Romantic tented accommodation on the edge of the Ntwetwe Pan, on the northern side of Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Pans
Lounge, dining area, library, bar, museum, yoga pavilion, campfire, and plunge pool
Seven guest tents, including a two-tent family unit, each with a private veranda
Game drives, night drives, walking safaris, horseback safaris, quad biking, and meet the meerkats excursions
San Camp offers some thoroughly memorable activities, making the most of the majestic Makgadikgadi Pans setting.
The Ntwetwe Pan is one of two salt pans comprising the Makgadikgadi Pans, the remains of an immense super-lake. Pristine white and often described as lunar-like, the landscape is spectacular and well worth exploring on a vehicle safari. Head off in a custom-built 4×4 vehicle to spot the unique desert wildlife that inhabits the pans, including the brown hyena or Kalahari lion. Among the bird species in residence are the kori bustard, chestnut-backed sparrow-lark, and ant-eating chat.
Ntwetwe by night is every inch as compelling as it is in daylight hours. Look out for aardvark, aardwolf, and brown hyena as you explore the desert after dark, accompanied by an expert guide.
Guests are invited to join the local Zu/’hoasi Bushmen on fascinating walks around these ancient desert pans. This is an amazing, truly privileged opportunity to explore the area in the company of people who have lived here for thousands of years.
All skill levels of riders are accommodated on a horse-riding adventure across the salt flats, which usually lasts about two hours. You’ll enjoy remarkably close encounters with wildlife from the saddle, as most species are at ease with horses. Children aged 8 years and older may participate in horse riding activities, and beginners are welcome. Please note that horse riding incurs an additional cost.
Embark on the ultimate desert adventure by quad bike – the ideal method of transport for anyone wishing to cover a lot of ground! Ride across the ancient salt-crusted pans, taking in the sights and sounds of a one-time super lake. Please note that this activity is seasonal and depends on weather conditions and the dryness of the pans. It’s usually offered when San Camp is open between April and October. Children aged 6 years and older may join quad bike expeditions, but children under 12 may not drive the quad bike.
San is located close to several colonies of habituated meerkats, and no stay is complete without visiting these charismatic little creatures. Stop by early in the morning and watch them busily embarking on daily life – playing, digging, keeping alert for predators, and possibly even using you as a handy lookout point!
*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.
San Camp occupies a magnificent location on the edge of the Ntwetwe Pan, on the northern side of the Makgadikgadi Pans . Access is by light aircraft, a 50-minute flight from Maun to Tsigaro Airstrip, followed by a 20-minute road transfer.
Facing the ethereally beautiful Ntwetwe Pan, guest accommodation at San Camp consists of seven glistening white Meru-style tents, arranged in a crescent shape and spaced well apart between the palm trees for privacy.
This type of canvas structure is common across Safari Africa, but San Camp’s aesthetic is completely unique – romantic, bedouin-style pavilions with a combination of period-style features, vintage furniture, Persian rugs, and the distinct striped walls that make the camp instantly recognisable. Inside each tent, there are sisal floor coverings, a four-poster bed, an antique chest of drawers, a storage trunk, a mahogany writing desk, bedside stands, a Moroccan brass table, and an indoor seating area. Overall, the feel is elegant, romantic, and tasteful. Every en-suite washroom offers a flush toilet, a copper jug-and-basin, and a hot running water shower. However, the view is the real showstopper, as each tent showcases 360-degree panoramas over the sparkling salt pans from a private veranda. Four tents have twin beds, two are set up as doubles, and there’s a family unit with two tents connected by an interleading walkway. The main bedroom has a king-size bed, and the children’s room has two queen-size beds. Access for disabled travellers is available on request.
San Camp’s lounge and dining spaces are also housed in pavilion-style structures, with sensational views from every angle. The lounge tent, or the tea tent, features plenty of scattered cushions and oriental rugs, further emphasising the bedouin style. The dining area is more formal, with a long, communal table where guests enjoy meals together. Next door, you’ll find the camp’s help-yourself bar, essentially a well-stocked wooden chest, and the library with a charging station to rev up your electrical equipment. There’s even a small museum displaying an impressive collection of locally found artefacts and historical maps of Africa. The tented yoga pavilion is a serene space for guided classes, and there’s a plunge pool on its own separate deck adjoining a small, shady gazebo with sunloungers. By night, the campfire is lit for enticing gatherings beneath the incredible night skies. Please be aware that the swimming pool here has no depth markings, so take care before you jump in! Guests should also note that the camp has no Wi-Fi or phone signal.
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