Safari Guru

Jack's Camp

Jack's Camp is a Kalahari legend. Sitting in Botswana's immense Makgadikgadi Salt Pans - 50-minutes flying time from Maun – under a grove of palm trees, with extensive views across the Pans. Jack's owner is a veteran safari guide, and the camp takes pride in its motto: 'Give them what they never knew they wanted.'

The original Jack's Camp was beautifully constructed and decorated in a very classical safari style; an inviting and romantic oasis in this harsh environment. Think early settler décor, with a mix of old mahogany furniture, copper basins, Persian rugs, Moroccan and Ethiopian artefacts and natural objects no electric lights or plug points in the tents, but paraffin and solar-powered lanterns provide ambient lighting after dark.

Jack's Camp is now undergoing a full rebuild and refurbishment and was set to reopen in May 2020, however this has been delayed due to COVID-19. We understand that the brand-new Jack's Camp will not change in style – keeping the property's enduring, unique and much-loved 1940s campaign style. The guest tents, seven twins and three doubles, will be made much larger, while the iconic interiors will remain but with the addition of intricate textiles from all over the world, Natural History Museum cabinets, wood-burning Morso stoves for the chilly evenings and mornings, and an overhead bed cooling systems. Ensuite bathrooms will have both indoor and outdoor shower, and outside, each veranda will now have a private plunge pool.

The new, larger mess tent will be stunning, keeping with the renowned Natural History Museum, library, antique pool table and a well-stocked drinks chest. The iconic nomadic Persian tea tent will be made larger, whilst the swimming pool pavilion will be reimagined with the addition of a sun deck. A dedicated spa tent will be added.

The guiding here is superb with guides being real experts who aim to enrich and give you an understanding of geology, archaeology and anthropology in aspects of this unique environment. The Makgadikgadi Pans are dry for much of the year, meaning the larger animals are often scarce. The wet season (November–April), transforms the pans filling them with rain; attracting clouds of flamingo and other migratory birds and herds of zebra and wildebeest to the grasslands, followed closely by opportunistic predators. Meaning the Kalahari lion, cheetah and leopard also roam this area. Although elusive they can be occasionally spotted. However, the addition of pumped waterholes now attracts a good number of zebra and wildebeest (and accompanying lions ), making game viewing a more year-round experience.

Come here for the stars of the show - the meerkats – there are a few habituated colonies near the camp and an encounter with these playful creatures can almost be guaranteed. Otherwise, you're looking for desert-adapted wildlife that is here year-round, such as ostrich, springbok, steenbok and black-backed jackal, while by night you might come across brown hyena, aardwolf, porcupine, bat-eared fox, honey badger and scrub hare. And if you're very fortunate the aardvark.

Other highlights include, informative nature walks, concentrating on the plants and smaller animals, led by San Bushmen trackers, with translation by your guide, giving a fascinating glimpse into a dying culture. Various other activities include 4WD, and quad bikes are used during the dry season (May to October) and visits to archaeological and anthropological sites.

Jack's Camp