Little Pan - Where water meets wilderness

Perched quietly in the Lower Delta, Little Pan is a rare safari camp for sale close to Maun that captures the true spirit of the Okavango. This intimate tented camp sits on an island in the Thamalakane River, in tribal bushveld en route to Moremi’s South Gate – immersing you in tranquil nature from the minute you arrive.

Four beautiful Meru-style tents, two family-friendly, are tucked among mature trees, offering an exclusive immersion in nature while remaining within easy reach of Maun’s safari hub.

A soulful sense of place

From the moment you arrive, Little Pan envelops you in the rhythm of the Delta itself. The rustle of palms, the distant trumpet of elephants and the call of fish eagles set the pace of the day. Little Pan is the first camp in Botswana to be awarded Botanical Garden status, and the unspoilt terrain is a fragrant delight. Stroll the grounds and discover the unspoilt flora, each plant tagged for educational delight. “The smell of wild sage fills the air – I think this is Little Pan’s signature scent!” says the owner.

Evening brings sundowners beside the fire, with bushbabies leaping among the trees. Enjoy a braai or whip up a feast in the well-equipped kitchen to savour in the beautiful mess tent. A night camera beside the waterhole reveals ghostly images of nocturnal visitors, from bats and genets to a graceful aardvark.

Canvas, light and quiet luxury

Tucked privately among mature trees and bushes, each immaculate tent at Little Pan is designed for understated elegance. Canvas walls can be drawn back to invite in dappled afternoon light, and interiors blend natural textures with soft linens to evoke a nostalgic safari charm. En-suite bathrooms and outdoor showers encourage you to linger and savour the daily theatre of life in Botswana’s wild spaces.

Everyday life at Little Pan unfolds at its own pace. Wake to the glorious dawn chorus of the myriad birds in the surrounding trees; shower outdoors to the sound of elephants breaking branches nearby; and breakfast to the sound of grunting hippos in the river. If you’re feeling energetic, head out on a bush walk or a horse-back safari… yet often the allure of quiet reflection wins. What could be better than lounging beside the pool – sloped to allow hippos to get out should any gatecrash – and watching the surrounding treetops come alive with birds? Here, the wild feels intimate, the rhythms of life gentle, and the connection to nature complete.

“We initially built Little Pan as a birding camp,” says the owner. “Our birdlife is second to none – I think we perhaps have every bird species that occurs in the Lower Delta, including Pel’s fishing owls. It’s an ideal habitat: eight hectares of flourishing land within tribal bushveld; our closest neighbour is the local chief five kilometres away.”

Unearthing a treasure

The Okavango Delta is a rarity: it’s an inland delta, filled by the rains in Angola, which drain towards the Kalahari Desert instead of into the sea. The result is an oasis for diverse wildlife, which flourishes in this dynamic wetland system. Old safari hands will know that the arrival of the flood waters in the Lower Delta – usually from April to July, and peaking in August – is a time of celebration. This is when Little Pan becomes a true island – perfect for exploring the river on a mokoro or on a scenic boat cruise.

In fact, the owner first found this special spot while property-hunting by mokoro. “I wanted to own a remote family home in the Botswana bush. I spent a year looking at properties, and then – when the river was in full flood – was brought here in a mokoro by a river Bushman. We walked for two hours to try to stake out this wild land and I was smitten. It captured my need for absolutely privacy and nature. It’s remote enough to feel utterly free, but logistically close to town (Maun is 15km away). It is a very precious place – the next owner will be the custodian of a magical piece of nature in Botswana.”

Location, location, location

Little Pan has served as both a bush camp for travellers and a private family safari camp. It is set up with all the requisite infrastructure and permits for commercial use. “It’s so well located,” says the owner. “As per special arrangement, Helicopter Horizons lands exclusively for Little Pan, so you can heli into the Delta – it’s just a 10- or 15-minute hop to any of the camps. It’s close to Makgadikgadi, three hours by car from Moremi, and it’s very easy to drive to Zimbabwe and Namibia. And Maun is just 20 minutes away, so it’s easy to get everything you need.”

Another of the many things going for Little Pan is that it is the only true safari overnight experience on the outskirts of this bustling town. And, of course, this convenient location results in practical magic too: the camp uses fresh river water pumped through two filtration systems, and is close enough to town that it is on Botswana’s mains electricity supply.