Botswana Hotels

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Jack's Camp

At a Glance

Pros

exclusivity and isolation

Cons

no shaded walkways
the desert locale can be dusty
blisteringly hot in summer, freezing in winter

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Jack's Camp Review

If you're bold-spirited, reasonably fit, and have kept your childlike sense of wonder, then Jack's is for you. A cross between a Fellini movie, a Salvador Dalí painting, and Alice in Wonderland, this camp doesn't offer the cocooned luxury of some of the Okavango camps; it offers a more rugged, pioneer feel reminiscent of a 1940s-style safari. East African safari tents on wooden decks set in a palm grove have ancient Persian rugs, antique brass-hinged storage boxes, teak and canvas furniture, hot and cold running water, a flush toilet, and indoor and outdoor showers. Meals are taken under a huge acacia tree or in a large, open-sided tent. The camp's highly qualified rangers are respected throughout Botswana for their love and commitment to this amazing area. You won't find the Big Five here, but you will find unique desert-adapted animals and plants like the brown hyena, meerkats, salt bushes, and desert palms. Remember though, this is the Kalahari Desert. It's hot, hot, hot in summer, and freezing cold in winter.

Contact Information

Address: Makgadikgadi Pans | Map It
Phone: 27--11/447-1605
Website: www.uncharteredafrica.com
Location: The Makgadikgadi Pans

Hotel Details

10 tents.
Rate includes all-inclusive.
Credit cards accepted.

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Fodorite Reviews

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Jack's Camp Review

We have been to many camps in Africa and while they are not always perfect we have always enjoyed our African experience. So you can imagine our deep disappointment when we went to this camp and then asked to leave not even an hour after arriving. It was appalling.
The management were truly unpleasant. They were rude, unhelpful, unpleasant and unprofessional. That and the tents being completely missold as luxury when they are barely adequate. Totally ruined the experience for us.
We have asked for a full refund, as we only stayed a night and ended up doing none of the activities.
However the owners have only offered us a 25% discount even though they have acknowledged in writing a number of our complaints were justified. We are seeking legal representation, but in the meantime, if you are thinking of going, please do not waste your money.
You have been warned!

by seriouslyannoyed, 1/31/10