The oldest camp in the Kalahari Game Reserve, Tau Pan is named after the pan it overlooks and blends seamlessly into its incredible surroundings. Offering a true sense of wilderness and commanding views over the landscape, the scenic camp sunset views, clear night skies and undisturbed safari experience.


Location

The camp is in Botswana’s Central Kalahari Game Reserve and enjoys an elevated position atop an ancient sand dune overlooking a permanent waterhole. Covering 52,800km2, the reserve is rich in game and during the wetter months, zebra and wildebeest congregate in their thousands to migrate across the vast landscape.

Rooms

Nine raised rooms sit on wooden platforms, each offering spectacular views from spacious verandas. The rooms blend into the landscape and interiors are natural and spacious. Large beds face the views from sliding glass doors and each room has a lounge area and a writing desk. En-suites offer both indoor and outdoor showers.

Communal Areas

Overlooking the waterhole, the main open-sided area houses a lounge, dining room and library. Meals are enjoyed at the communal dining table, the bar operates on a ‘help yourself’ bases and a small lounge benefits from 180-degree views of the landscape. The huge deck area has a fire pit where guests can enjoy post-dinner drinks and to cool off midday, there is a plunge pool with plenty of sun loungers.

Activities

Take nature and safari drives around Tau Pan with a guide and tracker team or venture further afield on full-day trips to Deception Valley, Piper, Sunday and Passarge Pans. A highlight at the camp is the nature walks with San Bushmen trackers who share their life-long knowledge of the wildlife and environment. Guests can also enjoy some spectacular stargazing around the campfire with clear views of the Milky Way.

Fully inclusive

Accommodation
Breakfast, lunch and evening meal
All house drinks (except premium imported brands and champagne)
All game viewing activities
Daily laundry

When to go

Find out when is best to visit

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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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