San Camp
Makgadikgadi Pans

San Camp is the ‘little Sister’ to Jack’s Camp and offers the same romantic charm and elegance just on a more exclusive scale with just seven tents. The gorgeous white tents all face out onto the enormous and sparkling salt pan and are gently sheltered by a cluster of desert palms. When the rains come, and the pans fill to the brim the tents stand out like mini-castles and create a dreamlike mirage in the vast and empty Makgadikgadi Pans.

Although welcoming of all ages, this camp feels sophisticated and romantic - the tents are light, airy and stylish, perfect as part of a honeymoon safari. San Camp is only open for six months of the year during the dry season (mid-April to mid-October) as its open location mean that in the windier wetter months a stay there would be neither romantic or relaxing!

Visitors at San Camp are encouraged to go quad biking across the lunar expanse of the pans, lie out on the moonlike terrain as the sun sets and watch the planetarium show unfold with horizon-to-horizon stars. Other activities which can be arranged include game drives to experience unique desert wildlife, a visit to Chapman’s Baobab, campsite of Livingstone & Selous: one of the three largest and oldest trees in Africa. Game viewing is excellent in the Makgadikgadi Pans and it provides a markedly different experience to other parts of Botswana and a trip down here highly recommended by the Ampersand Africa team.

The Makgadikgadi is also one of the only places where guests can get unbelievably up close and personal with meerkats. Walking with one of the three habituated meerkat families is an incredibly special experience. Jumping out of the game vehicle and keeping up to speed with these tiny but charming mammals as they dig for insects (scorpions are their most favoured delicacy) in the morning sun is both liberating and life affirming. Afterwards, enjoy a Bush Breakfast - an Ampersand Safari Must. Walking and interacting with a group of Zu/’hoasi Bushmen and gaining an insight into their ancient culture is an education - learning about both the benefits and perils of the nomadic life whilst listening to their extraordinary language only adds more joy to a safari in Botswana.

I travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine.
Caskie Stinnett