Planet Baobab is located just north of the Makgadikgadi National Park area in north-central Botswana, some 200km east of Maun. It is about 4km east of the small town of Gweta, approximately 1km off the highway and the (highly original) signposting to the camp is in the form of a huge concrete aardvark that marks the turn-off. It is set amongst some enormous ancient baobab trees of the Kalahari Desert, hence the name.

Many self-drive tourists use Planet Baobab as a base to visit the Makgadikgadi National Park and Nxai Pan National Park before heading on to the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe National Park. The village of Nata is 100km west of Gweta and is en-route to Nata Lodge and onto accommodation in Francistown. As the lodge welcomes children, it is also the ideal getaway for families.

Planet Baobab offers a lower cost option to visit the Makgadikgadi area and the region is a huge flatland of salt pans and grasslands which are a part of the famous Kalahari Desert. During the winter months the area becomes very dry and the game moves out in search of water. But in the rainy season, from December to April, the pans are alive and teeming with large herds of game and migrating zebra in particular, as well as huge flocks of flamingoes.

The highlight of the lodge is the open-air bar – complete with 'vaulted wooden ceilings, cowhide bar-stools, beer-bottle chandeliers and framed memorabilia' - celebrating the early African pioneer periods. Other facilities include a braai area and a sparkling swimming pool with steps leading directly into a thatched lapa.

The food at Planet Baobab has been described as simple but good. They serve tasty meals from their 'a la carte' menu and dinner is a 3-course set meal served in the restaurant. Diners can expect to be offered 'interesting and colourful dishes from all over Africa'. There is also a communal braai area, a popular place for a get together in the evenings to share an ice-cold drink and some travel stories.

Accommodation is in either en-suite double rooms or family huts known as 'Bakalanga', styled and based on 'mud-huts' or San-style based on 'grass huts'. Don't be fooled by these descriptions, they are much more luxurious then they sound and come highly recommended.

Makgadikgadi Lodges | Botswana

Local village tour

Sample the food of the locals and meet with a traditional healer. Sipping the red bush tea is a favourite as well as some locally-brewed brewed organic beer.

Kalahari Surf Camp

A very popular trip is an overnight stay at their Kalahari Surf Camp – an isolated bush camp right in the interior of Ntwetwe Pan.

• Children over 12 years old are welcome