Nothing. Absolutely nothing all the way to the horizon.
Welcome to one of the most remote locations in Botswana. It’s surrounded by, well, not a lot, bar a few palm trees scattered here and there. And that’s the appeal. This is escapism pure and simple. A small camp with just seven tents providing accommodation on the edge of the Nwetwe Pan in the Kalahari.
It’s a location where minimalism rules. A place that takes its inspiration from the Bedouin safari camps of the 1940s, with a few nods to the modern, such as solar power that enables Wi-Fi and battery charging facilities.
Although the landscape looks sparse, it’s home to plenty of wildlife, with more just a short drive away in a 4 by 4. Sightings of meerkat, aardvark, hyena, springbok, ostrich, wildebeest and zebra are on the cards, with many wandering close to camp. You’ll likely have to venture further afield for the chance to see lion and elephant, as well as rare brown hyena.
Birdwatchers will get plenty to delight the eye too, with finch larks and bustards among the species you’re likely to see, best viewed on a walking safari.
Uniquely, local Bushmen are part of the San Camp family and will host tours into the wilds, sharing insights about their culture and history as well as the landscape of their homeland. You can also head out to Kubu Island on quadbikes during the dry season, with the option to book horse riding safaris as well.
There are just 7 tents in camp, 4 with twin beds, 2 with double beds and 1 designated for families (it’s 2 tents connected by a walkway, with one side featuring a king size bed, the other twin beds). Each is decked out to honour the traditional safari experience - four poster beds, Persian rugs, wooden writing desks, inviting leather armchairs and a daybed out on the veranda. Your ensuite bathroom has running water and a flushing WC, with a solar heated shower to look forward to every morning and evening.
Four waterholes have been dug by the camp’s creators and filled by water from below the pans to give local wildlife a reason to visit. Open sided pavilions will give you the best views of the surroundings and wildlife, with an elegant mess tent offering a place with a large table and mirrored interior wall to gather for food, drink and make polite conversation – you can charge your phone battery in here too.
The adjacent tea tent is designed for comfortable relaxation, but you could choose to chill out in or around the swimming pool instead. Spa treatments can be booked for an additional fee, and for free you can browse Natural History Museum cabinets dotted around camp, containing collections of fossils, maps, and other artefacts.
People of all ages are welcome here (there’s a family tent), and this is a camp that’s designed to have a minimal impact on the landscape. It can all be packed up and moved on without leaving a trace of it ever having been here.
San Camp offers a range of unforgettable desert experiences that showcase the magic of the Makgadikgadi Pans. Guests can explore the vast salt flats on guided quad bike excursions, walk with habituated meerkats as they forage at sunrise, and join Bushman guides for fascinating cultural walks that reveal ancient survival skills. Game drives focus on unique desert wildlife, from brown hyena to migrating zebras, while sunset walks and stargazing highlight the silence and scale of this extraordinary landscape.
San Camp is designed with an exceptionally light footprint, blending seamlessly into its fragile desert surroundings. The entire camp runs primarily on solar power, with no permanent foundations and minimal infrastructure to preserve the integrity of the pans. Tents are low-impact and rely on natural ventilation, while water usage is carefully managed through eco-friendly shower systems and biodegradable toiletries. Waste is removed from site, recycling is prioritised, and most furnishings are locally crafted or vintage, reducing the need for new materials. Guided by a philosophy of conservation and cultural respect, San Camp supports local communities and protects the unique ecosystem of the Makgadikgadi.
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We had the most amazing family holiday, everything worked so perfectly, the arrangements and accommodation was spectacular!
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It was a fantastic experience, everything was very well organised, went smooth and according to expectations. It was our first self drive in Africa and it was a great, unforgettable time.
