THE BAOBAB CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
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 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.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Our rooms are quirky, cool and super comfy. Scattered beneath a fraternity of colossal baobabs, the 18 thatched huts (eight Bakalanga, seven Baobab and three Bakalanga Family) take more than a little inspiration from the local Botswana villages, and all are arranged in friendly clusters. Vibrant murals adorn the outside walls and inside, you’ll find sunny patchwork quilts and a variety of eclectic trinkets that won’t fail to make you smile. Twin huts have two beds on either side of the room, family huts have a large double bed in the centre with twin beds on either side, and all have ensuite bathrooms. If you’re taking things a little easier on the pocket there’s also a selection of camping spaces with shared bathroom facilities, and a shady campsite with the best ablutions in Botswana, fact!
An enormous bar area, adorned with wine-bottle chandeliers and cow-hide chairs, is at the heart of the camp. There’s an a la carte menu to tickle your taste buds, and an even larger drinks menu to satisfy your parched throat after a day in the desert – and plenty of interesting characters to share them with. Outside, the largest, coolest swimming pool in the Kalahari glitters tantalisingly, as do the shady sun-loungers and braai areas.

Planet Baobab is accessible by two-wheel drive; look out for the giant aardvark 200 kilometres from Maun and 100 kilometres from Nata. You can also fly from Maun to Gweta, and road transfers to the camp are available from both towns.

WILDLIFE
Game drives from Planet Baobab will take you deep into the Ntwetwe Pan, the larger of the two Makgadikgadi Pans, and a vast expanse of sparkling salt that extends as far as the eye can see – and a little bit further! Remarkably, there is life to be found here and game drives will reveal some of the uniquely adapted desert species such as bat-eared foxes, springbok, kori bustards, and perhaps even the magnificent desert-adapted elephant and lion if Lady Luck is on your side. The arrival of the summer rains in December heralds the arrival of the zebra and wildebeest in the second largest migration of mammals on the continent, and life becomes frenetic as the hooved beasties feed on the fresh, green grass – and the predators have plenty to eat.

And then, of course, there’s our resident Kalahari cool cats of Ntwetwe– the meerkats. semi- habituated to human presence through years of research, you’ll get closer than you might think to the cheeky creatures! But just remember, they’re not tame – just used to our non-threatening presence.

THE LANDSCAPE
Planet Baobab is in the region of Botswanas mysterious Makgadikgadi Pans, an area bigger than Switzerland, which was once the largest expanse of fresh water on the planet. Today, it’s a vast, salt-pan desert of shimmering sand and surreal landscapes so vast you can see the curvature of the earth. It’s a harsh and sparse landscape, but one that’s beautiful in its desolation. Here, perhaps more than anywhere else in the world, you’ll be struck by a feeling of utter, marvellous, isolation.

You’ll find Planet Baobab nestled amongst 17 giant baobabs, adjacent to the village of Gweta and about 40 kilometres from the Pans. During your stay, you’ll no doubt learn of the unique biology of these fascinating trees, which are in fact, not trees, but the largest succulent in the world. And you’ll just have to visit to find out more…

ACTIVITIES
Year Round
• Game drive in the Ntwetwe Pan and discover the unique, desert-adapted species that inhabit the lunar-like landscape.
• Get up close and personal with the coolest residents of the desert, the Kalahari meerkats.
• Visit the local village, learn about the local Batswana culture and munch on a traditional lunch.
• Join a Baobab Bushwalk and amble through the spindly forests with a knowledgeable guide by your side.
Dry Season (June to October)
• Rev your engine and quad bike across the never-ending pans (2 guests per quad bike), before sleeping out under the stars in a magical fly camp. (NB there is no back-up accommodation booked during a sleep out. Please chat to us for more details).
Green Season (November – May)
• Experience the spectacular migration of zebra and wildebeest (the second largest migration of mammals on the continent!), and keep an eye out for the predators that follow…
Sitting above the Chobe River, the lodge offers unparalleled panoramic views across the islands and floodplains as far across as Namibia. This is an incredibly luxurious lodge with just 15 suites, as well as the only full spa on the Botswana safari circuit. Relax in the split-level swimming pool, unwind with a pampering session in the spa or enjoy the gourmet food that the lodge has become known for.

Natural Selection Safaris

Property Type

Permanent Lodge

Access

Road Transfer