does provide transport to and from Maun for its guests.

We had been told that Tuskers Bush Camp was a budget Camp so we were pleasantly surprised to find that the tented accommodation (6 double tents) was spacious and comfortable. The Camp in fact only caters for a maximum of 8 adults at a time, leading to a private and secluded experience at a price that is a fraction of some other Okavango Delta Camps.

We were also really pleased with the friendly attitude of the management and staff at Tuskers Bush Camp. It always makes such a difference to feel welcome at a Camp. In particular our guide was excellent. We were all sad to leave him.

Tuskers Bush Camp: Quick Facts

• 8 bed classic Tented Safari Camp
• Private Concession - 365 000 hectares of Acacia scrub and Mopane woodland
• Game Drives and Walking Safaris (Walking in season only - May to Sept)
• en suite bathroom with bucket shower and eco-toilet
• Solar power lighting in tents
• overlooking a pan frequently visited by roaming game
• Game Viewing and Birding
• Night Drives
• Eco Friendly

Tuskers Bush Camp: The Details

We drove up to Tuskers Bush Camp from Maun one afternoon in less than two hours, after heavy rains which had left the track to the camp muddy and waterlogged. We were greeted by friendly and enthusiastic staff who were keen to make us feel at home. The tented accommodation was spacious and comfortable - but we didn’t settle in because we wanted to fit in a game drive before supper. Unfortunately it began to rain not long after we had started our game drive but we noted many giraffe and buffalo as well as an abundance of birds - Purple Roller, Red Billed Francolin, Guinea Fowl, White Faced Whistling Duck, Marico Fly Catcher, and Swainson’s Francolin, to name but a few - before the rain closed in.

Dinner was a generous three course affair in the communal dining tent with the rain pouring down on the canvas above us. The food was standard fare, plenty of it, with modest South African wines offered.

We retired to our delightful tents for a warm bucket shower and heard elephant and lion outside the tents that night. In the morning there was indeed elephant and lion spoor just outside the main area of the Camp.

We were treated to an excellent breakfast, a full English breakfast at an African Safari Camp, before heading off in a Land Cruiser to inspect another camp.

We were impressed with this little Camp. It is unpretentious, well priced, and clean as a whistle. The management and staff are super friendly and eager to please. The Camp has a classical “African” feel to it. We were unlucky with the weather, so we can’t really comment personally on the game viewing - although even in the short time we were at Tuskers, and despite the rain - we saw large herds of giraffe and buffalo, a thrilling diversity of birds, and of course there was the elephant and lion we heard around our tent overnight.

The area in which Tuskers Bush Camp is situated does come recommended for game viewing, both in respect of predators and plains game. It should be kept in mind however that the area in which the Camp is situated is vast - it’s bigger than some countries, and unfenced. Consequently wildlife can and does move around, especially in the rainy season when they no longer have to rely on permanent sources of water.