Kwando Tau Pan Camp

Kwando Tau Pan Camp consists of 9 en-suite tents, all built with sustainable materials. The rooms are built under thatch roofs, which helps to regulate their temperature. The bedrooms are large and spacious with windows and a set of double doors to allow plenty of light and fresh air.

The rooms consist of a large double bed or two twins, a comfy lounge area for relaxing during the hottest part of the day, and a writing desk. The en-suite includes a flush toilet, double basin and both an indoor and outdoor shower. The room’s double doors will lead out onto your private deck, where you can enjoy breath-taking views of the plains and open space, as well as the beautiful Tau Pan.

One of the rooms is designed to be a family room, and includes a second bedroom with twin beds. Apart from this, the family room is identical to the rest of the suites.

Guests can enjoy three delicious meals a day. Wake up to tea and coffee, as well as a bowl of porridge and muffins before venturing out on your morning safari activity. Brunch is served one your return, and guests can swap stories of their morning adventures in the communal dining area.

Indulge in afternoon tea with an array of tasty snacks before embarking on your afternoon activity, and enjoy sundowners as the daytime comes to an end. Dinner is a three-course meal with the main course served as a buffet so that guests can tailor their meal to their own tastes. End the day beside the roaring campfire, with a refreshing drink as you gaze at the glorious African star scape.

Explore the Central Kalahari Game Reserve in a custom-designed safari vehicle with open sides to allow for amazing photographic opportunities. The vehicles are equipped to seat six guests, a professional guide and a tracker. The tracker will be a member of the San Bushman tribe. The San Bushman tribe has lived in the Kalahari Desert for generations and are experts on the desert and its wildlife.

Look out for oryx, red hartebeest, eland, wildebeest, kudu and giraffe, as well as prowling predators such as lions and cheetahs. The low predator density of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve makes it a brilliant hunting ground for cheetahs a good spot for guests looking to witness the world’s fastest land animal in action.

Venture out with a member of the San Bushman tribe and learn how the tribe used to live off the land with skills and survival method passed down through generations. Discover the culture and heritage of the San Bushman tribe, and how they survived in the harsh Kalahari environment. The cultural walk is designed for a slow and detailed exploration of the landscape, and guests are encouraged to ask questions and immerse themselves in the bushmen culture.

Spend a night under the vibrant African sky, where there is minimal light pollution, allowing the stars to dazzle. Look for constellations only visible in the Southern Hemisphere, such as the Southern Cross, and fall asleep to the sounds of nature. The sleep-out deck consists of 2 three-quarter beds, a washbasin and a toilet. Guests will be able to journey to the deck after their evening meal and return to the camp in time for morning game activities. This activity can only be pre-booked if guests are staying a minimum of 3 nights.

Kwando Safaris aim to give back to the local community by hiring employees from Botswana and supporting the people who live in the areas in which they operate.

‘We take our employment and empowerment policies very seriously. 98% of our staff are citizens, and all the friendly faces you will see in camp are 100% citizens – we believe you should be shown Botswana by the people of Botswana. We seek to offer careers, not jobs, to all our staff. The opportunities afforded to talented and passionate citizens are widely sought after throughout the country.’

In 2016, to celebrate Botswana’s 50th Anniversary of Independence, Kwando Safaris organised the donations of necessary household supplies to members of the local community. The supplies were placed inside buckets and delivered to those who needed them. Kwando Safaris also intends to continue this as a yearly tradition.

‘Rather than spending the money on a party, we wanted to be sure everyone had something to celebrate as well. Rather than lose monies in admin and organising, the Kwando staff solicited donations of much-needed household supplies and also purchased some in addition, allowing more fund to be utilised to benefit those who need help’.

‘The staff also came together for a weekend to go around giving out the buckets (a more useful household item than a basket for example) to the more rural outskirts of Maun. They were received with great appreciation and joy from the community.’

Kwando Safaris supports the Lady Khama Charitable Trust which offers aid to a number of charity initiatives throughout Botswana. The charity is named after Lady Ruth Khama, the wife of the first President, Sir Seretse Khama, who was well-known for supporting a number of charitable causes. Kwando Safaris operates a ‘matching’ scheme, meaning that when guests contribute to the charity, Kwando Safaris will match every guest’s donation/contribution.

Kwando Safaris support Pack for a Purpose, an initiative that encourages travellers to benefit local communities by using spare suitcase space to bring much-needed supplies for local people. Supplies can be dropped off at your accommodation and will be used to aid a local project.

Kwando is currently supporting the Mummy’s Angels project which supports mothers and their newborn babies who do not have financial or family support. By donating clothes and essentials, mothers are able to provide crucial necessities for their children. Additionally, Kwando Safaris will match every guest donation with a similar item.

Kwando Safari camps are fully powered by solar energy. All electrical appliances used in Kwando’s camps are energy efficient and water is heated using solar technology. This means that Kwando Safari camps have a lighter carbon footprint, and cause a minimal impact on their surrounding areas.

Kwando Safari camps are designed to blend into their environments and cause minimum disruption to the wildlife that already exists there. The use of insulated walls and thatched roofs help maintain a constant temperature and negate the need for inefficient cooling systems. Insulated cladding for hot water geysers and piping also helps to prevent heat loss in the hot water systems and conserves energy.

Kwando Safaris responsibly treat all of their wastewater to prevent contamination and pollution. All wastewater is treated in an above-ground sewage treatment plant, before being returned to the ground. This ensures that the grey and blackwater is made clean before it flows back into the ecosystem, keeping the environment healthy.