Baine's Camp in a Nutshell
Sanctuary Baine’s Camp is small and intimate with only 6 luxurious suites. It has a pretty romantic feel to it with “Star Baths” and “Star Beds” on each private deck and a setting on the Boro river on the Southern tip of Chief’s Island looking into Moremi Game Reserve. Baines is one of two camps that offers the Living With Elephants activity. Otherwise it has access to the Boro River for boating and mokoro activities when the annual flood is high enough and good game drives in a private area.
Fast Facts
- 6 luxury suites
- 12 guests Maximum
- Price range of USD930 – USD1795 pppn
- Swimming pool
- Borders Moremi Game Reserve
- Game drives in open 4×4 vehicles, night drives, seasonal mokoro. seasonal boating
- UNIQUE ELEPHANT INTERACTION ACTIVITY
- Access by light aircraft and boat
- Located in a private concession
Child Policy
Children over 6 years are welcome. Children under 15 are required to share with an adult – the camp is allowed to accommodate 1 triple room per night. Walking safaris are not available for under 15’s.
For bigger families you can opt for the BUSH SKILLS ADVENTURE activity where trained guides offer a “bush skills” course that may be more interesting and educational for kids – enquire for more details
How to Get There
You can fly into the lodge’s own airstrip from just about any bush airstrip, Maun or Kasane. Further, when the Boro River is in flood, we offer the option to boat in using our safari boats and private guides.
Game Viewing and Activities
Baine’s Camp sits on the Boro River on the Southern tip of Chief’s Island. It is an island when the water is high but they do offer game drives all year. This means you can expect the game drive vehicles to become a bit “amphibious” when the water is high, which certainly adds to the adventure! What is great about this camp is that they offer a good range of activities – game drives, night drives, walks, and seasonal mokoro and boating. One must note that they operate in a private concession, so off-roading is permitted and there are no congestion issues.
There are special activities available for children and families – they call this the BUSH SKILLS ADVENTURE and includes, learning to drive a “mokoro (traditional canoe”), fishing and traditional spear making, tracking, making traditional rope, basket weaving and much more…..
At an extra cost, you can book to spend time with two orphaned elephants that have been raised as wild as possible in the area:
“Sanctuary Retreats and non-profit charity Living with Elephants invite you to explore Africa from an elephant’s perspective. Guests are able to enjoy the incredible experience of walking with two orphaned elephants in the bush brought up in the area by their guardians Doug and Sandi Groves. Every morning the elephants go for a walk around their home range, foraging for food. A few people each day are able to accompany them on
their walk through the bush and see the wilds of Africa through the eyes of an elephant – a truly uplifting experience that makes a lasting impression on all who share their time with the elephants. This activity which is about four hours includes a leisurely paced walk with a pair of semi-habituated elephants, followed by a picnic lunch in their company. You must pre-book. The activity is offered to a minimum of two guests and available to children 9 years and older. Please note the elephants are on leave each year from 15 January – 15 February. (Pre-booking is essential.)”
In our opinion, this is the most ethical elephant interaction experience in Africa. Nothing is forced and certainly NO RIDING.
A further attraction is that there is a helicopter and pilot based at another camp close by…..scenic flights are easily arranged from Baine’s.
Camp Environment
Sanctuary retreats are the owners here and are a well established safari company with properties all over Africa, built and run to high standards.
Baine’s Camp is set on a small island under a grove of tress overlooking a side channel of the Boro River, which flows pretty consistently most years. The 6 raised “abodes” are set to overlook the river and each features ensuite facilities, a private viewing deck with “Star Bath” and a four-poster “Sky Bed” swathed in mosquito netting…..The trick with the four-poster beds is that they are fully mobile and can be wheeled out onto the private wooden decks, becoming “Star Beds.” For further indulgence, guests can enjoy a bath under the stars on the same deck. Clearly the accommodation at Baine’s has an emphasis on the outside space! The rooms are also equipped with ceiling fans, in-room safe, minibar and hairdryers. Wifi is also available in the privacy of your room.
The lodge is connected entirely by decked walkways with views from the main area out onto the river – you can step straight off the camps jetty and onto a boat! The communal spaces include a swimming pool with 2 thatched “salas” on either side, bar and lounge area. They have used thatch on the main structures to keep things cool and fairly bright decor as a refreshing theme for the relaxing areas. It is a small camp so things are kept fairly simple, yet comfortable.
We like this lodge because it is modern and extremely “green.” At great expense, it runs entirely on a large set of solar panels and storage batteries. Further, it was built out of recycled cans and commercially grown wood!
Why we like it
The elephant experience might be the deciding factor in visiting here? Remember that you need to book this activity in advance as space each day is limited.
Baine’s is small and intimate, with only 6 rooms!!! The views from camp are excellent – elephants spend a lot of time in the water in front of camp!
Sanctuary retreats offer consistently high standards at all their camps – understated classy luxury.
Its in a community concession – fees go to villages living in the Southern part of the concession.
Good varied activities on offer.
Katia Haskins 
PO Box HA 74 HAK