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San Camp

Our rating

8/10

Price guide

Highlights

- Total isolation
- Bushmen guides
- Rare game
- Family friendly

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Overview

If you have ever looked up into a clear blue sky and been struck by a serene sense of the sublime in its encompassing emptiness, then you will want to experience San Camp. Located on the brink of the endless vistas of Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, the stylistically minimalist Camp is characterised by its neo-colonial white tents, its family-friendly feel, and by its peacefulness.

San Camp is the personification of elegance in simplicity. Plated food served in the large mess tent mirrors the camp's unadorned surroundings. The Camp is comfortable, clean, and calm. The purpose? To clear the mind. Helping facilitate this are the spacious tents looking out across the vast expanse of the Salt Pans, the cool cotton bed sheets and feather bedding, and, of course, the tea and yoga pavilions, which are designed in every way to accommodate guests that like to relax.

Run mostly on solar energy, with no more than lamps for light and each other for warmth, guests are immersed in a by-gone colonial age. The Camp’s time-travel experience is complimented by its expeditious activities: trips into the heart of the Makgadikgadi on quad bikes, morning walks, and game drives, are led by guides who work alongside small groups of Zu/’hoasi Bushmen to make for an insightful journey. Of course, going back to basics is not for everyone: the Camp has limited electricity and water, and often the only sounds you hear are nearby footsteps or far-off rustles from animals enjoying the Salt Pan.

What the Camp lacks in big game-seeking opportunities, it makes up for with the fact that guests are able to see and be close to habituated meerkats and rare brown hyenas, which are the focus of a project in the San Camp area to protect the vulnerable species. This provides guests with a great opportunity to observe vital conservation efforts first-hand.

San Camp is part of the renowned Unchartered Africa portfolio of remote camps along with Camp Kalahari and Jack's Camp. Like its sister camps, San Camp is very accommodating towards families. Children of all ages are welcome although families with under8s will need to take a private vehicle and guide at extra cost. Children are able to do all the activities, such as quad-biking and visiting the Camp’s natural history museum. However, those under 12 years of age will have to share a quad bike with an adult driver whilst children 12 years and older are allowed to drive a quad bike but only at the Guide / Camp Manager discretion. Children using the swimming pool must be accompanied by an adult. There are no family tents, a family of three can share one tent with a bed roll for the child, whilst a family of four will have to split across two tents with one parent in each tent.

San Camp's uniqueness comes from its remoteness. It feels exclusive because only 12 guests are accommodated at any one time. San Camp’s intimacy comes from its relative emptiness, and thus it stands as a fantastic attraction for couples and families that want to simply get away from it all.

What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 534 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • I was also just about to email you to thank you and the team for arranging yet again, another wonderful experience.

    Mount Kenya was spectacular and wild - I think I prefer it to Kili in many ways. The entire support team was professional, friendly and all round fantastic in making sure that we were safe, well fed and well looked after. In particular, we would commend Peter the guide as well as Paul one of the porters who doubled-up as his deputy on summit day. Our route was often shrouded in mist and rain that rapidly gathered in the valleys and moorlands, and we were very impressed at how Peter managed to navigate us safely through all of that notwithstanding. In addition, we loved learning about the history of Mount Kenya from him in the evenings. And ofcourse, I was blown away by the lovely birthday surprise at the end complete with balloons and a delicious cake that had journeyed with us from day 1. One thing we might recommend because of the sudden change in weather (it would sometimes get extremely cold and wet) is for the equipment list to be a little bit more detailed in terms of its recommendations e.g. layers to be moisture-wicking, walking boots be waterproof, doubling up on socks to avoid blisters etc.

    El Karama is a beautiful conservancy and the lodge a true labour of love. Great hospitality in a relaxed environment. Delicious, fresh food. We enjoyed the drives, even if we didn't see much wildlife as the heavens opened on us for the last two outings. However, since it was very much geared towards families, I am not sure if I would stay again without kids. That said, I think it was perfect for a 3d/2n stay post mountain, and a much better choice than flying to the masai mara given the limited time we had.

    Our transits were smooth. Samuel the driver was always on time, drove safely and kept the vehicle clean.

    So it was a brilliant experience and one which I certainly will cherish for some time to come. It was great to work with you for a third time, and I certainly hope it won't be the last

    MissingJuhae C reviewing Mount Kenya Sirimon Naro Moru Trek on 01 March 2024

  • Thank you, we had an absolute wonderful time, and everything was well-planned and as described. Carla was crying on the day of our departure from Ants Nest, she didn’t want to go home and for it all to end, and when I asked how much longer she would want to stay, she responded “four weeks”

    MissingLars B reviewing Best of South Africa for Families on 01 March 2024

  • We had the most amazing time. It exceeded all my hopes of what the trip would be. The guides, the hotels - everything was of such a wonderful quality. Thank you for organizing everything. I will absolutely recommend Tourdust and use you again.

    MissingClaudia L reviewing Luxury Desert Holiday on 11 January 2024

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