Nxai Pan Camp

Nxai Pan Camp is a great little wilderness camp set in the middle of the Nxai Pan National Park to the north-east of the Makgadikgadi. The main lodge is a series of vast rooms looking out onto the plains. The game viewing can be a little sporadic, with game being best in the green season, it is a private retreat that is well worth visiting at any time.

The nine chalets at Nxai Pan Camp, including one family unit, flank the main area, and are linked by raised wooden walkways. Inside, the chalets are wide, airy and spacious. The dining area, with an exceptionally long communal table, plays host to brunch and dinner. This flows seamlessly through a simple little lounge area to the well-stocked bar at the other end of the building. Outside, the wide, wooden viewing deck at Nxai Pan Camp leads down to an open, sandy firepit area. The camp has a plunge pool, and both bedrooms and the open-air lounge, dining area and bar are thatched to maintain a comfortable temperature year-round.

Activities at Nxai Pan Camp centre around morning and afternoon game drives in 4-wheel drive vehicles. Game drives here feature a guide and tracker team which can really help to maximise possible game sightings. Because the camp is in a national park, however, no off-road driving or night drives are allowed. Guests can also enjoy a day trip to Baines’ Baobabs, which have changed little in the 150 years since Thomas Baines immortalized them in his paintings. Another favourite is the bushman walk where guests learn how the San used to hunt, gather food and collect water.