Accommodation

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans & Nxai Pan National Park

Nata Lodge is an oasis set among the Mokolwane palms on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans.  It is ideally situated close to the entrance to the Nata Sanctuary and is the junction to the Okavango, Chobe and Francistown areas.

The lodge offers 22 luxury air conditioned thatched chalets built on stilts and set in rustic African style, with en suite bathrooms including indoor baths and outdoor showers.

10 luxury safari tents are built on raised wooden platforms which are nestled under the lodges many marula trees.  These tents feature en suite bathrooms and include all the amenities offered in any of the lodge’s chalets.

The camping site provides full ablution facilities with hot and cold showers as well as central electrical power banks.

Guest areas include a restaurant, swimming pool, gift shop and a bar/lounge area.

The shady tree canopy surrounding the lodge is a hive of activity, with a bird feeding area and active water feature providing the bird watcher with the opportunity of viewing a variety of species from the comfort of the pool deck, open bar or restaurant.

The Nata River delta feeds the Sua Pan in the Nata sanctuary and forms the breeding ground for a host of water birds including pelicans and flamingo in their thousands, transforming the shore line into a pink haze blending into the western sky.   

For keen bird watchers and naturalists, Nata Lodge offers open vehicle excursions into the Nata Sanctuary.   Mammal species in the sanctuary include antelope such as springbok, as well as springhares, jackals and foxes.

However the main attraction is the abundance of bird life.  Around 165 bird species, including king-fishers, eagles, ostriches, pelicans, spoonbills and both greater and lesser flamingos, have been recorded.

In an enigmatic landscape of perfect silence, discover a haven of peace, privacy and desert opulence.

Jack’s Private Camp promises a new interpretation of an iconic experience in the world of luxury African safaris. This private retreat combines the signature style of Jack’s Camp with exclusivity and flexibility unmatched in this extraordinary corner of Africa.

Created to cater for the unique demands of discerning multi-generational travellers, adventurous families, privately-guided small groups – and those simply seeking a desert safari out of the spotlight – Jack’s Private Camp offers an oasis of exclusivity amid one of the world’s most remarkable desert landscapes.

With a private guide, and full staff complement on hand to curate each day, guests at Jack’s Private Camp can expect a truly bespoke discovery of the otherworldly Makgadikgadi Pans.

In a life of deadlines and busy cities, the new source of luxury is having wide-open space, having your undivided attention on exploring and relaxing. At Migration Expeditions in Nxai Pan National Park, we offer just that – the unbelievable calm that comes from gazing at the horizon and having space to yourself. Activities on your Nxai pan safari include morning and afternoon game drives inside the national park and visits to Baine’s Baobabs. The intimate camp will be made up of 6 canvas tents set on low decks with bucket showers and two main area tents consisting of the lounge and dining areas.

Nxai Pan National Park is one of the best places to experience the longest zebra migration that spans from Namibia to the Nxai Pan area covering over 1000km. The migration occurs in the protected land of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area. Migrations are essential for the ecosystems to avoid over-grazing and they ensure food sources are optimally used. Predators also benefit, as they follow the zebras and other herbivores and prey on the weak and younger herd members.  Baines Baobabs is another fascinating attraction here, a cluster of baobabs that have been around for millennia was painted by artist and explorer Thomas Baines on his trek with James Chapman in 1862 across Botswana in search of Victoria Falls. The baobabs were the subject of the iconic painting, which captured the lure and fascination of these unusual trees as well as the beauty and authenticity of this Botswana paradise.

Migration Expeditions’ eco-sensitive design facilitates a seamless flow between its pristine desert environment and our stylish bush camp. The main area has two canvas-covered hubs; one side housing a dining area with an open kitchen and opposite, a cosy lounge area. Solar-powered charging points are available for those all-important cameras. The fire circle is at the heart of our bush camp offering and is an extension of the shared lounge area. Its magnetic quality beckons, inviting guests to share an authentic, warm African safari experience with us. 

Gweta Lodge is an oasis set in the middle of a village on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans. The lodge is ideally situated to take advantage of the gateway to the Makgadikgadi and a vast range of activities, excursions and game drives are available.

Gweta Lodge offers a variety of accommodation ranging from family rooms which sleep four; single, double rooms and rondavels. All equipped with ceiling fans, mosquito nets and en-suite showers. For those on a small budget, there are also safari tents with shared bathrooms and guests are also welcome to bring their own vehicles and tents for camping. An ablution block with toilets and hot showers is available nearby. There is a fireplace for cooking and warming up on cold nights.

The public areas include a bar, lounge, pool, open rondavels, a restaurant, and a boma fireplace. Around the central pool you may indulge on one of homemade meals in the restaurant, have a relaxing drink in the bar or sit back in the lounge.

