Planet Baobab is a quirky oasis in the middle Botswana's lunar-like Makgadikgadi Pans, announced by a giant pink anteater statue on the road outside. Famous amongst the overlanding community (the camp sites are some of the best on the continent), the cool Baobab Huts make an excellent rest point for just about anyone looking to experience this strange slice of wilderness. It’s easy-going, festive and every likes a cold St. Louis beer, but rest assured that it’s also professional and well-organised with a host of accommodation options and a blockbuster of activities to suit all tastes and styles.
/25.3057622909546,-20.1888468806224,6/600x400?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoidGltYnVrdHV0cmF2ZWwiLCJhIjoiY2poMGw1eHpkMmRkbDJ6bW8xYWZ5OGpjYyJ9.PYvAO7lUJ40SOpGvwmQLqw&attribution=false&logo=false)
There are a few options at Planet B. The Baobab and Bakalanga huts are traditional rondavel style - solid, round-walled constructions with thatch roofs. These sit amidst a fraternity of baobabs and are outfitted with en-suite bathrooms, beds with comfortable mattresses. If you want to experience how indigenous Kalahari duellers lived, stay in a grass hut for the night - no en-suite bathroom here but you'll have a comfortable mattress and a paraffin lamp. Or, pitch a tent beneath a shady thatch lapa and enjoy the braai grill where you can cook your own fare, and the ample shared facilities.
The convivial atmosphere. The funky, African bar is always full of international and local tourists and the impressive swimming pool, dubbed "the largest and coolest in the Kalahari", is a meeting point for many.
Take a moment to appreciate the colossally impressive and ancient Baobab trees that tower amidst the barren landscape - a photographer’s dream-world!
Planet B is stylish and supremely cool but it’s also affordable and well-known amongst backpackers so don’t expect a huge amount of peace and quiet or five-star details.
Planet Baobab is owned by Natural Selection which is dedicated to conservation, partnering with local communities, governments, and organizations to protect and expand conservation areas. They build eco-friendly camps that blend into the environment and aim to inform guests about Africa's wildlife challenges and successes, hoping to inspire further positive action for wildlife conservation. A contribution of $50 per guest, which is included in the nightly rate, goes towards the above goals.
Start with a recommended trip or create one from scratch
12 nights from $9.4K per person
8 nights from $5.1K per person
10 nights from $8.6K per person
10 nights from $23.2K per person
Planet Baobab can be booked with Timbuktu as part of a tailor-made Botswana trip, rather than as a standalone room reservation. Start online, customising one of our recommended Botswana trips featuring Planet Baobab or get advice and suggestions from one of our Botswana specialists who will design the trip around your dates, check availability and handle every booking for you.
Stays at Planet Baobab start from around $180, or US$180, per person per night as part of a tailor-made trip. The exact price depends on your travel dates, room type and the shape of the rest of your itinerary. A Timbuktu travel specialist can give you an accurate quote for your dates.
A vast, shimmering salt pan of horizon-bending landscapes where the magic is in the minimalism.
