Tswalu Motse or Jack's Camp?
Tswalu Motse or Jack’s Camp: What’s the Best Luxury Kalahari Safari?
If you’re anything like me, you yearn to be on just about any type of safari. Gorilla tracking, bush walks or big game, you name it. So long as it includes wilderness and sundowners (if you’re unfamiliar with this latter term, kindly refer to the photographic evidence below), I am there for it.
My adoration for Namibia is fueled by many factors. But the one thing that captivates me the most is the unexplained mystery of desert safari. Witnessing the proliferation of animal life along the floodplains of Botswana or across the savannahs of the Serengeti never gets old. Yet when you stop to think about it, such occurrences aren’t wholly surprising: these lush and abundant ecosystems are perfectly suited for that purpose. But when exploring Namibia's deserts, one cannot help but wonder: How does wildlife persist in one of the most hostile environments in the world? And more importantly, how do humans? I am constantly in awe of the tenacity of flora, fauna and mankind alike to thrive in utterly brutal surroundings. Everywhere you look, even in the harshest of conditions, life refuses to be silenced. It's a testament to the strength and adaptability of both animals and humans, and I can't help but feel moved by the world’s capacity to persevere.
Fortunately for you, I will end my channeling of Thoreau here. And fortunately for me and my existentialist inclinations, desert safari is not limited to Namibia! many years, I’ve had two particular camps at the very top of my [very long] visit list. To be fair, Tswalu Kalahari, located in the northwestern corner of South Africa, is not actually a camp but rather a private concession with two (soon to be three) brick and mortar lodges. Jack’s Camp, situated within a private concession in Botswana’s Makgadikgadi salt pans, is in fact a camp as the name dictates, though perhaps the connotation of such a designation could be misleading to those unfamiliar with the property. Regardless of the nomenclature, Tswalu and Jack’s were two Kalahari safari experiences I was very much itching to have.
There are a variety of reasons for which our clients -and travelers in general- are interested in visiting the Kalahari, a region spanning three African countries, each one showcasing a unique geographic iteration of this remarkable ecosystem. Perhaps the most common (and most unique to the region) are for meerkat sightings and encounters with the San people, known locally as the Bushmen.
**Jack’s Camp does have an equally luxurious sister property located just 15-20 minutes away by car called San Camp. We adore San Camp but given that it is only opened seasonally from April through October, for the purpose of this post I’m focusing solely on Jack’s Camp. Tswalu Kalahari also has its exclusive use villa, Tarkuni, and will soon have new six new private safari homes at Loapi Tented Camp, but will be referring strictly to Tswalu Motse below.
It goes without saying that both Tswalu Motse and Jack’s Camp are two of the most highly regarded and coveted luxury safari experiences within Southern Africa. But each has a very unique product offering when it comes to everything from the meerkats and other wildlife to the cultural interactions and culinary offers, all the way to the accommodations themselves.
Tswalu versus Jack’s Camp: Which has a better Meerkat experience?
Tswalu and Jack’s are two of the only places in Africa/the world where guests can experience habituated meerkats. On this point it’s safe to say that there is a clear winner: Jack’s Camp is the best place to see habituated meerkats. There are currently two habituated colonies within Jack’s private concession, with a third underway. Guests at Jack’s Camp will be led by their guide and a meerkat specialist to track the adorable pint-sized species. The activity can be done at essentially anytime of day and -depending upon other guests- essentially as many times and for however long you’d like. You’re able to sit next to the meerkats and the specialist will advise you as to how to behave (they are able to climb on you, but you are not allowed to touch them). Lucky guests will enjoy meerkats casually scurrying up your arm onto your head. I was fortunate to have this experience several times within the roughly two hours we spent with the meerkats. Only being touched by a gorilla while trekking in Uganda could compare to the pure elation of this wildlife encounter. Under what other conditions on safari could you ever expect to have such an up close and personal moment with an animal?
