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Seba Camp -
Okavango Delta - Botswana
An exciting family get away with the opportunity to experience a
fascinating elephant research project.
Seba Camp is one of the latest and most exciting bush retreats
in the Okavango Delta, Botswana's unique wilderness wonderland.
Seba has two distinctive features, it is a child-friendly camp
offering parents the opportunity to introduce their children to
the magic of the African wild, and it is also the home of one of
the most fascinating elephant research projects on the
continent.
The setting is one of the most attractive in the Delta. The camp
has been designed to blend in with an ancient riverine forest
with majestic hardwood trees, like the sycamore fig and leadwood
all overlooking a perennial lagoon with its prolific birdlife
and resident hippos. |
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Each of the elevated
tents has its own secluded corner with a private deck
overlooking the lagoon and surrounding floodplains. The tents
have been individually decorated with a theme representing
different Botswana tribes. Well-marked paths lead to a communal
dining area and a lounge-library replete with reference and
pictorial books. There is a secluded swimming pool enabling
guest to cool off in the heat of day.
Seba Camp has been planned and constructed to be
family-friendly. The main tent is a family villa with two en
suite double bedrooms with plenty of space for children. There
is also a built-in “tree house” for the interest of the
youngsters. An elevated deck, overlooking the lagoon, has a
built in sandpit and toys are provided for the amusement of
smaller children. There is also a small swimming pool so parents
can relax while keeping a close eye on their offspring. |
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Seba is named after
young bull elephant rescued by Randall Moore from a culling
operation South Africa's Kruger national Park as a baby.
Seba starred in the Walt Disney movie, Whispers that was filmed
in the area. The names “seba” means whisper in the language of
Botswana.
Seba was eventually released into the wild as part of Randall
Moore's long-held vision to returning captive elephants to their
natural home. |
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Over a period of
five years, five of the Abu herd has been released in the
Okavango wilderness with the co-operation of the Botswana
Department of Wildlife and National Parks. They have all been
collared and their movements are monitored by researchers who
are based at Seba Camp.
The research project being conducted under the auspices of
Britain's University of Bristol and the Harry Oppenheimer
Research Center studies the interaction between the released
elephants and their wild cousins and monitor how well former
captive elephants re-adapt to life in the wild. In the long
term, the aim is to gain information that will assist the
Botswana government and its management of the country's
estimated 110,000 elephants, the largest remaining elephant
population in the world. |
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All guests are
offered morning and evening game-viewing drives in a comfortable
4x4 vehicles or the option of exploring the lattice-work of
waterways in a mokoro, the traditional poled canoe of the people
who live in the Okavango.
A powered boat is on hand, fully equipped it take guests who
choose fishing expeditions in the Okavango's rich waters.
Fishing trips or a particular favorite of young guests and the
plentiful bream and pike offer exciting sport. |
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Their in-the-field
studies permitting, the researchers are more than happy to share
their experiences with the elephants. Those guests who are
interested will be given details of the research project and the
guides are always happy to drive visitors to see a released
elephant and its wild companions when they're in the vicinity of
the camp.
For the older children and there's a wealth of interest in and
around Seba. The experienced guides are all fathers themselves
are only too delighted to take children on short walks and share
their knowledge and experience of the myriad creatures, large
and small that inhabit the Okavango Delta.
Families who have enjoyed to Seba experience have agreed there
is no better way to introduce children to the fascinating
wonders of the African wild. |
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Elephant Safaris
16475 Indian Ruins Rd.
Prescott, AZ 86305
Tel. (928) 717 - 8275 Fax (928) 717 - 9754
(Monday through Friday, 9 AM
to 5 PM Pacific Time.)
Or leave a message after hours. We WILL return your call. Promptly.
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