7 Day Kalahari Safari in Botswana

Day 01

Arrival in Maun, transfer to Tau Camp, Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Your 7-Day Kalahari Safari begins in Maun, where you will board a light aircraft for a scenic flight into the vast wilderness of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. From the air, you’ll gain a true sense of the scale and remoteness of this remarkable desert landscape before landing at Tau Pan Airstrip. Here, your dedicated guide will meet you and transfer you to Tau Pan Camp, your home for the next three nights.

Tau Pan Camp overlooks a permanent water pan and offers comfortable, elevated safari tents designed to take advantage of the surrounding views. Each tent features an ensuite bathroom and a private deck, while the main area includes a lounge, dining space, and plunge pool where guests can relax between activities. After settling in, you’ll have time to unwind and take in the peaceful desert setting. Your stay is fully inclusive, with guided safari activities, meals, and drinks included throughout your time in the Kalahari.

Day 02 & 03

On Safari in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Your days are spent exploring the vast wilderness of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, a region steeped in history and once traditionally inhabited by the San people, whose survival skills and deep understanding of the desert environment have shaped the cultural heritage of the area. The reserve’s open plains, fossil river valleys, and water pans create a dramatic and ever-changing safari setting.
The main lodge at Tau Pan Camp overlooks a productive watering hole, meaning wildlife sightings are often possible even while relaxing in camp. Out on game drives, you may encounter the Kalahari’s famous black-maned lions, as well as jackals, cheetahs, and a variety of plains game such as oryx and springbok. Smaller desert-adapted species, including ground squirrels and other fascinating creatures, add to the diversity of sightings.

Activities include morning and afternoon game drives led by experienced guides, guided nature walks with a San tracker who shares traditional knowledge of the land, and exceptional stargazing under the clear desert skies. Whether you choose to venture out on safari or spend time enjoying the views from camp, your days in the Central Kalahari promise a truly immersive and unforgettable wilderness experience.

Day 04

Transfer to Jack’s Camp, Makgadikgadi National Park

After your final breakfast and morning activity in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, you will be transferred to the airstrip for your light aircraft flight back to Maun. From Maun, you’ll connect onward by air to the vast and otherworldly landscapes of Makgadikgadi National Park. On arrival, your guide will meet you and transfer you to the iconic Jack’s Camp, your home for the next three nights.

Jack’s Camp sits on the edge of the ancient Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, the remnants of a prehistoric inland sea that once covered much of Botswana. This region is known for its stark beauty, expansive salt flats, and seasonal zebra migration - the second largest in Africa. The camp itself blends vintage safari style with refined comfort, offering spacious tented suites, elegant interiors, and a welcoming main area with a pool and library tent. Your stay is fully inclusive, with expertly guided activities, meals, and drinks included, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in this remarkable and historically rich landscape.

Days 05 & 06

On Safari in the Makgadikgadi National Park

Your time in Makgadikgadi National Park is spent discovering one of Botswana’s most unique and dramatic landscapes. Once part of a vast prehistoric inland sea, the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans now form an endless expanse of shimmering white salt flats that stretch to the horizon. Between November and March, the area becomes the stage for one of Africa’s largest zebra migrations, when thousands of zebra and wildebeest move across the plains in search of fresh grazing - an extraordinary wildlife spectacle. Beyond the migration season, the region offers diverse desert-adapted wildlife and fascinating activities. Game drives reveal species such as brown hyena, bat-eared fox, oryx, and seasonal birdlife. A highlight of any stay at Jack’s Camp is visiting the habituated meerkat colonies, where you can observe these curious animals up close as they go about their daily routines. During the dry season, quad biking across the vast salt pans provides an exhilarating way to experience the scale and silence of the landscape.
Between activities, you can relax at camp and enjoy its facilities, soaking in the atmosphere of this remote wilderness. Each day ends perfectly with a sundowner overlooking the expansive salt pans, where wide skies and glowing horizons create unforgettable African sunsets.

Day 07

Transfer back to Maun, Departure

Today your 7-Day Kalahari Safari comes to an end in the vast landscapes of the Makgadikgadi National Park. After breakfast at Jack’s Camp, and a final activity if time allows, you’ll be transferred to the nearby airstrip for your light aircraft flight back to Maun, where your onward journey continues. As you leave the desert behind, you take with you unforgettable memories of sweeping salt pans, dramatic skies, remarkable wildlife encounters, and the raw beauty of Botswana’s Kalahari.