Great Kalahari Botswana
Jack's Camp
A relic of one the world’s largest super-lakes, the Makgadikgadi dried up thousands of years ago as a result of the continued shifting of the earth’s crust. The iconic Jack’s Camp is sited in this stunning prehistoric setting. Home of Ralph Bousfield, one of Africa’s most coveted safari guides carrying five generations of African safari experience, this stylish desert getaway carries the nostalgia of the pioneers’ story-telling tents. The walls inspire a quirky, ‘cabinet-of-curiosities’ atmosphere with vintage natural history lithographs from Deyrolle of Paris and the photo journals of safari legend Peter Beard.
Accommodation is comfortable and elegant, in keeping with the character of the Makgadikgadi. Facilities include a mess tent for dining and a tea tent with Persian carpet cushions for socializing. Jack's Camp also features a spa with desert-inspired aromatherapies.
After the rains (December to April), there can be enormous herds of Wildebeest, Zebra and Springbok - with the accompanying predators - on the open grasslands. The summer rains also leave a warm shallow layer of water that entices Waterfowl and Pink Flamingo. Activities are conducted in open 4x4 vehicles custom designed for this terrain and accompanied by knowledgeable guides. In the dry winter season, rough terrain ATV vehicles (Quad bikes) are available, allowing guests to explore the saltpans.
"May is always an exciting month at Jack's as the traditional 'season' begins. The hornbill chicks have now learnt to fend for themselves and as often with juveniles, are obligingly habituated and provide staff and guests alike with endless amusement. The cold, dry months are now setting in with determination, treating all to awe-inspiring night skies and morning drives where ponchos and gloves are welcome. Evening quad biking on these clear nights never fails to amaze guests, setting off after tea the light is still so sharp and the reminder to bring fleeces and jumpers seems almost excessive - yet come sunset the chill factor sets in and woollies are very welcome. Guests are always amazed by the night sky while on the pans - most have never even imagined the textures possible in a night sky which is un-illuminated. Morning quadbiking is the opposite - layers are peeled off as it warms up, and the hallucinatory mirages which dance on the pans appear as if by magic."
Kalahari safari diaries
A man of extraordinary safari pedigree who led aristocrats and film stars to glamping in remotest Africa in the 60s, Jack had a vision to start a safari camp in the Makgadikgadi. The set-up was extremely rustic, attracting guests who came not just to see the magical moonscape...but the character Jack himself, serving to bring one closer to nature in his old-style safaris that emphasized the basic pleasures of the bush. He told the most intriguing tales from his pioneering days - such as when called to train the lions used in the filming of the Born Free story in Kenya. Jack believed that an authentic safari camp experience should be more than just a hotel in the bush; Jack’s Camp is a striking place that celebrates the savage beauty of a forgotten Africa, on the same site where Bousfield once set up his rustic camp in the ‘70s. "We inherited his ethos that the experience that people received through excellent guiding and interpretation of the environment is what they should take with them from Africa. It was real pioneering stuff. The area and the concept were both untried and untested." - Ralph Bousfield
Field Notes
Fireside stories
Get up close with the world-famous burrow of the “Meerkat Manor” which was filmed on location here at Jack's Camp and the Makgadikgadi Pans. Thanks to a special, ongoing habituation program at camp, you can spend time with these captivating Meerkats.
Jack's Camp
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