Camp Kalahari is a rustic and homely camp designed in a traditional safari style and offering a perfect base for exploring the incredible salt pans. The camp serves up excellent cuisine, a peaceful atmosphere and a variety of activities in and around the enchanting moonscape of the national park
Location
The camp sits on Hyena Island, an outcrop on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. The camp sits in the shade of acacia and mokolwane trees and offers a tranquil location from which to explore the fragile pans of the national park. During the wet season, the park and surrounding concession sees Southern Africa’s largest land migration of wildebeest and zebra.
Rooms
11 Meru-style tents are positioned down sandy pathways and interiors are simple yet comfortable and modern with four-poster beds, antique desks and flasks full of cold drinking water for the hotter months. The en-suite bathrooms are outside yet screened in for privacy.
Communal Areas
The main area is a thatched, V-shape structure raised on polished, concrete bases housing the dining room and lounge. Oriental rugs cover the floor, old maps adorn the walls and the interiors are decorated with locally-made furniture and crafts, nostalgic campaign furniture and glass cabinets full of interesting artefacts. Meals are enjoyed at the communal dining table and the lounge offers comfy sofas and a small library. Guests can cool off in the swimming pool surrounded by day beds and deck chairs.
Activities
Activities at the camp are varied. Take morning and evening game drives in the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park, quad-biking excursions on the vast Ntwetwe Pan during the dry season or horseriding trips across the landscape. Visit the family of meerkats near camp who have been habituated to the presence of humans and visit the famous Chapman’s Baobab which is said to be over 4,500 years old. Guests can also enjoy a ‘Bushman experience’ to hear locals share stories of their cultural, environment and surviving in the wild.
Fully inclusive
When to go
Find out when is best to visit
- Excellent
- Good
- Poor
WET SEASON
This is the peak of the wet season, yet days with rainfall are very spread-out A season of change as the landscape totally transforms to a green flowering ‘desert’, a beautiful time to visit. Great birding with migratory species present and fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities. This period also marks calving season with the birth of many young animals; these ultimately also draw in predators.
Midday temperatures are however very high during this period, averaging 35°C/95°F, but can often rise well over this to 45°C/113°F or more. Humidity levels though are surprisingly low, so this extreme heat can be bearable and as this is a desert landscape after sunset the temperatures rapidly drop off to a much more pleasant 19°C/95°F. Occasionally mornings can be cold, so do pack a light fleece.
Like the rest of Botswana, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. Although the Kalahari offers great game viewing throughout the year we would generally recommend visiting the area at the back end of the rains, when wildlife is drawn to the riverbeds. If your timing is right, you can be rewarded with great game viewing, birdlife and a beautiful green flower blooming landscape!
WET SEASON
This is the peak of the wet season, yet days with rainfall are very spread-out A season of change as the landscape totally transforms to a green flowering ‘desert’, a beautiful time to visit. Great birding with migratory species present and fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities. This period also marks calving season with the birth of many young animals; these ultimately also draw in predators.
Midday temperatures are however very high during this period, averaging 35°C/95°F, but can often rise well over this to 45°C/113°F or more. Humidity levels though are surprisingly low, so this extreme heat can be bearable and as this is a desert landscape after sunset the temperatures rapidly drop off to a much more pleasant 19°C/95°F. Occasionally mornings can be cold, so do pack a light fleece.
Like the rest of Botswana, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. Although the Kalahari offers great game viewing throughout the year we would generally recommend visiting the area at the back end of the rains, when wildlife is drawn to the riverbeds. If your timing is right, you can be rewarded with great game viewing, birdlife and a beautiful green flower blooming landscape!
WET SEASON
This is the peak of the wet season, yet days with rainfall are very spread out. A season of change as the landscape transforms to a green flowering ‘desert’, a beautiful time to visit. Great birding with migratory species present and fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities. This period also marks calving season with the birth of many young animals; these ultimately also draw in predators.
