Jack's Camp

Location: Makgadikgadi & the Kalahari | Botswana

Price guide: £££££ More than £500 per person per night

In a harsh but beautiful landscape, a captivating lunar plain that spans over 6757 sq miles, where only sparse patches of shrubs and animals adapted to the desert survive, lies Jack’s Camp. The colonial style camp was established in 1993 by Ralph Bousfield and his partner Catherine Raphaely, on the site where Ralph’s deceased father, the legendary explorer Jack Bousfield had once been.

Perfect forSafari second-timers, those who have seen the Big Five and want to see the raw beauty of remote African wilderness.

In the knowDuring the wet season, the landscape transforms into a lush grassy oasis that teems with flamingos, waterfowl and other wildlife. Thousands of wildebeest and zebra herds flock to the grasslands in the annual migration. Also, it gets bitterly cold in winter, mid-June to mid-August so make sure you pack your woollies.

Recommended for...

Boutique Hotel
Cultural Immersion
Eco-tourism
Food & Wine

Hotel Overview

Where

Jack's Camp lies deep in the Kalahari Desert on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans, the largest saltpans in the world.

Rooms at Jack's Camp

Filled with relics, antique maps and early photographs, Jack's Camp is furnished in a traditional East African 1940s style. There are ten spacious, walk-in tents, each with en-suite private showers (indoor and out), washbasin and flush loos. The tents are spread out on an island of palm trees, with a dining tent and a Persian-style 'tea tent', which comes complete with local artefacts, comfy cushions and rugs.

Food and Facilities

Lavish meals are taken under the ancient acacia tree or in the large open sided dining tent. There’s also a recently added swimming pool in a tented pavilion.

Activities at Jack's Camp

During the dry season, you won’t find the big five here but you will find unique desert animals and a spectacular desert landscape. Tracking walks across the pans offer an unforgettable experience as the bushmen guide you across the pans, teaching the intricacies of the unique desert ecosystem, whilst reciting tales of near escapes, kills and other stories. During winter, guests can quad bike with guides across the saltpans to explore the fascinating archaeological sites.