Jack’s Camp Meerkat Experience
Tswalu’s experience is still very special but much more subdued. Tswalu’s meerkats are not as accustomed to humans and the concession does not permit getting closer than 5-10 meters to them. Unlike Jack’s Camp where we followed them for quite some time, we seemed to be able to stay only in a designated area and because of the difficulty in finding them during the day, there seems to be a very small window in the early morning during which the activity can be done. There is absolutely no opportunity to let meerkats climb on top of you, nor would it be allowed. With all that said, we still very much enjoyed the experience and if you were to never visit meerkats at Jack’s Camp, you’d find it highly memorable. But the meerkat experience at Jack’s Camp is second to none and if meerkats are your priority, you simply must go to Jack’s Camp.
Tswalu Motse Meerkat Experience
Tswalu versus Jack’s Camp: Which has better food & wine?
Tswalu Motse is known not only as a game reserve but as a culinary destination. The spectacle that is Klein JAN is something so exceptional I not only lack the words to properly describe it but also feel it’s something best experienced with as little prior information as possible. But just know that you must go at least once in your lifetime, and all guests spending two or more nights at Tswalu have a dinner at Klein JAN included in their stay. To give you an idea just how extraordinary it is, rich South Africans charter planes into Tswalu just to have dinner at Klein JAN before returning home for the evening (and if you’ve been to South Africa, you know the country is not exactly hurting for other incredible dining options).
Without revealing too much, here is just a quick peek int our unforgettable evening at Klein JAN
But even beyond Klein JAN, the overall culinary experience at Tswalu continues to wow. Dining is essentially on demand 24/7 with each dish more delectable than the next. My daughters’ french toast was the best I’d ever had. In addition to your fully loaded minibar, Tswalu Motse also boasts a complimentary wine cellar into which guests can enjoy at any point throughout the day, taking out as many bottles as desired.
The food at Jack’s Camp is very good and their approach quite interesting. Rather than provide guests with choices for lunch and dinner, prior to the meal (usually at breakfast for lunch, and at lunch for dinner) the host will announce what the chef will be serving. If you do not like the sound of a particular dish, you let the host know and the chef will offer you an alternative.
Lunch is usually a protein served with some kind of salad (my favorite was a delicious steak paired with a bean salad, neither of which are normally of much interest to me) and dinner is three courses. I found every meal to be delicious. Unlike many high end safari camps where the kitchen is trying to wow you with complicated dishes that can be hit or miss, the cuisine at Jack’s is relatively simple, yet consistently good. I did not have one bad meal or snack during my stay there. In fact, the to-go lunch they packed me on our day of departure was probably the best I’d ever received from any safari camp.
With that said, dining is such an integral part of the experience at Tswalu that if you’re a traveler driven by culinary experiences, there is no question that you are likely to be more impressed by Tswalu. If you are a picky eater or have multiple food restrictions, you might find the predetermined menu style of Jack’s a bit limiting. They will of course always accommodate you but it’s difficult to know how the alternative dishes would compare in terms of quality to those determined by the chef.
Does Jack’s Camp or Tswalu have better wildlife and game viewing?
As to be expected, wildlife at both Tswalu Motse and Jack’s Camp are both extremely unique and cannot be compared with more traditional big game concessions within the Greater Kruger region or the Okavango Delta. But that certainly does not mean you will be disappointed.
Tswalu Kalahari Wildlife Experience
Tswalu is home to all of the Big Five other than elephant, along with various other mammals high on the list of any safari goer’s sighting wishlist. We saw a pride of Kalahari lion, 21 giraffes grazing at sunset and rare mountain zebra climbing a several-hundred foot peak. Rhino are of course a huge draw to Tswalu, with healthy populations of both endangered white rhino and critically endangered black rhino. Cheetah are notoriously difficult to spot nearly everywhere on African safari these days but we were able to see a female cheetah feasting on her springbok prey at Tswalu Motse. In addition to meerkats, Tswalu is also home to one of Africa’s rarest and most coveted creatures: the pangolin. We did not have the good fortune of spotting one, but if you have any chance of finding a pangolin anywhere in the world, it would be at Tswalu Motse.