Midday temperatures have cooled slightly, averaging 33°C/91°F, but temperatures can still occasionally climb over 40°C/104°F. Humidity levels though are surprisingly low, so this extreme heat can be bearable and as this is a desert landscape after sunset the temperatures rapidly drop off to a much more pleasant 17°C/62°F. Occasionally mornings can be very cold, so do pack a warm fleece.
Like the rest of Botswana, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. Although the Kalahari offers great game viewing throughout the year we would generally recommend visiting the area at the back end of the rains, when wildlife is drawn to the riverbeds. If your timing is right, you can be rewarded with great game viewing, birdlife and a beautiful green flower blooming landscape!
WET SEASON
This is the peak of the wet season, yet days with rainfall are very spread out. A season of change as the landscape transforms to a green flowering ‘desert’, a beautiful time to visit. Great birding with migratory species present and fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities. This period also marks calving season with the birth of many young animals; these ultimately also draw in predators.
Midday temperatures have cooled, averaging a very pleasant 29°C/84°F. As this is a desert landscape after sunset, the temperatures rapidly drop off to a chilly average minimum of 12°C/53°F. Occasionally mornings can be very cold, even sub-zero, so do pack warm layers, and gloves.
Like the rest of Botswana, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. Although the Kalahari offers great game viewing throughout the year we would generally recommend visiting the area at the back end of the rains, when wildlife is drawn to the riverbeds. If your timing is right, you can be rewarded with great game viewing, birdlife and a beautiful green flower blooming landscape!
DRY SEASON
Whilst the occasional shower is still possible, May is the beginning of the dry season. The landscape will still be many shades of green following the rains, with great game viewing opportunities! Midday temperatures are pleasant, but the mornings are cold, with an average minimum low of 6°C/42°F. Sub-zero mornings are very much a possibility here, so do pack appropriately for those early game drives!
Like the rest of Botswana, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. Although the Kalahari offers great game viewing throughout the year we would generally recommend visiting the area at the back end of the rains, when wildlife is drawn to the riverbeds. If your timing is right, you can be rewarded with great game viewing, birdlife and a beautiful green flower blooming landscape!
DRY SEASON
Clear skies still dominate, the landscape is rapidly returning to a semi-arid desert. Game viewing opportunities remain strong.
Midday temperatures are pleasant, averaging around 24°C/75°F. The mornings are very cold, with an average minimum low of 1°C/31°F. Sub-zero mornings are very common, so do pack appropriately for those early game drives!
Like the rest of Botswana, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. Although the Kalahari offers great game viewing throughout the year we would generally recommend visiting the area at the back end of the rains, when wildlife is drawn to the riverbeds. If your timing is right, you can be rewarded with great game viewing, birdlife and a beautiful green flower blooming landscape!
DRY SEASON
Clear skies still dominate, the landscape is rapidly returning to a semi-arid desert. Game viewing opportunities remain strong.
Midday temperatures are pleasant, averaging around 24°C/75°F. The mornings are very cold, with an average minimum low of 1°C/31°F. Sub-zero mornings are very common, so do pack appropriately for those early game drives!
Like the rest of Botswana, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. Although the Kalahari offers great game viewing throughout the year we would generally recommend visiting the area at the back end of the rains, when wildlife is drawn to the riverbeds. If your timing is right, you can be rewarded with great game viewing, birdlife and a beautiful green flower blooming landscape!
DRY SEASON
Clear skies still dominate, the landscape is rapidly returning to a semi-arid desert. Game viewing opportunities remain strong.
Midday temperatures are pleasant, averaging around 24°C/75°F. The mornings are very cold, with an average minimum low of 1°C/31°F. Sub-zero mornings are very common, so do pack appropriately for those early game drives!
Like the rest of Botswana, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. Although the Kalahari offers great game viewing throughout the year we would generally recommend visiting the area at the back end of the rains, when wildlife is drawn to the riverbeds. If your timing is right, you can be rewarded with great game viewing, birdlife and a beautiful green flower blooming landscape!
DRY SEASON
Clear skies still dominate, the landscape is rapidly returning to a semi-arid desert. Game viewing opportunities remain strong.
Midday temperatures are pleasant, averaging around 31°C/88°F. The mornings are cold, with a minimum low of 8°C/46°F. Sub-zero mornings are still very much a possibility here, so do pack appropriately for those early game drives!
