South of the Delta, the vast Makgadikgadi Pans possess an unearthly quality, the dry, shimmering salt-pans once a giant inland sea. Today the almost mystical emptiness, the silence and the shimmering mirages on the surface of the pans are a unique attraction in itself. Visit here in the dry season for a sense of remoteness and space, whilst in the rainy season the parchment surface of the pans is transformed into a water wonderland as the pans fill up, attracting huge flocks of flamingo as well as herds of wildebeest and zebra.

Further south, the Central Kalahari Desert is home to the last remaining San Bushmen, who have inhabited this region for 30 000 years. In this arid environment, you will marvel at the desert-adapted species that survive here – the Kalahari black-maned lion, the timid brown hyena, the hardy Gemsbok and the herds of zebra, wildebeest and antelope that flock here in the wet summer months when the desert is transformed into grassland.

Jack's Camp, located deep in the Kalahari Desert on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Pans, is a classic tented desert safari camp accommodating 20 guests. San Camp, also located on the edge of the pans, is even more remote and offers a complete desert experience focusing on desert-adapted species such as aardvark, gemsbok and springbok. Jack’s is one of the best places in the world to photograph meerkats (suricates) - and it employs a fulltime “meerkat follower” who camps next to them each night. Guests can get up close and personal with these captivating creatures, and on chilly mornings you may find one snuggling up to you for warmth!

Jack's Camp is  one of the best places in the world to photograph meerkats. The Camp employs a full-time "meerkat follower" whose job is to live with the meerkats, camping next to them every night, and keep them accustomed to a human presence. You can get interesting photos with a lens as short as 14mm.   Set off in the morning to visit some of the Kalahari’s  meerkats. (‘suricate’ to science-minded people and ‘Timon’ to Lion King fans). Get up close and personal with these captivating creatures. On chilly mornings, you might well find a meerkat snuggling up to you for warmth. Or, in the absence of a termite mound or tree, using your head as a sentry lookout post…

By spending quality time with these incredibly social, superbly adapted animals, you will be able to see how they interact with each other and their environment. You also get the chance to see the desert through the eyes of a meerkat – which, despite the fact that it’s only a foot off the ground, is a pretty spectacular vantage point, and definitely one of the most special and memorable game experiences you will encounter in Botswana.