The dryness and salinity of the pans makes them appear as a moonscape, devoid of life, especially in the dry season. In spite of this, birds, hyena and small animals frequent the pans throughout the year. During the rainy season, you will find thousands of zebra on the Makgadikgadi Pans, which lies on the route of one of the greatest animal migrations in Africa. Gweta Lodge offers you the chance to spend a night on the pans under the stars, for a "Not To Be Missed" experience. The lodge is also situated in a village with cultural walks and tours available to experience the local culture and traditions. (All activities are optional and at an additional cost)

Elephant Sands is a bush lodge & campsite in the north-eastern part of Botswana. Come and enjoy viewing the elephants at our natural waterhole right in front of the lodge. Watch these impressive creatures whilst they drink at only a couple of meters away from you, a unique experience!

There is plenty of other wildlife around as well on our unfenced 16000 ha private conservancy. The lack of fences allows all animals to roam freely. We are ideally located in the centre of Botswana’s highlights, such as: the Makgadikgadi pans, the Okavango delta and Chobe National Park. Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park are on our doorstep so to speak.

Our lodge is a great starting point for a tour along all these places of interest. Find out more about the activities and personalized Tours & Safaris we offer. Stay in one of our en suite Chalets or pitch your own tent and experience the serenity and peacefulness of the real African bush.

Imagine a smattering of billowing white tents, shaded by desert palms and surrounded by a thousand acres of shimmering, sparkling nothingness. You’ve just dreamt up San Camp, our impossibly romantic, seven-bedroom camp on the edge of the Nwetwe Pan in Botswana’s Makgadikgadi. San isn’t a place for frills and fluffiness. The magic is in the minimalism, both at the camp and in the mysterious desert landscape. You can forget the tourist crowds and over-stuffed 4x4s too; it’s just you, the wildlife, and a handful of local San Bushmen, waiting to share their secrets with you. Of all the Makgadikgadi pans, we think Nwetwe is the most iconic. Meerkats pop up from the desert dust, brown hyaena hide in the grass, and you’ll see red hartebeest, springbok and gemsbok scurrying between them. But San Camp isn’t just about wildlife-watching – it’s about the atmosphere and the ethereal surroundings. Disappear into a remote world, a million miles from glowing screens and fruit-themed devices, where the 360-degree panoramas are so vast, you can see the curvature of the earth

The laidback little sister of Jack’s and San Camp, Camp Kalahari is our understated and affordable base in the heart of the great Kalahari. Set amongst the waving palms and acacia trees of Brown Hyena Island, the 12 funky Meru tents are perfect for families, groups and couples, and are an ideal base for discovering the charms of the desert and the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, a landscape that’s as surreal as it is sublime, and as mysterious as it is magical.

And if you’re looking for adventure, then look no further! We’ve got quad bike adventures, across the otherworldly salt pans, walks with the Zu’/hoasi bushmen to discover the amazing creatures that somehow manage to survive (and thrive) in this harsh environment, and our very own ‘’Kalahari cool cats,’’ the habituated meerkat family who like nothing more than to use unsuspecting guests as lookout points. Come for a day, and you’ll be wowed by the landscape and the people; stay for a few days and you might never want to leave…

One of Botswana’s hidden gems, the Boteti River offers breathtaking scenery and awe-Inspiring wildlife sightings as it makes its way across the salt pans.

Overlooking the riverbed, Boteti River Camp is an oasis on the edge of Makgadikgadi National Park, close by the Khumaga entrance gate and within easy reach of Nxai Pan National Park and Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Located on the outskirts of Khumaga village, Boteti River Camp is easily accessible whether driving from Maun, Nata, Kasane, or Khama Rhino Sanctuary making it a not-to-be-missed and easy addition to any Botswana safaris offering fantastic contrasts with the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve, Chobe National Park and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. At Boteti River Camp, you will get to explore one of the world’s largest salt pans and observe Botswana’s unique rural culture in a friendly, comfortable and serene setting. Get a full Botswana picture adding Boteti River Camp to your bucket list!

Situated on the banks of the Boteti River, a tributary originating in the core of the Okavango Delta, lies the Boteti Tented Safari Lodge. The remote location is situated away from all man-made distractions allowing one to truly immerse in the pristine natural surroundings and enjoy unrivalled wildlife encounters. The Lodge blends into the surroundings while maintaining all the comforts and necessities required to create a wonderful safari feel and experience. Large spanning decks are nestled and spread out between majestic acacia trees and the unmistakable “Mogotse” bush resembling the horns of a Gemsbok are customary to the Lodge’s ambience. Unlimited access to the Boteti River either by simply enjoying a refreshing drink and viewing the hippo, crocodiles or abundant birdlife or by a guided Mokoro (traditional dugout canoe) or motorboat cruise down the river. Although spread over a massive area the lodge is small and intimate allowing for a personalized experience for all guests and enhanced by skilled staff to attend to your every need.