Like nearly all safari destinations in Southern and East Africa, the cold and dry months of winter (specifically June through early September) tend to create optimal game view conditions in Tswalu with daytime temperatures pleasing to predators and limited water sources for drinking that require predator and prey alike to congregate nearby. With that said, Tswalu’s desert climate means that rain is sparse throughout the year and it never sees the type of thick vegetation that shields big cats in places like the Okavango Delta or Masai Mara from December through March. As of January 2023, Tswalu still remains relatively green thanks to the much-needed rains of 2020 and 2021 that arrived after roughly ten years of drought. But even in the peak of summer with the thickest and most colorful vegetation the concession has seen in a decade, we did not find the conditions to impact sightings. The only impediment to finding wildlife at Tswalu is simply time!
Tswalu Motse is blessed with an exceptionally large concession that provides maximum exclusivity. The downside of course is that being so large it makes it nearly impossible to cover the entire reserve in one stay. Our guide has worked there since 2019 and told us there are certain parts of the concession that even he hasn’t explored yet.
Jack’s Camp Wildlife Experience
Jack’s Camp has remarkably different wildlife when compared to Tswalu; in fact, in many ways you might say that other than the meerkats and Kalahari lion, they have very little in common. Unlike Tswalu, Jack’s private concession -shared only with sister camps San Camp and Camp Kalahari- is quite small. Nevertheless the impact on guests is minimal as the concession has a fenceless border with Makgadikgadi National Park, meaning wildlife from the game-rich region is free to move about without restriction, as are Jack’s guests. A lack of tall trees in the salt pans means you’ll find neither leopard nor giraffe. However, you do find a healthy elephant population, none of whom are designated desert-adapted and manage to maintain a robust size thanks to relative high rainfall in the region when compared to other desert areas. Whereas typical zebra are hard to find at Tswalu, they are everywhere at Jack’s, particularly during the calving season from January to March and then even more impressively so once their migration makes its way to camp from March through October or November. Joined by wildebeest, I was captivated by scenes of the migration which -barring dramatic scenes of Mara River crossings- are far more beautiful and photogenic than what you’d encounter in Kenya and Tanzania at the height of the Great Migration. Despite coming directly from the predator-rich Okavango Delta, perhaps the best lion sighting I saw in Botswana was at Jack’s: just after nightfall we watched four lion cubs attempt to take down a male elephant. Despite being unsuccessful it was absolutely thrilling to watch.
Once the Makgadikgadi salt pans dry up again in March, prompting the return of tens of thousands of zebra and wildebeest to the region, activity really comes to life at Jack’s Camp. As colder weather begins arriving by June, the optimal winter conditions described pave the way for remarkable sightings and interactions on the crystal clear pans. As such, while Tswalu Motse may be more consistent year-round, encountering sensational wildlife during peak season at Jack’s Camp is close to effortless. With that said, regardless of the month you’ll never find a rhino in this part of Botswana, so if the endangered creature is a must for you, Tswalu would be the better choice.
It’s also important to note on the subject of wildlife that both Jack’s Camp and Tswalu Motse are exceptional leaders in their conservation and sustainability efforts. Few brands in Southern Africa have focused so heavily on giving back to both the land and its people for as many years and as meaningfully. I could write a whole blog post just devoted to their conservation work but rest assured that these are two brands who have pioneered efforts to make their parts of the world a better and more sustainable place.
Which San (Bushmen) experience is better: Tswalu’s or Jack’s Camp?
A highlight for anthropological enthusiasts visiting the Kalahari will certainly be the opportunity to explore the remarkable history of the San People, or Bushmen (at Jack’s Camp, they will tell you themselves that they do not take any offense to being called the latter, a term that was once considered pejorative), the original inhabitants of the region and one of the earliest groups among mankind.
