Makgadikgadi, Botswana
Jack's Camp
An iconic camp that harks back to an era of glamour, Jack’s Camp is set in the striking Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. Whether visiting in the dry or green season, Jack’s offers guests an exceptionally stylish place to stay while admiring the wildlife and unique beauty of the pans. An iconic camp that harks back to an era of glamour, Jack’s Camp is set in the striking Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. Whether visiting in the dry or green season, Jack’s offers guests an exceptionally stylish place to stay while admiring the wildlife and unique beauty of the pans.
An iconic camp that harks back to an era of glamour, Jack’s Camp is set in the striking Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. Whether visiting in the dry or green season, Jack’s offers guests an exceptionally stylish place to stay while admiring the wildlife and unique beauty of the pans. An iconic camp that harks back to an era of glamour, Jack’s Camp is set in the striking Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. Whether visiting in the dry or green season, Jack’s offers guests an exceptionally stylish place to stay while admiring the wildlife and unique beauty of the pans.
Location
You’ll find Jack’s Camp set upon the flats of one of the world’s largest prehistoric super-lakes, the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans. One of just three camps located within a one million-acre private reserve, Jack’s offers the utmost exclusivity.
Depending on the time of year you visit, the pristine wilderness surrounding the camp differs drastically. In the dry season, the entirely even plains are bone dry, but for a few waterholes, and encrusted in sparkling white salts as far as the eye can see. In the green season, the pouring rains give way to verdant landscapes, as the pans come alive in a sea of emerald grasses.
Depending on the time of year you visit, the pristine wilderness surrounding the camp differs drastically. In the dry season, the entirely even plains are bone dry, but for a few waterholes, and encrusted in sparkling white salts as far as the eye can see. In the green season, the pouring rains give way to verdant landscapes, as the pans come alive in a sea of emerald grasses.
Accommodation
Jack’s Camp is made up of nine palatial tents - seven twin tents featuring two queen-sized beds and two double tents with extra-length king beds. Luxuriously appointed, the tent’s canvas walls are draped in swathes of crimson fabric; the dark wood floors embellished with Persian and North African rugs; and the whole space is adorned with mahogany campaign furniture.
The living area is equally spacious, with a sofa and daybed to recline on in between activities, as well as a cabinet of curiosities curated by Ralph and Jack Bousfield themselves (the famous hunters and adventurers who the camp is named after).
Continue through the tent and there’s an en-suite with both indoor and outdoor showers. Outside, a private deck awaits with an enticing plunge pool as well as several velvet-clad chairs with gorgeous views of the ancient surroundings.
The living area is equally spacious, with a sofa and daybed to recline on in between activities, as well as a cabinet of curiosities curated by Ralph and Jack Bousfield themselves (the famous hunters and adventurers who the camp is named after).
Continue through the tent and there’s an en-suite with both indoor and outdoor showers. Outside, a private deck awaits with an enticing plunge pool as well as several velvet-clad chairs with gorgeous views of the ancient surroundings.
The communal mess tent houses a large vintage dining table, well-stocked drinks cabinet and antique pool table, providing a wonderful space for whiling away an evening. It’s also home to a collection of photos, maps, diagrams, natural history objects and an impressive library, which form the renowned Natural History Museum.
Alongside, you’ll find a swimming pool pavilion - the only one of its kind in Africa - plus a roaring boma (traditional campfire), the perfect place to enjoy a refreshing sundowner while watching the sun sink over the glistening pans.
Alongside, you’ll find a swimming pool pavilion - the only one of its kind in Africa - plus a roaring boma (traditional campfire), the perfect place to enjoy a refreshing sundowner while watching the sun sink over the glistening pans.
Experiences
- Depending on the time of year the wildlife here varies. Get up close and personal with habituated meerkats, witness the second largest migration of zebra and wildebeest in Africa, and spot rare brown hyena or black-maned Kalahari lion.
- Hop into a custom built 4x4 for a morning, afternoon or evening game drive full of anticipation.
- Explore the pans by moonlight in search of nocturnal creatures on a night drive.
- Enjoy the rare privilege of spending time with the Zu/’hoasi Bushmen and discover the secrets of the pans on a fascinating bush walk.
- Watch momentous migrations from above, as you take to the sky on a scenic helicopter flight.
- When weather permits, zoom across the salt-crusted pans on an exhilarating quad bike ride.
Positive Impact
We prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.We prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.
Community
Jacks Camp’s parent company, Natural Selection works alongside Wild Vision to address the challenge of early onset vision impairment in rural areas of Botswana. They do this by bringing efficient on-site eye testing and eyeglass distribution to remote schools. The positive impact of this initiative has been tremendous!
