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CAMP KALAHARI

British

CAMP KALAHARI
This camp is way less rustic than some folks have had us believe on the forum. There is plenty of scalding hot water for showers , an electric fan, lighting. There are cans of insect repellent for spraying on yourself and one for spraying the room. There is the promised 'charging station' and our tour director brought an additional USB port multiway. If you wash your smalls they can be dry in about half an hour though there is no towel rail, you have to be creative. As usual here, don't leave anything outside because of animals. Mosquitoes were a small problem but another guest had many and had a nasty bite around her eye that swelled up. Your shoes will get absolutely filthy on the pathways to the rooms, it is like a grey dirt beach to walk along them. The small communal plunge pool is great to cool off at this very hot time of year (mid September) the food is great and the staff lovely. The manager of the camp, Bart, is a most talented Zoologist and will blow you away with his knowledge of the landscape and wildlife. You MUST be escorted to your room at night or if you are at all nervous. There is tall grass and bushes all around the pathways to the rooms. A neighbor encountered a huge elephant by her tent during the day. The Kioky scarves we are loaned for the stay can be purchased from Bart for $30 at the end of the tour, but selection may not be big, depending on supply. The scarves are most effective. You soak them in cold water, wrap them around your neck, or neck and head, and they really help you keep cool in the heat. We bought one. In Cape Town you can find similar ones at the first stall on the left of the 'crafts' building directly ahead of the way you walk to it from the One and Only. It's called the Watershed Craft design and Welness building, I think. Around $18 at the exchange rate just now. I bought a black and white one for my son because he's the kind of guy who can carry something like that off really well. I did forget to check they were cotton! Cotton would be best.
The quad bike tour now gives a choice of helmets if you want to wear them.

Comments

AlanS

Inquiring minds want to know. Without spilling the beans, did you sleep in your tent, or you know where? And speaking of homophones (homonyms), what did you wear?

I'll start a new thread with my "Questions for British."

British

Slept you know where. Desperately wanted to sleep au naturel, but did not want to shock the others, but there was a German lady who is very like minded. Slept easily au naturel without being cold in all locations.
In Cape Town now, taken it easy this afternoon with a light stroll around the Victoria and Alfred waterfront. Many changes since we were last here and construction going on. Arrived yesterday in glorious sunshine but this morning it was very very cloudy and we just had to imagine what Table mountain looked like out of our window. It is cold too. Heading for the Braii soon.

BayStater

Just got back myself... and was so happy to have "slept elsewhere!" Ah-mazing! 100% of our group of 18 all "slept elsewhere"... a rare event, I understand. ;-)

taxare

Hi, I have what may be a silly question since our trip is coming up soon. So if one is an older male and you sleep "elsewhere" where do you go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, how do you avoid waking others up and who takes you there? Thanks

British

You get out of bed and pee at the end of the bed. No big deal, did it myself more than once. And also. Those who read my drivel here regularly know well we sleep in the buff. In this case you sleep fully clothed. It’s pitch black out there and no animals there.

taxare

Thank you British. If I slept in the buff out there, there would be no other fellow travelers or animals nearby, LOL.
By the way, I do read your numerous posts, and they have been helpful to me.

British

Have a wonderful trip and start saving to do it again!
Please write something about your trip when you come back especially for the time of year you go. When we go again I would chose June to see the difference from September. Now Tauck is starting a tour to Rwanda, the Botswana tour has been pushed back.

Dragonpatch

We are going in October, and are trying to plan for super-heat. No problems sleeping in buff, or nearly so, but doesn't that increase risk of mosquitoes? Were you fully enclosed in mosquito netting?

AlanS

Dragonpatch wrote:

We are going in October, and are trying to plan for super-heat. No problems sleeping in buff, or nearly so, but doesn't that increase risk of mosquitoes? Were you fully enclosed in mosquito netting?

Dragonpatch- this is not a criticism, so please don't take it as such. It is just a "be aware." Many (actually most) visitors to the forums only post and monitor the forum before their trips and then don't return unless they are planning a new trip. There are only a few of us "regulars" who visit regularly : ). Hopefully Taxare will check in. Also, though the forum was supposed to have a "notification" feature where posters would receive an email if a new post was added to a thread where they participated, that feature has never worked, so there is a danger that posting to a month old or older thread will not be seen by the participants (unless they are regulars.)

As to skeeters- the beds have mosquito netting, but remember, there is a danger there will be some already inside when you first enter and each time you open the netting it afterwards. I'm sure British will weigh in about "exposed skin" while sleeping : )

British

Yes, here I am, always sleep naked wherever we go. It always amuses Alan when I say that. Alan, if we ever end up being on a tour together, no peeping into my tent???? Bedclothes cover most of you anyway. We always take Malaria meds. A recent poster on the forum says a friend she traveled with on a Tauck tour and did not take meds got Malaria.

taxare

Hello, I'm not going to get into the middle of the sleeping habits between Alan and British

There was mosquito netting in Livingstone, Khwai River and Eagle Island. The lodge had it set up for sleeping each evening. At Camp Kalahari the tents are zippered but there was no netting. There was mosquito spray for inside use provided in each of the rooms. We went at the end of May to early June and had no problem with mosquitos. There were a few bugs outside the netting when we woke up in the morning. If there is any exposed skin I don't think the mosquitos will have any problem finding a tasty bite. We did get all recommended vaccinations and took Malarone with no negative impact. Pleased to answer any other questions, I am just not on as often as British and Alan, but want to help as others were so helpful to me.

