If you are a photographer, this is THE company to go with. All the guides are very experienced and a photo host goes on every outing, coaching you to get the very best photos possible. The accommodations are spacious and well-tended, and dinners served by Chef Robson are outstanding. Really a first class experience.

Just finished a fantastic stay at Pangolin Chobe Hotel at Kasane on the Chobe River in Botswana. Of course the scenery, birds & animal sightings were great but the hospitality & friendliness of all the staff at the hotel, game viewing boats & other guests was phenomenal. The accommodation was good and the food great. It was all inclusive: meals, drinks, twice daily 3-4 hour game viewing trips in the specially designed for photography small group (about 6-8 people) boats or land vehicles as well as photography & photo editing teaching from the expert hosts, etc. We were treated like family, really special. Can’t wait to go again!

TripAdvisor Review - Pangolin Photo Safaris Hotel A safari experience in Botswana is a very special event, and you will undoubtedly want to take home some pictures to remember it by. Whether you are an experienced photographer, an enthusiastic amateur or someone who has never picked up a camera before I would heartily recommend a visit to Pangolin Photo Safaris before heading out to locations in the Delta or Kalahari. I promise that the photos you take afterwards will be 100 percen better than those you were taking before. The hotel is based on a ridge just outside Kasane, just a five minute hop from the airport. All the air conditioned rooms have a wonderful view that extends across the Chobe river to Namibia (and possibly even Zambia if you look the right way!). They are simply but practically furnished, with stunning photography and artwork adorning the walls. The polished concrete floors help to keep you cool, whilst the cosy rugs soften the look. The bed was incredibly comfortable, and the linen was high quality. There is ample space for clothes storage, with open shelves and a hanging rail. Laundry (note: not underwear) is included in the rate, and the service is first class. Clean washing was often returned the same day. The bathroom is generously sized and well lit, with a walk in shower, twin sinks and a loo. The towels felt very high quality, and the soaps and shampoo supplied were ‘AfriEarth’ brand (and smelled lovely). There are all the power points those blessed with modern technology could desire. They are a mixture of type C (two round pins in a diamond shape),type D (three round pins in a triangle) and the ‘universal’ type (like those used on planes). There is even a USB power outlet. An in room safe has enough space for a decent sized laptop, as well as your other valuables. There are two photo activities each day - each either cruising in the photo boat on the Chobe river, or on a game drive in the National Park. Morning activities leave before sunrise, and you often don’t get back to the hotel before 11am (so take advantage of the early light breakfast!). Second activity starts around 3:30 pm, and we were usually back around 7ish. If you are a veteran of safaris, then please note: these are different. You won’t rush from sighting to sighting, and you won’t always concentrate on the bigger game. It’s about the photography, and learning how to ‘see’ what opportunities will make a good image. The photo hosts will direct and assist you to improve your skills. We were lucky enough to spend time with Danielle, Dennis, Karabo, Janine and Guts during our stay, and each one of them had their own unique style. Without exception we learned something new from each of them. If you do not have your own camera they will lend you a DSLR with a telephoto lens, and you get to take the memory cards with you. If you do have your own camera, try to ensure you have a telephoto lens with you (at least up to 400mm), as boat / game viewer positioning is based on this expectation. We were in the Chobe during the ‘green season’. This is when the area gets the majority of its rainfall, and the availability of water away from the river and the density of vegetation means that it is harder to see game than in the dry season. That said, we still had fantastic views of close up hippos, elephants swimming in the river and the ultimate in safari experiences - a lion taking down a young kudu. To see that from lion-eye level in the boat was breathtaking! If you love birds then this is a great place to see them. We saw and photographed six of southern Africa’s seven kingfisher species during this trip. Good food is always part of a holiday experience, and the staff at Pangolin provide lots of it. The fish is especially good - Dan the manager looks after them personally! Drinks are all included too. Dinners are made extra special - as Chef Robson will tell you: ‘so juicy, so tasty, so lovely!’. I can’t wait to go back to Pangolin - they are family now!

Our family (2 teenagers) enjoyed 3 nights at the Pangolin Hotel at Chobe and then 3 nights in the Okavango Delta (Great Plains). The staff, accommodation, food, and photography guides were all the best. We felt like royalty… we were treated so well. Couldn’t believe the set up in the Delta…. In the middle of no where and it was 5 star! We loved seeing the animals and have all learned so much about photography from Janine and Jaco. Thank you!