Jack’s Camp -as well as the other three properties within the family’s brand- is famous for its experience with the local San. The tribe will bring guests into the pans to show them their traditional way of life while teaching them about their culture and history. They offer insight into their daily activities such as tracking animals through the bush and learning how to use their ancient hunting tools. A highlight of the interaction was watching them play a game akin to Rock, Paper, Scissor. To be totally frank, I was initially a bit skeptical of this interaction as I wondered whether there was any possibility that it could be done in a way that was authentic but not intrusive or demeaning. But my expectations were far exceeded as the experience felt very honest and relaxed. This particular tribe had been displaced many years ago from their ancestral grounds in another part of the Kalahari and were relocated to Jack's concession in a collaborative effort between the camp and Botswana's government. As such, these are San who have encountered the modern world and are honest about enjoying some of its comforts, while still maintaining their cultural legacy. I asked them many questions about living between these two worlds and how they felt about it. To hear their responses was truly enlightening.
Bushmen at Jack’s Camp
At Tswalu, even with our 3-night stay, we sadly just didn't have enough time to explore the cultural offerings of the reserve. Perhaps the most remarkable offering in this regard at Tswalu Motse is the existence of San engravings, which some archaeologists have estimated date back nearly 500,000 years. Interactions with local San is not part of the experience at Tswalu, though I'm sure that if this were important to guests, a visit to some of their foundation's community projects -such as a local school and health center- could be arranged.
Is it easier to get to Tswalu Kalahari or Jack’s Camp?
By definition, both Jack’s Camp and Tswalu Motse are remote, and that is the appeal. With that said, neither is prohibitively so.
Tswalu Motse provides chartered flights from private hangars in both Cape Town and Johannesburg. The cost of the round trip flights is roughly R18,500 per person (or just over $1,000 based on current exchange rates) and is in addition to the room rate. I cannot however overstate the luxury of departing from and arriving at their private hangar without having to enter the airport. I think this is particularly worthwhile at the end of a big trip when travelers are returning to Cape Town or Johannesburg for their international flights. They can relax in the hangar until their flight home departs in maximum comfort. The flight from Jo’burg to Tswalu is 90 minutes, and 2 hours from Cape Town. Once you land at Tswalu’s airstrip, it’s a 45 minute game drive to Motse, the main lodge, with similar timing to reach both Tarkuni and Loapi.
If you are coming from another region of South Africa, such as the Sabi Sands or Madikwe, you can take a Federal Air shared bush flight to Johannesburg and connect onward in Tswalu’s charter. The best option of course, budget permitting, would be to arrange a private charter and save time. Depending on the size of the group it could potentially be less expensive than flying commercial.
It would be difficult to combine Tswalu directly with a neighboring country (even Botswana just 40 miles away) due to the lack of border control. The only way it can be done without traveling through Jo’burg or Cape Town would be with a private charter. We always try to put Tswalu in the itinerary so that it does not involve unnecessary overnights for transit purposes and there is no reason that staying at Tswalu means you cannot combine your South Africa trip with other countries. For example, we have clients that recently arrived to Johannesburg, flew to Kruger for a traditional safari and from there nonstop to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. They then flew directly to Cape Town and finished off their trip in Tswalu. This is one of my favorite first-timer Southern Africa itineraries!
Tswalu is not overwhelmingly difficult or even expensive (on a relative basis anyway; see below) to reach, but it is out of the way. When factoring in just how remote and vast it is, I’d strongly suggest a minimum of 3 nights. Anything shorter might feel rushed. Tswalu is a place I could easily spend 4 or 5 nights, and that is something you’ll very rarely find me saying!