Dixie Chick

I’m confused. Where is “elsewhere” for sleeping? The bathroom tent? I have not been to Africa, so I just don't get what you are talking about. Are the sleeping tents private or do large tents have many beds in one room? Are there dirt floors? Somehow I have trouble imagining the concept of luxury tents. I guess that means no air conditioning. Is there ever a cool time to go? I guess I shoild find all this out before I book a trip to the land where the wild things are.
Nancy

Sealord

I will let British discuss ‘elsewhere’. It was not an option during our ‘cool dry’ season trip, which was in mid-May. My timing was an effort to go after the rainy season, when the Zambezi was at max flood stage, Victoria Falls would be raging, and the Okavango would be a boating experience. All of that worked out with our mid-May timing. Our TD, who was one of the developers of this trip and has her name on the back of the white TD guidebook, said she will not do the trip during the ‘hot’ season. She actually lives in Arusha, Tanzania. This season is too early to see great whites in South Africa, but you can’t have everything.

The ‘tents’ are quite nice. The tents at Kwai River, and Eagle Island, are outrageously nice. But the Kalahari tents are basicly designed for two people, they have double sinks, showers, and private bathrooms. Each individual tent is a separate structure and quite private. There is little electricity at Camp Kalahari which is solar, when it works. Kerosene lamps when it doesn’t. No hair dryers here.

British

Ok Nancy, just for you. You have the option to sleep out on the salt pan of the Kalahari, no animals there to worry about. Proper beds to sleep on about 100 yards apart, you could hardly see the bed next to yours. Got there by quad bikes, dark by the time we arrived if I remember correctly. Firelight. Otherwise pitch black apart from the sky filled with stars and even satellites going across the sky. Need to pee in the night? Just get out of bed, go to end of bed, peee, get back in bed. No one can see you. Or walk the long way to the toilet tent. One of the most favorite adventures we have ever taken. In fact, next time I go I wanted it to be nearer the end of the wet season but I remembered Sealord posting before that it was not an option when he went. Might forgo that to sleep in the desert again

taxare

We went at the end of May, early June and similar to Sealord did not have that option. Re: Camp Kalahari, you get one light bulb in each tent, and we had some hot water. At night there were hot water bottles in the beds. Sealord, the TD you mentioned, that British has had as well, is not doing this tour anymore, she is developing and starting the new "Great Migration" tour. She was the best! Dixie Chick, the accommodations outside of Camp Kalahari IMHO ranged from very good to excellent. The Belmond properties were a bit worn, but very nice. The staff, guides and service excellent. Tauck in their accommodations section discusses the limitations of Camp Kalahari including the fact that you are off the grid for over two days. I applaud them for saying it upfront. it wasn't my favorite, but I know for some it was. I had mentioned in a previous review that coming back into camp one night we saw an asteroid explode and land in Botswana. Talk about a once in a lifetime experience! This was our first Tauck tour and I would highly recommend it!!

AlanS

Dixie Chick wrote:

I’m confused. Where is “elsewhere” for sleeping? The bathroom tent? I have not been to Africa, so I just don't get what you are talking about. Are the sleeping tents private or do large tents have many beds in one room? Are there dirt floors? Somehow I have trouble imagining the concept of luxury tents. I guess that means no air conditioning. Is there ever a cool time to go? I guess I shoild find all this out before I book a trip to the land where the wild things are.
Nancy

Dixie Chick- none of us want to spoil your trip, so are avoiding answering one question. I will say this, if you go in March,
April, May and the rains (which should be over) were heavy or late the year you go, you may not be offered the optional experience. Suffice it to say it is an option and a fabulous experience if you get to do it- so I've been told.

As far as the camps/tents- go to the tour page and copy the names of the camps then Google them or follow my links below. These are not Boy Scout camps, you aren't roughing it, are private tents, regular beds, furniture, solid floors and most on raised on platforms, have en suite bathrooms with flush toilets, etc. it is "Glamping." Depending on time of year, one night at Kwai River Lodge lists for $1100 - $1700! Meghan and Harry stayed at a camp near one of the Tauck Camps. Remember our summer is their winter. It is cool at night (depending on month down to the 40's) and in the mornings until Aug/Sept/Oct when it can quite warm. See the weather in the "Before You Go" > "Preparing to Go"

Kwai River Lodge

Eagle Island Camp

Camp Kalahari