About Jack’s Camp
Jack’s Camp is one of Botswana’s most iconic safari destinations, set in the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. Originally established in the 1960s by legendary safari pioneer Jack Bousfield, the camp has been rebuilt to retain its vintage 1940s safari style while offering modern comforts. The setting is unlike any other in Africa, with vast open salt flats stretching to the horizon, interspersed with desert palms and seasonal grasslands. The camp delivers an experience that is as much about the cultural and historical richness of the area as it is about wildlife, offering a rare chance to explore one of the most remote and hauntingly beautiful landscapes in Botswana.
ACCESS & LOCATION of Jack’s Camp
Jack’s Camp is located in the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park in north-central Botswana. Access is typically by light aircraft from Maun or Kasane to Tsigaro Airstrip, which takes approximately 1 hour from Maun and 1 hour 45 minutes from Kasane. From the airstrip, it is a short game drive to camp. Self drive access is possible in the dry season for experienced off-road drivers, but most visitors opt for fly in safaris due to the remoteness and challenging terrain.
ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT Jack’s Camp
The camp features ten luxury canvas tents and one family tent, each with en-suite bathrooms, indoor and outdoor showers, and private decks. Interiors are decorated in a distinctive blend of East African safari and Persian styles, with rich textiles, antique furniture, and natural history collections. The main mess tent houses a library, dining area, and a small museum showcasing artifacts and fossils from the area. Guests can relax by the pool, enjoy meals in the dining tent, or gather around the fire pit in the evenings. The camp operates with an emphasis on sustainability, using solar power and eco-friendly amenities.
ACTIVITIES AT Jack’s Camp
Guided Game Drives
Game drives in the Makgadikgadi Pans focus on desert adapted wildlife, including springbok, oryx, brown hyena, and during the wet season, vast herds of zebra and wildebeest.
Meerkat Encounters
One of the camp’s most famous experiences is spending time with habituated meerkat colonies. Guests can sit among these curious animals and observe their social behavior at close range.
Quad Biking
In the dry season, guests can embark on quad bike expeditions across the salt pans, travelling to remote, untouched areas that feel almost lunar in their emptiness.
Bushman Walks
San Bushman guides lead interpretive walks, sharing their deep knowledge of survival skills, tracking, and traditional plant uses in the Kalahari environment.
Horseback Safaris
For experienced riders, horseback safaris are available, offering a unique way to traverse the pans and encounter wildlife.
Seasonal Zebra Migration
During the green season (roughly November to April), guests can witness the second largest zebra migration in Africa, as thousands move across the pans in search of fresh grazing.
Gallery of Jack’s Camp
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