After several decades of setting the standard in the Kalahari,  Jack’s Camp underwent a full rebuild and reopened in 2021.

The brand-new Jack’s Camp pays homage to the property’s enduring and much-loved 1940s campaign style. The guest tents, seven twins and two doubles, are much larger and each is 270 square metres in size. The iconic interiors remain and are embellished with rich textiles from around the world, Natural History Museum cabinets, and an overhead bed cooling system. Ensuite bathrooms have both indoor and outdoor showers and outside, each veranda has a private plunge pool.

The new, larger mess tent is resplendent with the renowned Natural History Museum, library, antique pool table and a well-stocked drinks chest. The iconic nomadic Persian tea tent has been made larger and the shop has been renovated and restocked with new treasures.

Leroo La Tau is situated on the western bank of the Boteti River, which forms the boundary of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. The Boteti River provides a lifeline for the wildlife which inhabit the arid national park and is a critical link in the annual zebra migration. Leroo La Tau is the perfect base from which to explore this truly unique piece of Botswana paradise.

The safari never stops at Meno a Kwena, a hidden gem of a camp perched on a rocky clifftop above the Boteti River in Botswana. With a glittering roster of activities, including day trips to the Makgadikgadi Pans, guided walks with the San bushmen, and wildlife-watching boat trips, there’s plenty to get your teeth into. But sometimes, the best game viewing is where you least expect it, and at Meno, it’s right in front you. From their lofty position, the ten tents look down on a menagerie of animals at the water below, from herds of majestic elephant, to dazzles of nomadic zebra – all you need to do is sit back, and take it all in.

At just 90 minutes by road from Maun, Meno is a good option if you’re travelling as a group, or with little ones (or even big ones!). The camp was originally used by Southern Africa’s legendary explorers, and although we’ve added a few little touches here, and some little quirks there, it’s refreshingly and stylishly simple. And actually, the real treat at Meno is the connection with nature; when an elephant provides your alarm call in the morning, and you can game view straight from your private veranda, nothing else really matters.

The camp staff attend to your comfort by erecting and dismantling the camp and preparing delicious meals cooked on an open fire. A serviced safari has walk in ensuite meru style tents complete with your own bucket shower and bush loo, staff who prepare delicious meals throughout your safari and a camp assistant to take care of all camp duties. Book this safari as part of a small group of guests or book the entire departure as a private safari for families, honeymooners etc.

Follow the road pointed out by the giant anteater and you’ll discover the intriguingly named Planet Baobab… This is the Baobab Capital of the World, where the average age of each tree is more than 4000 years, and the boundless lunar landscape of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans are the size of Switzerland. How’s that for awe-inspiring?

This is a quirky place in a quirky part of the world, where we live cheek to tusk with old elephants; sleep in basic but oh so Afro-chic Bakalanga Huts; swim in the largest, coolest pool in the Kalahari; eat the finest pan-African cuisine, and of course, drink something cold with hunters and vagabonds, travellers and locals in the funkiest bar in Africa. It’s the coolest desert oasis around – and a part of Africa that few will experience, but all will remember.

Nxai Pan is located on the western edge of the fossil pan from which the camp takes its name. The camp faces east over the open grasslands of the pans. The biggest draw to Nxai Pan National Park are the zebras that migrate by the thousands to the area – the second largest land animal migration in Southern Africa.

Day trips to Baines’ Baobabs are highly popular, and include a picnic lunch at the site. These age-old trees were immortalised in paintings by the artist and adventurer Thomas Baines in 1862. If you were to compare Baines’ paintings to the scene today, you would find that after 150 years, the trees are nearly identical – testament to the age of these magnificent giants.

Another classic activity at Nxai Pan is a walk with one of the San bushmen trackers, an informative walk that takes place within the camp’s footprint. Learn about how the San used to live nomadically: how they used to hunt, gather food, water sources, and which plants were used for medicinal purposes. Their wealth of true bush knowledge is unparalleled, and one of our guests’ favourite experiences at our desert camps.

The camp’s nine tents face the waterhole, with the main area being the central best place for game viewing from the water hole. Frequent visitors to the water hole include elephants, cheetah, as well as the migratory herds of zebra (usually) from late December to early April, however this is entirely dependent on the summer rainfall in Botswana which affects the migratory cycle.

The minimalistic white-washed design of the camp is in keeping with the surrounding white salt pans. Nxai Pan accommodates a maximum of eighteen guests in thatched units specially designed to provide a constant and comfortable temperature throughout the year, when seasonal temperatures can fluctuate from below freezing to well over 45 degrees Celsius.

The main areas of the camp include an expansive open-air lounge and dining area, with a bar, pool and curio shop.

Nxai Pan is a 100% solar-operated camp.