San Camp is situated among scattered clusters of palm trees on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans in Botswana. Six large white canvas tents built in an exotic style combine to present one of the most romantic and interesting camps in Africa. San Camp (and sister camp Jack's Camp) are unique in that they are the only permanent camps to offer a chance to explore and understand the Kalahari. The camp adjoins the Makgadikgadi National Park with its endless vistas of rolling golden grasslands. Desert palms line the horizon…. behind are the huge salt pans of the Makgadikgadi equivalent to the size of Switzerland.
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A visit to the area is essential for anyone interested in evolution and the origins and explanation of the Okavango Delta. Explore the geology, archaeology and anthropology of the Kalahari and Makgadikgadi with knowledgeable guides. The Makgadikgadi, a relic of one of the world’s largest superlakes, dried up thousands of years ago as a result of the continued shifting of the earth’s crust. When the Pans are dry, to travel where conventional vehicles cannot, and to guard against scarring the Pan’s crust the camp utilises four wheel drive quad bikes. Venturing far into the middle of the Pans, we are able to explore remote archaeological sites, periodically discovering sites never before documented such as fossil beds of extinct giant zebra and hippo. Theories as to how and when this vast geographic phenomenon was formed vary but our aim is to attempt to unravel some of the mysteries while providing the sophisticated traveller a first class traditional safari.  | |  |
WILDLIFE
The area provides a complete desert experience focusing on species unique to the area such as gemsbok, brown hyena and springbok. Jack's and San Camp are the only places where guests are virtually guaranteed to see the rare and elusive brown hyena in the whole of Africa. This is not a big five game location. Many of our guides are fully qualified Zoologists/Geologists, often working on PhD research. As such, they are most able to convey all the nuances of the desert and the adaptations of its inhabitants which we consider to be one of the most interesting features of the environment. The Makgadikgadi is also one of the most important wetland sites remaining in Africa. In the wet season December to March, the Makgadikgadi’s Pans fill with water attracting flocks of flamingo and other migratory birds. The area is also the only place in Southern Africa where one is able to see a migration of tens of thousands of wildebeest and zebra followed by predators. Although migrations do occur elsewhere in Botswana, the tree cover prohibits a view of the magnitude that we are able to see due to the exposed nature of the surrounding grasslands.
| No. of Bedrooms | Six white canvas tents. Accommodation is authentic, but comfortable and stylish, including many thoughtful and unique details. Roomy, classically styled tents with private bucket showers and flush loos are set into a palm grove creating an oasis of civilisation in what can be the harshest of stark environments. | | Activities | Extensive usage of 4WD quad bikes
Explore undocumented archaeological sites and discover early hominid settlements
Night drives to view unique desert wildlife (brown hyena, aardvark, aardwolf etc)
Game walks with Bushman trackers to observe desert wildlife. (Gemsbok, suricate/meerkat, springbuck)
Visit the historical baobabs (the campsites of Livingstone, Selous and Baines)
Fly camp on the Pan under the stars for trips of more than two nights. (weather permitting)
Fly Camping (weather permitting) to Kubu Island with bikes for 5 night trips of four guests and more. |
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