In the western segment of the vast Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Tau Pan Camp sits imperiously on the ridge of a sand dune, overlooking the stark, ethereal beauty of Tau Pan itself. The first permanent camp to be built in the reserve, it was designed to leave as little impact as possible on this pristine slice of African wilderness. Tau Pan is over 10km in length and the area around it hosts most of the game viewing activities, although there are also day trips to other pans such as Deception Valley. This is an outstanding location for discovering the culture of the San Bushman people, who lead nature walks to bring their long history of desert survival vividly to life. Game viewing is best in the rainy season, when migrating zebra and wildebeest are attracted by the fresh grasses, with a resultant influx of predators such as the Kalahari black maned lion. Kwando Safaris operate all of their game drives with a guide and tracker, increasing the chance of animal sightings and freeing up the guide to answer questions and provide further detail. There are nine thatched chalets on raised decks either side of the main lodge, which houses a plunge pool, lounge and a large viewing deck overlooking a permanent waterhole. The chalets are ingeniously designed to withstand the harsh desert conditions throughout the year, with sliding doors and a private viewing deck to enjoy the views, as well as indoor and outdoor showers. Deliciously remote and unconventional, Tau Pan combines perfectly with Kwando camps further north.