Jack's Camp

Jack’s Camp pays homage to the property’s enduring and much-loved 1940s campaign style. The guest tents are much larger and at 270 square metres have almost doubled in size. The iconic interiors remain and are embellished with rich textiles from around the world, Natural History Museum cabinets (curated by Ralph Bousfield himself), and an overhead bed cooling system. Relax in the comfortable living area, with a sofa and day bed for expansive views of the Kalahari. Ensuite bathrooms have both indoor and outdoor showers and each veranda has a private plunge pool overlooking the glittering ancient landscape.

Adorned with a classic East African safari feel, the nine guest rooms comprised of seven twin tents featuring two queen-size beds and 2 double tents with extra-length king beds. Whilst the iconic green canvas and muslin-draped walls remain, each tent is embellished with Persian and North African rugs, paraffin lamps, brass fittings, luxuriant textiles and mahogany furniture.

The new, larger mess tent still houses the renowned Natural History Museum, library, vintage 36 seater dining table that served as an officer’s mess table in the 1820’s, well-stocked drinks cabinet and antique pool table. The iconic, nomadic Persian tea tent remains, now a little larger in size. Framed Peter Beard pictures sit alongside original posters from French taxidermist Deyrolle, both complemented by Bousfield family photos. The swimming pool pavilion is still the only one of its kind in Africa and the shop has been renovated and restocked with new treasures.

Jack's Private Camp

Located just 100 metres away is Jack's Private Camp, a stand-alone under-canvas villa, set apart from the main Jack’s Camp to ensure absolute privacy for guests. Jack's Private Camp accommodates a maximum of 4 adults and 2 children.

A safari at Jack’s Private Camp will always be a one-of-a-kind experience. Here you’ll shape your stay to your own rhythm, from when and where you dine, to what time you head out on safari. With a private guide and vehicle on hand, there are no set schedules. This is a tailor-made safari at its finest.

The central lounge and dining area is flanked by two expansive bedroom Suites; each offering a private veranda with endless views across the Makgadikgadi Pans. One bedroom features a king-size bed, while the other has two extra-length king-size beds. Both bedrooms include an additional day bed.

The central area includes a lounge, dining and library space, facing out onto an expansive deck with a private swimming pool.

About the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans

Jack’s Camp is located in Botswana’s Kalahari Desert, on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, the remnants of an enormous super-lake that used to cover most of Southern Africa. Jack Bousfield himself described the area as the “savage beauty of a forgotten Africa”, and truly, the Makgadikgadi is like nowhere on earth. It’s a landscape of space and remoteness, and the spectacular, otherworldly vistas, unique desert wildlife, and old-world glamour of Jack’s Camp all come together to create an experience that is unlike any other on the continent.

A desert is never a place of abundance however the Makgadikgadi is full of elusive species and desert-adapted animals which is the perfect complement to Botswana’s traditionally game-rich areas, like the Khwai Private Reserve and the Okavango Delta.

The brown hyena is a symbol of what’s to come in the Makgadikgadi. There are only 8000 of these special hunters left in the world, and there aren’t many other places you’ll encounter one. Other carnivores that know how to eke out their survival here include aardwolves and bat-eared foxes, honey badgers and black-maned Kalahari lion. Then there’s aardvark, gemsbok, springbok and black-backed jackals to look out for on game drives, and perhaps even an elephant or two. And last, but definitely not least, the meerkats. We’ve been busy pioneering a meerkat habituation project with some of the world’s pre-eminent researchers. The cheeky creatures are still very wild, but they do enjoy coming to say hello.