Can't say enough good things about Pangolin and the hotel. The service is impeccable, food is delicious, and the photo activities are excellent, with patient and knowledgeable hosts. 10/10 and would recommend to photographers and non-photographers alike!

Excellent hotel. Fantastic staff. Great location. If you want to take wildlife photos, this is the place!!

This was our third time with Pangolin Photo Safaris. We were extremely well looked after at the Pangolin Chobe Hotel, friendly staff and excellent food. The main reason for going with Pangolin is to improve our photography skills and the photo hosts and the guides are amazing, encouraging and knowledgeable. We would recommend without hesitation

Spectacular place for photographers, from totally new to very experienced. The location and activities are stunning. Incredible attention to detail, even the building is shaped like a pangolin! And most importantly, everyone (staff, guides, and photo hosts) is so warm, welcoming, friendly and so knowledgeable, make you feel at home no matter where you're coming from ❤️

The team at the Pangolin were fantastic. I stayed 3 nights in early June 2023 (with 3 other nights on the "Voyager") & had the most incredible time. Janine & Guts were wonderful hosts. Their photographic knowledge was first class & together with the guides, we were able to see amazing wildlife. I highly recommend the hotel & the Pangolin Photo Safari group.

We have had the most incredible time with Pangolin Photo Safaris! Their boat tour was amazing and even though I do not have my own camera gear I was loaned a camera and taught how to use it. Service and professionalism at its highest. Chobe river is very busy with a lot of vessels and unfortunately we did see other boats affecting the elephants trying to cross. We chose the correct team as Pangolin was respectful of all the animals and still got us in an incredible position to see the animals without negatively effecting them, time and patience pay off! We will definitely be recommending Pangolin to everyone and can’t wait for our next adventure with them.

Amazingly friendly staff, very comfortable accommodation and food to die for. The best location if you are into photography.

The Pangolin Chobe Hotel caters primarily to people interested in wildlife photography, and they deliver an incredible experience in this unique niche market. Pangolin is an all-inclusive hotel that revolves around its photo-centric safaris. If you are a photographer or want to improve your wildlife photography skills, this is THE place to visit. We truly can’t say enough good things about this place or our visit. A short, 5-minute drive from the Chobe River, two daily game drives are included in cost of the stay. Most of these game drives take place on Pangolin’s custom photography boats which seat 8 photographers in a single row, all on gimbal-mounted seats. When doing game drives in the park (in 5 days, we did 8 boat trips and 2 game drives), the land cruisers have 4 rows of 2, meaning that no one is ever stuck in a middle seat! You’re welcome to bring your own photography gear, but if you don’t have it, Pangolin will provide you with a camera and long lens to use during your visit (and instruction, too!). The true highlight though, is that in addition to your field guide/driver a Pangolin Photo Host joins you on each trip, ensuring that you’re getting the most out of your visit. We were privileged to have Janine as our host for the 5-nights we stayed with Pangolin, and she was both a wonderful person and excellent teacher, host, and guide. 100% game drive and 100% photography bootcamp, each game drive is spent looking for various wildlife and finding opportunities to practice various wildlife techniques like low-key, high-key, rim light, panning, and more. Distinctive from most safaris, Pangolin Photo Safaris prioritize quality photographic encounters, positioning the boat according to the light and subject to ensure the best opportunities for good photographs. We certainly saw a lot of ‘big’ wildlife like lions, hippos, elephants, and buffalo but equally spent time with bee-eaters, kingfishers, storks, impala, and baboons when good photographic opportunities popped up. Beyond the game drives, we also spent time several afternoons with Janine working on our photos in Lightroom and took an evening trip to a nearby farm for astrophotography. It was photography overload in the best way possible. We spent one night here in July 2019 while on a self-drive itinerary, and then almost immediately turned around and booked a longer, 5-night trip at the Pangolin Chobe Hotel which finally happened in July 2022. After 5-nights at Pangolin, both my wife and I have walked away better photographers, with new skills and an increased passion for both wildlife and wildlife photography. As an important side note, the process leading up to our time at Pangolin was extremely long and complicated due to COVID delays, however, their team was amazing at reorganizing, rescheduling, and reassuring us throughout the process. While the highlight of Pangolin Chobe Hotel is the photographic safaris, the hotel itself is great, too. Built in an industrial design, the hotel is well furnished including a beautiful art gallery of wildlife photography from around the world. The upstairs bar has a beautiful view and is well stocked. As an all-inclusive hotel, the food is great and caters to many different tastes. The house staff is wonderful, and really goes above and beyond to make sure all your needs are met while there. Pangolin is a uniquely wonderful place, and we hope we have the opportunity to return soon!

