With impressive views of the vast Kalahari plains, Tau Pan Camp stands on a sand ridge deep in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and offers a fascinating desert safari experience. This comfortable lodge overlooks a permanent waterhole which allows constant game viewing right from the viewing deck. Explore this huge, wild and remote reserve with morning and afternoon game drives, or experience the desert through the eyes of the san bushman on informative walks.

Tau Pan Camp is located in the heart of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, an enormous reserve stretching over 50,000 km2 (over four times the size of the Serengeti). The stark but beautiful Kalahari makes a fascinating contrast to the lush Okavango. While the desert environment cannot support the same animal densities a visit to the desert will bring great variety to your safari experience. And in the summer months some of the best game viewing in the country is found here. The famous black-maned Kalahari lion, cheetah, brown hyena, aardwolf, oryx, springbok, ostrich and much more make the desert their home. Birding is superb.

Tau Pan is a smart but down to earth camp with nine tents, including a family tent. Each room is en suite and positioned to give discrete, uninterrupted views of the waterhole. “Tau” is the Setswana name for Lion and the Camp has been aptly named, for it is not uncommon to see the Black-maned Kalahari Lion drinking from the waterhole, or even wandering past the Camp.

The central area is furnished with comfortable sofas and armchairs, providing a great vantage point to watch the waterhole below. A small swimming pool and shaded sundeck area are perfect for whiling away siesta time.

The cooling tones of muted desert colours used throughout the central area and the chalet accommodation offer a welcome respite from the arid desert landscape. The environmentally-designed material used for the chalets maximise on retaining the coolness of the Kalahari night and minimising the daytime heat.

Guided game drives in open 4x4s with trackers provide knowledgeable forays to the Reserve’s major destinations of Sunday Pan, Passarge Valley and Deception Valley. Enjoy an informative and interactive afternoon or morning with the San Bushmen, who will delight you in their tales and traditional customs. Take to the heavens with a guided astral tour of the constellations above with your guide.

The camp is run completely by solar power with sensitive sanitation systems in place