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In a world of African safaris, Jack’s Camp is nothing short of an icon. For several decades it has been setting the standard for luxury in the Kalahari. The property’s enduring and much-loved vintage style offers unfathomable comfort for desert life.
Each guest tent is 270 square metres in size. Their iconic interiors are embellished with rich textiles from around the world, cabinets of curiosities, Persian rugs, hand-carved beds, and on the outside there is an expansive deck with private plunge pool and magnificent views of the shimmering Makgadikgadi Salt Pans.
In this ancient landscape earth and sky dissolve into one. At first sight, the lunar-like land appears devoid of life, but once you crack open the crust and the dust settles, you’ll find yourself in the thick of desert life.
Jack’s Camp is where unreal style, meets real desert adventure. Come see for yourself what makes this a truly legendary Kalahari safari camp.
Through multi-faceted conservation programmes our Makgadikgadi properties aim to un-restrict migratory movement of large mammals to allow the epic annual migration to flourish. Your stay at our camps (Jack’s Camp, San Camp, Camp Kalahari, Planet Baobab, Meno A Kwena) helps us achieve this.
Jack’s Camp is located in Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, the remnants of an enormous super-lake that used to cover most of Southern Africa. Jack Bousfield himself described the area as the “savage beauty of a forgotten Africa”, and truly, the Makgadikgadi is like nowhere on earth. It’s a landscape of space and remoteness, and the spectacular, otherworldly vistas, unique desert wildlife, and old-world glamour of Jack’s Camp all come together to create an experience that is unlike any other on the continent.
Jack’s Camp is a year-round destination, yet the two seasons couldn’t be more different. The dry season, from April to October, is the desert as you know it: a shimmering whiteness envelops the scorched landscape, like a mirage floating over the crusted salt, and you’ll spot nomadic herds in the distance, as if an illusion. This is the time of year for whizzing across the pans on the back of a quad bike, sleeping under the stars, and enjoying the pans in their most iconic state.
From November onwards, the Makgadikgadi Pans undergo a remarkable transformation as the rains arrive, turning the salt flats into verdant grasslands teeming with wildlife. This green season in the desert is marked by the arrival of migratory birds, pink clouds of flamingos, and Africa’s second largest mammal migration of wildebeest and zebras. The landscape is lush and vibrant, offering a unique and unpredictable spectacle for visitors to witness. Safari activities are still available during this time, allowing for close encounters with the abundant wildlife. The green season lasts until mid-April, coinciding with the off season for tourism in Botswana, making it a more affordable time to visit this magical oasis in the desert.
Situated at the waterhole just in front of camp, our high-definition, 24/7 live stream camera captures all of the action, allowing you to witness Botswana’s wildlife in real-time from anywhere on Earth.
From vast herds of zebra and wildebeest stopping by to quench their thirst to prowling predators lurking under the cover of darkness, the action never stops!
Tune in at any time to experience the beauty of the Makgadikgadi and stay up-to-date with all of the Jack’s Camp action!
Jack’s Camp blends the sophistication of vintage mid-century travel furniture with the adventurous spirit of exploration, creating an iconic safari experience. Its 9 guest tents, 7 twin tents (each with two extra length queen size beds) and 2 double tents (each with one extra length king size bed), are all adorned with a classic East African feel. The iconic green canvas and muslin-draped walls are embellished with Persian and North African rugs, paraffin lamps, brass fittings, luxuriant textiles and mahogany campaign furniture.
There is a comfortable living area, with a sofa and day bed for relaxing on and the outer deck has a private plunge pool, with swing beds for exquisite views overlooking the Makgadikgadi Pans. You’ll discover Natural History Museum cabinets curated by Ralph Bousfield himself, an over-bed cooling system to ward off the desert heat and an en-suite bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers.
The camps large mess tent houses the renowned Natural History Museum, library, vintage 36 seater dining table that served as an officer’s mess table in the 1820’s, a well-stocked drinks cabinet and an antique pool table. The iconic nomadic Persian tea provides a variety of afternoon sweet treats and the shop is stocked with treasures to take home from your travels.
Framed Peter Beard pictures sit alongside original posters from French taxidermist Deyrolle, both complemented by Bousfield family photos. The swimming pool pavilion is still the only one of its kind in Africa, and an ideal place to hide away from the desert heat.
• 9 tents: 7 twins, 2 doubles
• Rooms: 270 sq metres (135 sq m indoors / 135 sq m outdoors)
• Ensuite bathrooms with indoor & outdoor showers
• Private deck with plunge pool
• Over-bed cooling system
• Swimming pool pavilion
• Persian tea tent
• Spa treatments available (at additional cost)
• Wi-Fi available: Yes
• Hairdryers: Yes
• 24-hour electricity in tents (100% solar-powered)
• Complimentary laundry service
The desert is never a place of abundance. But we’ve spent many years here (not quite as many as Jack, but a good number!) and it still surprises us. The Makgadikgadi is full of elusive species and desert-adapted animals and the perfect complement to Botswana’s traditionally game-rich areas, like the Khwai Private Reserve and the Okavango Delta.
The brown hyena is a symbol of what’s to come in the Makgadikgadi. There are only 8000 of these special hunters left in the world, and there aren’t many other places you’ll encounter one. Other carnivores that know how to eke out their survival here include aardwolves and bat-eared foxes, honey badgers and black-maned Kalahari lion. Then there’s aardvark, gemsbok, springbok and black-backed jackals to look out for on game drives, and perhaps even an elephant or two. And last, but definitely not least, the meerkats. We’ve been busy pioneering a meerkat habituation project with some of the world’s pre-eminent researchers. The cheeky creatures are still very wild, but they do enjoy coming to say hello.
Get access to a range of experiences that can be enjoyed during your stay
When you visit, you will be directly supporting the following Natural Selection conservation initatives:
In the 1960s, crocodile catcher and legendary adventurer Jack Bousfield set out on a trapping expedition in the desolate Makgadikgadi Pans. He soon stumbled upon a site that so captured his imagination that he set up a camp in that very spot, with the unshakeable expectation that others would feel the same… That was the first incarnation of Jack’s Camp, a simple, no frills affair in the heart of the desert, visited by guests as much to see Jack as the otherworldly area.
Fast-forward a few years to Jack’s untimely death in 1992, and Ralph, Jack’s son, established the Uncharted Africa Safari Company in homage to his father’s vision. Jack’s Camp was refurbished in the nostalgic 1940s style we know today, but kept as authentic and genuine as possible, guaranteeing every guest ‘Real Adventure in Unreal Style.’ Jack would be proud.