Getting to Jack's Camp is very easy as part of a Botswana circuit. Jack’s airstrip is located just 15 minutes from camp, and scheduled bush flights from either Maun Airport (the main entry point for safari in Botswana) or camps in the Okavango Delta are just under an hour or so. Bush flights will vary in cost depending on where travelers are flying to and from, but you can generally estimate between $450 and $600 per person, per way. This puts the cost of flying to Jack’s relatively in line with that of Tswalu, although Tswalu’s price reflects private flights and Jack’s are shared. For groups of 5 or 6 or more, a private charter to Jack’s becomes quite attractive from a value standpoint. For those who prefer to travel by car, it takes around 6 hours from Maun Airport, though it’s not a drive we would generally recommend as most roads leading there are unpaved.
Like Tswalu, Jack’s is impossible to reach directly from abroad unless you’ve booked a private charter. However, you can easily fly from Jack’s to Kasane Airport in Botswana, and from there do a road transfer into Zambia or Zimbabwe, all within a few hours. And of course you can fly to nearby Maun and fly nonstop to either Cape Town or Johannesburg.
Because Jack’s works so nicely as part of a larger Botswana safari circuit and can be easily combined with neighboring Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa, I would always suggest it as part of a Botswana itinerary, even if you only had 2 nights to spare. It will not be out of your way and you can experience nearly all of the highlights with a 2-night stay, even though of course you’ll inevitably want to be there for longer!
Which safari is more expensive: Tswalu or Jack’s Camp?
At Tswalu Kalahari’s main Motse Lodge, the nightly rate for adults is R33,500 per person, or just under $1,900 per person per night based on current exchange rates. This rate applies throughout 2023 regardless of season and includes all meals, alcohol, one dinner at Klein JAN, private vehicle, ranger and tracker and all other activities offered at Tswalu. Children ages 12-17 pay R8,250 per night, or roughly $460, and children 11 and under stay for free. As the mother of a 3 and 2 year old, I cannot recommend Tswalu this enough for small children! The rate also includes complimentary babysitting. Our rock star babysitter Sana knew from the moment we walked into Motse Lodge how to make our children, a bit tired and hangry from the travel day, instantly fall in love with her. She made sure we knew we had nothing to worry about when we had our adults-only dinner at Klein JAN, putting them to sleep faster than either my husband or I ever had. Sana did every possible activity you could imagine with our children, from necklace making to baking cookies. At a place where quite literally every staff member was remarkable, Sana may have edged her way to the VIP position.
But I digress with kid talk (only American parents can understand just how thrilling free and AMAZING childcare is) Tswalu offers some fantastic promotions, such as 50% off a 4th night, a 5th night free with 4 nights and a 6th night free and complimentary one-way flights. throughout the year that include discounts on stays of 4 nights or longer as well as complimentary private transfers from Johannesburg International Airport for guests staying 4 nights or more.
One of the most compelling things about Tswalu Motse is that the rate includes a private vehicle, ranger (guide) and tracker for each couple, family or group. It is hard to overstate the significance of such an inclusion and the value it reflects. There is simply nothing like being fully in control over your daily itinerary when on safari, something virtually impossible when you are sharing a vehicle and guide with other guests.
Family Safari at Twsalu Motse
Like nearly every property in Botswana, rates at Jack’s Camp are seasonal and will vary greatly depending on the time of year. Pricing ranges from $1,700 to $2,950 per person per night, with the highest rates applicable from July through the end of August, with slight deductions in June, September, October and over the festive holiday period. Shoulder season in April, May, November and early December sees a further decrease, and prices then drop significantly for the green season months of January through March. I visited Jack’s at the end of January into early February and couldn’t have been more delighted with my experience, though on our last night we received significant rain that according to our guide would make the days ahead very difficult for wildlife spotting. As such, the green season can provide unbelievable value but travelers must be aware of the potentially tricky conditions for spotting animals.
Kids 5 and under go free at Jack’s, with children 6-18 eligible for 50% off. A private vehicle is not included but highly recommended (both by the camp, and me!). A private vehicle will be provided on a complimentary basis however for parties of 5 or more.
