Elephant Sands Lodge in Kalahari Desert

Third day in Southern Africa in Botswana, traveled long bus ride on a major highway with hardly any traffic or structures along the way. Before reaching the lodge, our tour guide showed us a drawing of the location, repeatedly warned to stay on the designated trail, not to step out into elephants' path. This area is in the Kalahari Desert, now is the middle of dry season, water is getting scarce. The elephants would visit water holes everyday, and if they don't find water, they would make a lot of fuss searching for it and damage the lodge property. So the locals would put together some money to pay for pumping water to the water holes.

At the entrance of Elephant Sands Lodge: "Where Elephants Rule". After this, it's another ten minutes of bumpy ride to the lodge.



The whole complex is a water hole surrounded by restaurant, bar,  even a pool, on one side; chalets, tents circle the rest. Not long after arriving, two elephants came for the water. We were all outside of the restaurant in very short distance, watching them. Seemed like nothing would prevent the elephants from walking right to us. Looking closely, there were short spikes on the ground at the edge of the building complex to prevent elephants venture in. 

We stayed in a "tent" cabin, with thick canvas as wall, solar panel for the hot water shower. Behind it there were, again, spike on the ground. 

Inside the tent, I found a very clean, spacious, and comfortable room with modern facility. Because elephant is very sensitive to water, our water would stop running from 10pm to 5am next morning, to prevent elephants sense water and dig up the pipe. There was light in the cabin, but all the charges of phone and camera batteries will have to go to the restaurant area.

The bar and restaurant, gift shop... with trees full of weaver birds nest.

After dinner with camp fire, some elephants came visit the hole.

Late afternoon, I went for a safari. Turned out to visit another water hole. Many elephants came to drink and play before sundown. They looked so relax, free,  and happy. This would be another human intervention to pump water and keep the wildlife alive in the desert. 

We stayed only one night and moved on. Glad I visited here, a good place that respect elephants. I feel the kindness of how this country treating animal and the possibility of co-exist between human and wildlife.