Explore the Wild: Discover the Beauty of the Botswana
You’ll find Camp Kalahari amongst the acacias and mokolwane palms of Brown Hyaena Island, on the edge of Botswana’s hauntingly beautiful Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. Wildlife in the surrounding savannah includes brown
hyena, bat-eared foxes, elephant (the camp swimming pool is a welcome stop!), meerkat and during the green season, spectacular numbers of zebra and wildebeest.
Brown Hyaena Island, the palm dotted island that Camp Kalahari calls home, took its name from (can you guess?), the brown hyaena.
Bashful yet brilliant at foraging and scavenging, this is the third rarest large carnivore in Africa, and an animal that’s virtually impossible to see elsewhere on the continent. But that’s just the beginning of what you might see in the Makgadikgadi: look out for bat-eared foxes, aardvark and aardwolves scampering across the salt, elephant plodding through on their nomadic journey (our swimming pool is a welcome refreshment stop!), and dazzling numbers of zebra and wildebeest.
And where there’s a zebra, a predator will never be far away, so keep an eye out for cheetah and lion, close on the hooves of the herds. Not to be forgotten are our cheeky, habituated meerkats, a constant source of amusement and a regular feature of a safari at Camp Kalahari.
Laidback and understated, nothing is overly elaborate at Camp Kalahari. Instead, you’ll find 12, Meru-style canvas tents filled with fresh textiles, Moroccan kilims and four-posters. Shower alfresco in the open-air, ensuite bathrooms (there’s definitely no one around to disturb your privacy here!), and there’s plenty of hot and cold water available throughout the day. If you’re travelling with your brood, choose one of the interconnecting family tents; with a bathroom linking the space for children and adults, it’s ideal for families and groups.
The common areas include a central library and a living and dining area, festooned with an eclectic mix of original African furniture and colonial antiques. Meals are refreshingly simple and wonderfully tasty, and served, family-style, at the long table. There’s also a thatched swimming pool, providing the perfect place for a refreshing dip on a hot afternoon – just watch out for the ellies who might pop in for a quick drink too. We’ve kept our use of electricity to a minimum too; there are electrical lights in the bedrooms, but when night falls, the majority of camp is lit by twinkling paraffin lanterns
Game drives allow you to experience unique desert wildlife such as brown hyena, bat eared foxes and if you’re lucky enough, lion & elephant.
Spend time walking with a group of Zu/’hoasi Bushmen for a glimpse into their ancient culture, understanding how they use the flora and fauna to survive in this sparse environment.
Spend time walking with a group of Zu/’hoasi Bushmen for a glimpse into their ancient culture, understanding how they use the flora and fauna to survive in this sparse environment.
