San Camp

San Camp, the sister property of Jack’s Camp, sits serenely in a reef of palm at the edge of the world. You can see the curve of the earth here. Turn 360° and nothing crosses the eye but the bowl of the sky. It is the nothing-ness that attracts. This is minimalism at it’s best.

A visit to the area is essential for anyone interested in evolution and the origins and explanation of the Okavango Delta and Botswana’s big picture. It is also a complete desert experience focusing on species unique to the area such as gemsbok, brown hyena, and springbok, as well as the geology, archaeology, and anthropology of the Kalahari and Makgadikgadi. Jack’s and San Camp are the only places where guests are practically guaranteed to see the rare and elusive brown hyena in the whole of Africa.

Authentic, but comfortable and stylish, including many thoughtful and unique details, the roomy, classically styled tents with private bucket showers and flush toilets are set into a palm grove creating an oasis of civilization in what can be the harshest of stark environments. A maximum of 12 guests are accommodated in six large walk-in white canvas tents on slightly elevated wooden platforms with private facilities. The tents have running water and flush toilets, plus a bucket shower. These facilities are private but are approximately nine to thirteen feet from the tent. Camp amenities include a mess tent for dining, a tea tent with Persian carpet cushions for socializing, and a shop tent.

The wet season is generally from late November through March and into April. Activities during the wet season include game drives in open 4×4 vehicles custom designed for the terrain to experience the enormous herds of the annual zebra and wildebeest migration. Bird walks to observe migratory waterfowl (flamingos, storks, wattled crane, ducks, terns, etc.) and their breeding and feeding sites are another option. Depending on the amount of recent rainfall, guests will have usage of 4WD quad bikes and vehicles on the salt pans, an exhilarating way to see the area.

Night drives to view migration and unique desert wildlife (brown hyena, aardvark, aardwolf, etc.) are a special favorite. Game walks with Bushman trackers to observe the desert wildlife such as gemsbok, meerkat, and springbok are a great way to learn how the indigenous San people survive in this seemingly inhospitable land. Finally, a visit to the historic baobab trees are always on the agenda (the campsites of Livingstone, Selous, and Baines). The dry season accommodates much more extensive use of the quad bikes out on the pans. All other activities are available as well. The camps also operate a five-day fly camp option to Kubu Island (weather permitting) with quad bikes for parties with at least four guests.