Jack’s Camp offers a honeymoon special, whereby either the bride or groom receives a 50% discount on his or her stay. As part of Craft Travel’s beloved Natural Selection collection, guests can also take advantage of some fantastic promotions when combining Jack’s Camp with other NS properties in Botswana (I love Tuludi Camp, with new additions Tawana Camp and Duke’s Camp looking equally fabulous) and Namibia (did someone say fly-in safari?!).
While South Africa is home to some of the most over the top safari lodges in the world (and with the price tags to match), there is quite a bit of variety, with many 5-star lodges seeming relatively affordable when compared with competing countries both in Southern and East Africa. Botswana however is by far the most expensive country overall for safari. As such, on an absolute basis, Jack’s Camp is certainly not cheap but I do think that compared with other Botswana camps, it is very fairly priced.
Tswalu is less expensive than Jack’s at nearly every time of year, particularly so thanks to the US Dollar’s performance versus the South African Rand the past few years. As previously mentioned, South Africa does offer solid, Big Five, 5-star safari experiences on a relatively affordable basis when compared to other countries, and even Tswalu. For example, one of our favorite Sabi Sands properties, Dulini River Lodge, runs at roughly R22,300 per person per night: that’s roughly $1,250, or 33% less than Tswalu. And staying in the Sabi Sands or anywhere in the Greater Kruger Area means you have access to nonstop commercial flights to Cape Town, Jo’burg, Victoria Falls and even Vilanculos in Mozambique for less than half the price of Tswalu’s private charters.
Even with all of that in mind, I still think that Tswalu Motse is one of the best value propositions within the luxury safari market. When you factor in the private vehicle, the immense knowledge and passion of your private ranger and tracker, the dinner at Klein JAN (something for which you’d pay well over $1,000 at a comparable restaurant in the U.S. or Europe), the extraordinary food and wine at every other occasion, the immense privacy that the reserve offers, the vast variety of activities and the remarkably high degree of personal service and attention, you can simply not find anything else in the African safari world for this price point. For families looking for a luxury safari product that feels perfectly age appropriate for toddlers and teens alike, Tswalu hits all of the right marks: I often have parents tell me they want to wait to take their children on safari until they can fully appreciate it. If you are at a national park or private reserve where the only (or primary) activity offered is game drives, I definitely think there is some truth to said position, particularly if on top of the nightly rate you have to pay for a private vehicle for small children. But at Tswalu, I can personally attest to the fact that kids as young as 2 will be wowed beyond belief and not a second will feel wasted… particularly when they are going for free anyway! And with a complimentary babysitter included as well, many parents will find themselves enjoying the most relaxing vacation in years.
Conclusion: Should I go to Tswalu or Jack’s Camp?
In conclusion, I can safely say that both Tswalu Motse and Jack’s Camp are two of my all-time favorite safari camps in Southern Africa, and even the continent at large. They also continue to be two of my favorite properties to recommend to clients looking for a unique and unexpected safari experience.
It is not a cop-out when I say that the question of which is better will ultimately depend on travelers and their needs. I think most of my clients would love both rather equally. However, neither property will be perfectly suited to every client on any given trip.
Tswalu Motse is truly the ideal safari lodge for families of all ages, and I really can’t stress this enough: if you’ve been mulling taking your littles on safari, this is the place to do it, especially because their stay is free! The value of a private guide, tracker and vehicle included in your rate is extraordinarily high and it may not be something you fully appreciate if you haven’t had it before. If you are looking to tick off rhino and cheetah, two of the most coveted yet challenging big game sightings to find in most other major reserves, Tswalu will deliver. The lodge is truly a year-round destination without major seasonal changes in wildlife and spotting rates, unlike many safari spots. And of course, the culinary experience at Tswalu Motse, thanks to both Klein JAN and a general culture at the lodge that elevates food and wine, is perhaps second to none in all of Africa… maybe even the world!
