Camp Kalahari
Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana
Quirky safari style in the Kalahari
Camp Kalahari lies nestled amongst the acacias on the edge of a vast salt pan – the relic of ancient super lake – adjacent to the Makgadikgadi National Park. Operated by the same family for five generations, it offers a return to the traditional safari style of the original explorers, allowing guests to experience the Makgadikgadi in an affordable yet authentic way.
The 11 Meru-style canvas tents are fully furnished with four poster beds, dark wood furniture, Moroccan rugs and quirky textiles and the en suite bathrooms have open air showers, flush toilets and plenty of hot running water. A family tent with interconnecting rooms is available for small groups or those travelling with children. The common areas include a central library and a living and dining area, festooned with an eclectic mix of original African furniture and colonial antiques and a thatched swimming pool provides the perfect place for a refreshing dip on a hot afternoon. Meals are served family-style, at the long table and the food is of exceptional quality. The use of electricity is kept to a minimum and the whole twinkles in lantern light as dusk falls.
Activities include game drives and night drives in custom built 4x4s to see the unique desert wildlife including aardvark elusive brown hyena, aswell as bush walks with the Zu/’hoasi Bushmen who will offer you a window into the past and teach you how they have survived in this harshest of environments, using ancient knowledge of plants, animal behaviour and survival skills. Enjoy close up encounters with the area’s wild but friendly habituated meerkats as they use any elevated position (including the top of your head!) to survey their surroundings, go horse riding or tear across the pans on a 4×4 quad bike. During the wet season (November to mid-April) you may be lucky enough to see the clouds of flamingos which arrive to feed on the algae and immense herds of zebra (and accompanying predators) drawn to the area by lush green grass shoots.
Camp Kalahari is a wonderfully stylish step back in time to the era of exploration, top notch wildlife encounters and rugged safari glamour.
You will love
- The ethereal beauty of the pans
- Quirky style & vintage glamour
- Meerkat encounters
- Green season zebra migration
Let us design your perfect itinerary.
An absolutely fantastic travel company - every one of the many trips they have organised for us over 22 years have been faultless and fabulous.
Judith & Roger Williams
Would do it all again and not change a moment. Best holiday ever!
The McGowan Tribe
It certainly was the best trip we have EVER had. The experiences were mind blowing. We want everyone we know to experience Africa - the animals, the people - magical.
Jo-anne & Dean Mifsud
The Classic Safari Company is the best I have dealt with. Extremely knowledgeable & professional, friendly, patient & understanding of first timers to Africa.
Annette Whiley
Classic Safari Company were brilliant - 10/10
Di & Kingsley Yates
Classic Safari is the place to go to for "top end" adventure travel.
Ron & Alison Guthrie
If you want the most sensational experience in Africa let Julia and the staff at Classic Safari Co plan it for you! Their knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm for their job means your every wish will be fulfilled.
Miriam & Joseph Harrison
Their experience and knowledge of Africa is evident and we couldn't have been happier with the total package. This has given us a taste for Africa - now we are ready for more.
Andrew & Pip Stevens
Classic Safari Company has done it again! A unique experience that ticked all the boxes - wildlife, culture and dining experience. A dream come true!
Ros Wheeler
Absolutely everything was first class & so well organised.
Simon & Jackie Adams
The trip of a lifetime, couldn't have dreamt of a better adventure if I tried.
Emma Jeffcoat
You can't improve on perfection. I had my best birthday and holiday with my family celebrating my 80th birthday in Africa. Everything that Julia organised was perfect and the whole trip was a highlight!
Buckingham Family
Everything was perfect! Advice and information on destinations and activities hit everything I had hoped to experience. I contacted the Classic Safari Company upon recommendation and have now, in turn, recommended to others.
Tim Bradley
Very knowledgeable and patient. Our trip was all that we hoped for. Wonderful!
Jane & Robert Happell
Thank you for making our trip to Africa so spectacular. The attention to detail really made it special. It really was the trip of a lifetime.
Paul Cozzi
An amazing experience - the best family holiday we have ever had. We were extremely impressed by the meticulous attention to our itinerary. I can't speak highly enough of all the elements of this exciting journey!
Sheryl & Robert Taylor
We loved it all. Our son wants to go back tomorrow. We would ALL go back again!
Laurence & Remi Cunningham
Classic Safari are the people who genuinely know other culture and offer incredible insight to perfectly meet your expectations.
Melanie McMillan & Iain Jones
The trip exceeded my expectations and was the best family holiday I have ever had. Our children simply loved it and now I know more about African wildlife than they do about our own farm animals.
Rowntree family
We are so happy we put our trust in CSC, we had an amazing adventure and would recommend them to anyone.
Kim & Brad Balance
Julia you did a fantastic job - everything was first class. Well organised, efficient and stress free. We all agreed it was the best holiday we've ever had. Cant wait to travel with CSC again.
Milford family
We wanted the opportunity to see as many wildlife parks as possible and the Classic Safari Company provided an action-packed itinerary that included six, with 11 tiger sightings and nine leopard. This was overlaid with an introduction to Jaisalmer, Jaipur and the 'real' India. Pench and Panna were the hidden gems of a really great trip, very well organised, seamless and enjoyable. As a solo traveller I felt incredibly safe at all times. I want to go back!
Mark Taylor
Exellent and wonderful, reaching way above expectations.
Elizabeth Mackintosh
Thank you for putting together the ancestral adventure of a lifetime. I cannot speak highly enough of the trip.
Jenny Kidd