Pangolin Photo Safaris is a unique adventure company specializing in photo safaris that focus on smal groups, providing excellent photo instruction, particularly as it applies to wildlife photography. The Chobe Hotel is one of a few facilities operated by this company for the photographic purposes intended. Although the clientele would normally be targetting the gaining of photographic expertise and opportunities, our experience was a bit of an exception to the normal, with Pangolin involved in hosting our whole extended family, everyone participting in the safaris and photography experiences. The offering of camera gear, to those that required it, for everyone to enjoy the photography experience was exceptional and much appreciated. The photography instructional staff provided great training to everyone, especialy to the younger set (10 to 15 years of age). All the staff were great hosts, even from the kitchen with some made-to-order meals for the "selective tastes" of some of the younger set in our group. The hotel was very comfortable and the almost exclusive use of it by our group just enhanced the enjoyment of our time there.

The Pangolin Chobe Hotel is AMAZING! First, you can see elephants, giraffes and many other wild animals from your balcony or from the pool deck as they have a specific water hole designated for such an event. We went on two safari photo tours a day (one on land and one on the Chobe River) and the guides were incredible. They knew exactly where to go to find the animals, birds, insects, etc. This is an all inclusive hotel, and they employ 3 amazing chefs. We were treated to delicious and healthy as well as decadent menus daily. Every day was a new culinary adventure from locally sourced produce as well as native fish and beef to a wood fired pizza night; everything was delicious. One of the perks of staying here is that the staff treats all guests like VIPs. From knowing your personal tastes to your favorite drink, they make it a point to know you and by the end of your stay, you don't want to leave because they are some of the kindest, most genuine people you have met. Finally, I would be remiss to say that before staying here I didn't know anything about Pangolins. However, I was educated about the importance of this amazing endangered animal that is native to Africa. The Pangolin Hotel is also extremely committed to environmental stability and conscientiousness and are certified Green+. When you arrive, you are greeted with an eco-friendly glass water-bottle with your name on it to be filled with delicious purified water throughout your stay. The facility has been constructed with many reclaimed and repurposed materials in order to lessen the impact on the environment. To sum it up, this place is just the best of Botswana. Amazing photo safaris, delicious meals, an environmentally friendly hotel employing only the most attentive and finest staff.

Incredible experience! I went to Pangolin and literally didn't know how to turn the camera on. By the end of the trip I felt like a pro taking pictures of unbelievable animals and landscapes. Thanks to Guts and his phenomenal staff!!

A fantastic trip. Excellent location. Great wildlife viewing. Impressive gear. Great rooms. Mouth watering food. Superb staff. Pangolin will make your safari (whether it be your first or your tenth), something to remember.

Fantastic time. The experience was unparalleled. The staff, the food, the photography-all more than I could ask for. You will not be disappointed. 👍

Just returned home from a photography workshop in Botswana. One of the highlights was our stay at The Pangolin. What an incredible experience ... friendly staff, excellent food and over the top boat trips down the Chobe!

This place offer a unique experience of feeling home far away from home. Staff, rooms, food all in an awesome small hotel. Their photographic and wildlife expertise are awesome, guides are extremely competent

From the very start we were welcomed with open arms and embraced into the Pangolin family. The photography opportunities were one in a million, made even better by the incredibly talented photography guides. As beginners it was amazing to use their high quality camera gear! The accommodation was spotless, the food delicious and the staff amazing! Couldn’t recommend it more to anyone looking for a unique and specialised experience.

Excellent week stay at the Pangolin Chobe Hotel. Everything from the accommodation, staff, food, photo hosts and trips into the Chobe National Park (By boat or by road) was of the highest standard. It is highly recommended for the wild life enthusiast and photographer.