With the exclusive-use Tarkuni villa that already wows and the much-anticipated Loapi Tented Camp opening soon, Tswalu is truly unbeatable when it comes to private small group experiences for multi-generational families or traveling friends. There is simply something for everyone at Tswalu and it works incredibly well on both a first-timer’s safari itinerary or a seasoned (and picky!) bush enthusiast.
I would not recommend Tswalu for less than three nights, as the expense of getting there is quite high and it really demands several days in order to experience all it has to offer. Due to the enormous size of Tswalu’s concession, without three -or possibly even four- nights, you risk not being able to see the major wildlife it’s known for, such as rhino or cheetah. This also increases your chances of spotting the rare and elusive pangolin. Tswalu is a bit difficult to combine with countries outside of South Africa unless you have several weeks at hand. Motse suites do not have private pools which isn’t something that matters much to me but might be significant to others, particularly given the price point. If meerkats are your top priority, I would suggest considering Jack’s Camp instead of Tswalu as the experience is truly unmatched at the former.
Jack’s Camp is nearly a requisite for anyone doing safari in Botswana. My personal opinion is that Jack’s and the Makgadikgadi at large serve as a much better -and more compelling- complement to the Okavango Delta when compared to Chobe or Linyanti. Unlike Tswalu, it isn’t particularly out of the way and can be easily combined with other traditional safari destinations within the Okavango Delta, Linyanti and even Victoria Falls. And while Tswalu really requires a longer stay, if needed you could have a lovely two-night stay at Jack’s without feeling rushed. The singular style and decor at Jack’s is nothing short of epic. If you are looking to be wowed by a luxury tent experience steeped in the history of one of African safari’s most fascinating families, you will not be disappointed. A stay is transformative in that even without massive big game I’ve never felt more “on safari” than while at Jack’s Camp. For those interested in highly immersive and one-of-a-kind meerkat and bushmen experiences, there is no better option. When you factor in these types of activities along with quad biking (in the dry season) and horseback riding, you are looking at one of the most remarkably diverse safaris in Africa with very little chance to become bored.
Many of the things that makes Jack’s Camp so extraordinary are the things that might not make it a place for everyone. The most obvious caveat for some will be the no wifi policy, though of course this is what makes it such a perfect place for disconnecting. The spacious tents do not have air conditioning, though the canopy beds themselves have a very effective cooling system that provides a similar effect. The decor is very dramatic and while I find it to be the pinnacle of chic, it may not be for everyone. Dining is communal and menu options are limited but on these matters -unlike the wifi- your preferences can be accommodated. Unlike Tswalu Motse, the wildlife and activities at Jack’s Camp do change rather significantly depending on season and while January to March does provide excellent conditions for witnessing the splendor of the calving season, excessive rain in these months can result in zebra and wildebeest migrating to dryer parts of the Makghadihadi.
Both properties work extremely well at the end of a longer safari itinerary and both are ideally suited for honeymoon couples looking for untraditional and remote luxury in the desert. And you will leave either camp feeling confident you’ve had an exceptional guide by your side. Both are expensive, but you’d be pressed to find a guest who didn’t feel in either case that it was very much worth it. And you certainly won’t find a replacement for the experience at either Tswalu Motse or Jack’s Camp anywhere else.
**Important update (April 14, 2023): It has been announced that as of the end of April 2023, Jack’s Camp will have wifi. Interestingly enough, this information was originally posted on their social media on April 1, leading many to believe it was the ultimate April Fool’s prank. A press release was then published on April 4 confirming the information, so it does appear that going forward Jack’s Camp WILL have wifi and internet! Personally I am bit disappointed by the development as I thought this was such an amazing feature, but I understand the issues they’ve had with guests not being properly briefed before arriving, resulting in dramatic and uncomfortable situations.
