These are just two of the guests you can expect to meet at Thakadu (Tswana for aardvark) bush camp situated some 5 km from Ghanzi in central Botswana. The marsh owl was rescued on the Trans Kalahari highway which runs adjacent to the farm and Basil having been confiscated from poachers who had killed his mother.
Thakadu, run by Jeanette and Chris is an ideal overnight stop some 950 km from Joburg and Maun a further 280 km along the Trans Kalahari highway. The camp overlooks a natural pan with permanent water surrounded by ancient ‘Motswiri’ or Leadwood trees. The water attracts large numbers of Kalahari game and while we were there we saw the pan being visited by wildebeest, springbok and a large herd of eland. There are worst ends to the day than watching the pan at twilight from the local “homo sapien” watering hole – “the Rampant Aardvark” with Chris serving the necessary “G & T’s” to cut the trail dust.
We suggest that if you are en route to the Delta or the game reserves further north you break your journey at Thakadu and spend an extra day rather than overnight and rush off early the next morning. We were reluctant to leave the tranquility that Thakadu offers. For the more active horse trails, game walks, traditional dancing and guided trips into the surrounding wilderness areas can be arranged. Being situated in the land of the “Khoisan” or Bushmen Chris and Jeanette will gladly arrange for a tour with local San in the area. There are more formalized venues such as the San Cultural Centre in Ghanzi where you can spend a very informative morning. Our suggestion is that you don’t overdo it and rather kick back and spend the day digesting some of the excellent fare that Jeanette has on offer before pushing on. For the birders there is also plenty on offer and we spent a pleasant two hours recording Golden Breasted Bunting, Gabar Goshawk, Violet Eared Waxbills, Black Chested Prinia and Golden Tailed Woodpecker amongst others. Chris tells me that a pair of Giant Eagle Owls has recently started to come down to the pan in the early evenings, driving the resident Blacksmith Plovers into “renal shutdown’.
Accommodation includes 4 two sleeper luxury Meru tents with en suite bathroom, bedded dome tents and secluded campsites – the ablutions were well situated, functional and clean.
Tariffs were, in our view, very reasonable for Botswana with the Meru tents P320 per night for a double (P220 single), the dome tents P150 per night for a double (P100 single) and the campsites P30 per person per night.
Chris and Jeanette offer a 10% discount to all readers on production of this article.
Contact details are:
E-mail thakadu@botsnet.bw
Cell +267 72 120 790 or +267 72 613 636
Fax +267 596 959
Enjoy
lindy recommends Thakadu Bush Camp ?
Yes
No
