A beautifully placed eco-friendly camp with ten en-suite canvas tented units
Home of the legendary Kalahari black-maned lions
Views of the famous ‘pans’ of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Game movement differs greatly to the Delta
Typically, morning and afternoon game drives take place in open-sided vehicles, taking a maximum of nine passengers. Night drives are not permitted due to National Park Guidelines, but guided bushwalks are offered with a local San Bushman as an alternative to a game drive.
A stay here, in the middle of the Central Kalahari, is a truly unique experience that must not be confused with other typical safari holidays. During the summer months (January to May), the Kalahari is transformed into a sea of green, attracting large herds followed closely by their predators. At this time, game viewing can be very good. However, during the winter months much of the game leaves the area in search of water, and although some animals remain (including lion, cheetah, leopard), they may be hard to find.
Late December to late April is the best time here for game, following the rains that tend to start by mid-November. The dry sandy environment is completely transformed overnight and the rains bring a new lease of life to the area. During the winter months (May to July particularly) it can get very cold, with temperatures dropping down to –5 degrees Celsius during the day. This is not a time we would recommend visiting, due to the chilly conditions and lack of game. October and November offer a warmer experience, but the temperature is likely to be 40 degrees plus, so if there’s no cloud cover it can be extremely hot.
This camp works well for either starting or finishing your trip – if you’re travelling while there is not much game, it makes a good first stop before visiting the game-rich areas of the Delta
Be sure to take advantage of the sleep-out option on your roof terrace – a night under the Kalahari stars is truly amazing and the cool breeze ensures a very comfortable kip
*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.
Wilderness Kalahari Plains has its own private airstrip and is just under an hour’s flight from Maun. Guests can drive into camp (6 hours from Maun), but we’d advise flying due to the remoteness of the area. We recommend this as a two- or three-night stay.
The camp is built around a central dining and lounge area that also has a bar and gift shop.
Guests dine together either in the covered dining area or out under the stars. Just in front of the diner and lounge is a plunge pool and outside relaxation area with a guest toilet that probably boasts one of the best views in Africa!
Each of the ten Meru-style tents is built on a raised platform and provides both spacious and comfortable accommodation.
All the rooms have an ensuite bathroom, a balcony area and a rooftop terrace for sleep-outs under the stars – guests are given the option each day of, rather than sleeping inside, having a bed made up on their rooftop, which is something we’d highly recommend. The rooms have been cleverly designed to cope with the extreme temperatures of the Kalahari, making the most of the gentle breeze.
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