FLYING OVER WILDEST BOTSWANA
(while getting a massage)
August 30, 2025
Another day in the life of A luxury African safari planner
By Ian Proctor
Tuludi Camp, Khwai Private Reserve, Botswana -
I woke with the sunrise... the night had been filled with trumpeting elephants and the roar of a lion moving closer to camp. My 10-year-old son, Sebastian, had slept through it all... even after 30 years of being on safari I was like “did you hear that? And then that?” Seb’s response was “Sorry Dad, I didn’t hear anything.” Lame…
We were in the exclusive 500,000 acre Khwai Private Reserve in northern Botswana. Home to 5 safari camps, all run by Natural Selection Safaris, we were staying a few nights at Tuludi Camp.
Throwing on some sunscreen, and flip flops, we made our way to the camp’s main area for a cup of tea and a light breakfast.
Our guide, KG, showed up and we exchanged the standard morning greeting in Africa - “did you sleep well?” “I did thank you, and you two?” “Yes, we did thanks”.
This ritual taken care of we finished our tea and hopped into a LandRover.
We drove 2 minutes to a waiting helicopter for our early morning flight to the North of the reserve to do a site inspection of Hyena Pan Camp (the name has now been changed to Elephant Pan as, go figure, naming a camp after hyena’s didn’t prove that popular). This would be followed by an inspection of Natural Selection’s super cool Skybeds.
Hopping aboard the helicopter I noted there was an extra seat. I asked if our guide KG wanted to join us... he smiled from ear to ear giving an enthusiastic thumbs up.
We whirled up into the sky, the pilot pointing out 2 lions sleeping in the shade of a bush about a mile from camp... aha - there they are!
We leveled off at 400 feet with the morning sun bright but not yet bringing the heat.
Forests and savannahs passed below without any sign of civilization - no cars, cell towers, or buildings, just pure untouched wilderness as far as the eye could see. Every so often a giant baobab tree stood out from the sea of smaller trees. Baobabs are the large upside-down trees – the ones God angrily threw to earth, and it looks like their roots stick up into the sky.
Kian, our pilot, monitoring traffic, remarked through the headset that we were the only ones in the skies over Botswana this morning. We had Africa to ourselves! After 20 minutes Hyena Pan came into view along with a great number of elephants who were drinking in front of camp.
After handshakes and hellos, I was off inspecting the latest room tweaks and upgrades, taking photos and notes for the office.
In the main area my son Sebby started imitating two hornbills (think Zazu from the Lion King) and this led the birds to sing and dance. We all had a laugh.
I enlisted KG to snap some shots of me and Sebs with the eles behind us for our family album.
Back in the chopper we zipped 5 minutes over to Skybeds - open air sleeping platforms, like treehouses built overlooking a popular waterhole, where you can sleep out under the stars.
Just as at Hyena Pan we were met by loads of elephant enjoying the relative cool of the morning (being November days were easily hitting 100 degrees).
More hellos, notes, and photos - job done. It was time to get back to Tuludi for brunch.
Lifting off with waves to the staff we arced around the waterhole and several handfuls of elephants.
25 minutes later approaching Tuludi our pilot Kian swooped lower and circled a large bush... two lion peered reproachfully up at us - as a housecat would watch an insect flying just beyond reach.
It was just 10AM and almost 90 degrees… another day in the office for the pilot, KG, and me... time for some more tea and a leisurely brunch… as we walked to the main camp area my son Sebastian turned to me and said “Dad I really like flying in helicopters. It’s like a flying massage!” KG and I smiled at this gem of an observation. I love my son… and my job!
After eating, Sebs, me, and the camp manager Ditmar all enjoyed rides down the camp’s slide! Yes, Tuludi has a slide! It goes from the upstairs library to the dining area and is great fun when no one is watching. A safari planner's day is never done
Tuludi is the best value premier level camp in Botswana. It is located in the ½ million acre Khwai Private Reserve along with Sable Alley, Little Sable, Elephant Pan and the Skybeds.
Note: For Khwai Private Reserve guests wanting to do a sleepout under the stars we suggest guests staying at either Sable Camp or Little Sable Camp pop over to the Skybeds for one night during their stay… the helicopter ride is included! As Tuludi Camp has its own nearby sleepout platform guests staying here would not typically visit the Skybeds.
Interested in learning more? Let's schedule a time to talk about your bucket list safari adventure to Africa!