Like the rest of Botswana, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. Although the Kalahari offers great game viewing throughout the year we would generally recommend visiting the area at the back end of the rains, when wildlife is drawn to the riverbeds. If your timing is right, you can be rewarded with great game viewing, birdlife and a beautiful green flower blooming landscape!
DRY SEASON
Clear skies still dominate. Game viewing opportunities remain strong.
Temperatures begin to climb, especially towards the end of the month. Midday temperatures average around 29°C/84°F, but occasionally temperatures can climb over 40°C/104°F. Mornings remain cool to cold, with an average minimum low of 12°C/54°F – so do pack a warm fleece!
Like the rest of Botswana, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. Although the Kalahari offers great game viewing throughout the year we would generally recommend visiting the area at the back end of the rains, when wildlife is drawn to the riverbeds. If your timing is right, you can be rewarded with great game viewing, birdlife and a beautiful green flower blooming landscape!
WET SEASON
A season of change as the landscape totally transforms to a green flowering ‘desert’, a beautiful time to visit. This great birding with migratory species present and fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities.
Midday temperatures are however very high during this period, averaging 35°C/95°F, but can rise well over this to 45°C/113°F or more. Humidity levels though are surprisingly low, so this extreme heat can be bearable and as this is a desert landscape after sunset the temperatures rapidly drop off to a much more pleasant 19°C/95°F.
Like the rest of Botswana, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. Although the Kalahari offers great game viewing throughout the year we would generally recommend visiting the area at the back end of the rains, when wildlife is drawn to the riverbeds. If your timing is right, you can be rewarded with great game viewing, birdlife and a beautiful green flower blooming landscape!
WET SEASON
A season of change as the landscape totally transforms to a green flowering ‘desert’, a beautiful time to visit. This great birding with migratory species present and fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities.
Midday temperatures are however very high during this period, averaging 35°C/95°F, but can rise well over this to 45°C/113°F or more. Humidity levels though are surprisingly low, so this extreme heat can be bearable and as this is a desert landscape after sunset the temperatures rapidly drop off to a much more pleasant 19°C/95°F.
Like the rest of Botswana, The Kalahari has very distinct wet and dry seasons; rain occurs sporadically usually in the form of sharp thunderstorms from November through to April, the rest of the year clear skies dominate. Although the Kalahari offers great game viewing throughout the year we would generally recommend visiting the area at the back end of the rains, when wildlife is drawn to the riverbeds. If your timing is right, you can be rewarded with great game viewing, birdlife and a beautiful green flower blooming landscape!
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What People Say
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The personalised service provided was far beyond my expectations. A three week trip visiting four countries in Africa, multiple game reserves, wineries and much, much more was flawless. While a close encounter with a leopard and her cubs…
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We got in touch after hearing about Hide & Seek from a friend. Have to say hats off to Jamie, he was so patient throughout, even through our indecisiveness! Ultimately we ended up with the most incredible holiday of our lives. Thank you again, we will be back!!
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Thank you for arranging our Safari holiday in Kenya and Tanzania for us. It was to celebrate our 40th. Wedding anniversary which was on July 1st. 2018, and through your arrangements, we have had a holiday that we will never forget...
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Thanks so much for a truly unforgettable once in a life time holiday. Hopefully we will be in touch again soon!
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Spot on in terms of itinerary . We not disappointed by any of the suggestions and had the best holiday ever! Thank you!
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Jamie was very helpful throughout the booking process and recommended the perfect holiday. There was nothing we would change having now been out to Tanzania. I would highly recommend Hide & Seek to friends and relatives.
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Jamie was excellent. Once I described what we wanted I knew he would come up with the business. ..and he did!!! 5 stars
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We spoke to numerous travel agents over the period we looked at booking our honeymoon and only hide and seek gave me the confidence I was looking for. Really pleased with our decision.
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Hide and seek dealt with our last minute travel plans extremely well. Obviously, our accommodations shifted as availability diminished but ultimately they came up with a vacation that we will never forget.