Community
Natural Selection is working with the Wild Shots Outreach initiative. Every year they will be running workshops at Natural Selection camps. This is an initiative that engages with unemployed youth from disadvantaged communities, teaching them about conservation and nature through photography, culminating in a game drive.
Conservation
Near the end of an extreme drought in northern Botswana, ten game waterholes inside and bordering the Makgadikgadi National Park were in severe disrepair from theft and wear and tear. Natural Selection were responsible for replacing and repairing all solar pumps in order to support the migrating animals in this area.
Have us match Your Individuality to a Unique Blend of Places and Experiences.
Start Planning Your Safari
Looking for Inspiration?
Explore Desert and Delta
Ultimate Luxury Botswana Safari
From the pristine wilderness of Linyanti, to the glistening floodplains of the Okavango Delta, and beyond to the shimmering salt flats of Makgadikgadi - this Botswana safari will leave you with incredible memories from beginning to end. Experience the diverse ecosystems and wildlife Botswana has to offer in this epic journey from plains, to delta to desert.
Trip idea
Botswana and Victoria Falls
This memorable safari combines a journey through one of Africa’s most game rich areas, with a visit to one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Experience Botswana’s abundant wildlife in the spectacular Okavango Delta and Linyanti, before heading to the winding Zambezi River to see the astonishing Victoria Falls.
Botswana and Cape Town Trip Idea
Safari and City in Ultimate Luxury
Travel across Southern Africa in complete luxury, staying at some of the most exclusive properties on the continent. With every single detail taken care of by exceptional guides and staff at each location, you can concentrate on what really matters - immersing yourself in an exclusive African safari experience.
Family Trip Idea
Family Safari in Botswana
From the glistening floodplains of the Okavango Delta, to the pristine wilderness of Linyanti, and beyond to the shimmering salt flats of Makgadikgadi - this family friendly safari will leave you all with lifelong memories. Experience the diverse ecosystems and wildlife Botswana has to offer in this spectacular journey from Delta to Desert.
Article
Botswana Family Safaris
Botswana is Africa’s most exclusive safari destination. Each enormous private reserve has just one or two luxury lodges guaranteeing a series of private experiences as you travel from one exquisite location to the next. Expert guides will take your family on safari among big cats and vast elephant herds in beautiful deltas and deserts.
Article
Activities on a Botswana Safari
Imagine gliding silently along an Okavango waterway in a mokoro canoe as zebra and impala graze the grasslands. Or cantering on horseback with your guide alongside giraffe. In the Kalahari, take an early morning walk with a San Bushman as he explains the ancestral secrets of survival.
Article
People of Botswana
Here’s something you might not expect. The people looking after you on safari might create some of your happiest safari memories. You’ll remember laughter and those after dinner stories and jokes around the campfire. During a three-night stay in a luxury camp, you’ll get to make friends with your guide, the chef, the vegetable gardener and the other people who love their work.
Article
Animals on a Botswana Safari
Botswana is a great choice for an exclusive family safari. Roaming the spectacular deserts, deltas and savannahs are literally millions of animals. The fertility and abundant water of the Okavango and Linyanti Deltas supports an incredible 200 different mammal species. The Government’s high value, low volume tourism policy helps conservation and enables you to enjoy a top quality private safari.
Article
Botswana Downtime & Combinations
Between safaris there is plenty for children to do in camp while the adults relax. Safari lodges may be small and in remote locations, but they have excellent facilities and your hosts’ purpose is to give you the best possible time. In this section we also suggest a couple of places that combine easily to complement your Botswana safari.
Article
Top 10 Botswana Activities
We’ve compiled a list of our favourite experiences to inspire your imagination.
Article
Go Exclusive In Botswana
The best way to give your family the facilities it seeks may be to book out an entire camp or lodge. Perhaps you are planning a multi-generation safari. Or you may want to fulfil a dream of walking, mokoroing and camping out in the Okavango. You may simply crave an extra degree of privacy. Most lodges we use take fewer than 16 guests, some take only eight, so booking a whole lodge is a viable option.
Article
Top 10 Family Activities in Botswana
Booking your family safari to Botswana opens a door to a world of exciting adventure. From the minute your Cessna touches the bush strip, your family will be in the wilds with expert guides. We curated the top 10 family experiences in Botswana to whet your appetite.
Article
Explore The Okavango Delta
Botswana is one of the best places for a family holiday of a lifetime! There are millions of animals across plains, deserts and deltas.
Article
Meet The Meerkats on a Kalahari Adventure
The Kalahari is a fascinating place for a family safari. The children can sit by a meerkat den watching these curious little creatures foraging and playing as one stands guard on its hind legs looking out for eagles. They can watch enthralled as a San Bushman reveals hidden secrets that have enabled them to survive here for thousands of years.
Occasional round-up of the best wild places, unique experiences and expert travel tips straight to your inbox.
Keep the Inspiration Flowing