Planet Baobab Lodge is in Gweta Botswana.
About Planet Baobab Lodge
In the midst of the arid landscape, far away from the hustle and bustle of city life, lies an incredible camp in the middle of nowhere. Named after the ancient baobab tree, Planet Baobab is situated on the road between Francistown and Maun.
This may be the funkiest camp in the entire Kalahari, guaranteeing all visitors an unforgettable experience. It is a place where cars come to a shuddering stop for passing elephants. Planet Baobab evokes the welcoming bustle of a roadside pit stop in the middle of nowhere.
Accommodation
The accommodation at Planet Baobab is truly original, reflecting the traditional building methods of the original inhabitants of the Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in Botswana. You can choose between a traditional Bakalanga hut, built from mud, or a traditional grass hut.
Both types of huts at Planet Baobab are made from natural materials indigenous to the Makgadikgadi area in Botswana, making them perfectly temperature-controlled without the need for air conditioning.
Some Ideas of What to Do at Planet Baobab
You can light your own campfire or gather around the communal blaze in the lelwapa and enjoy a cool drink. You can either grill your own boerewors or savour Planet Baobab's unique Pan-African cuisine.
A bar menu is also available, and we're vegetarian friendly! When it comes to ablutions, this oasis excels. In addition to sluicing off the dust of the Kalahari highways with ample hot water, these are some of the most original shower blocks and bathrooms on the continent.
Base yourself here and you can take guided walks and quad bike trips into the bush and the Pans with our expert guides, discovering the geological origins of what was once the world's largest super lake.
Follow the palm trail created by elephant droppings as these ancient creatures trekked across the arid wasteland when the super lake dried up, and see thousand-year-old flint spearheads left by the Stone Age hunters who were the region’s first inhabitants.
Learn the African handshake from the Batswana in the cattle posts and villages near Planet Baobab, and discover how Botswana continues to be one of the most successful and interesting societies in Southern Africa.
Enjoy a cup of Mma Ramotse’s famous rooibos tea with the grande dames of Gweta, and if you are really adventurous, sample some sizzling 100% organic traditional sorghum beer.
At every stage of this voyage, you will hear traveller tales from guides and companions who know and love this place. Best of all, if you are very lucky, you can overnight on the Pans under the most spectacular night skies in the world, enjoying a barbecue of a lifetime.
Curl up under a canopy of stars—an illumination you cannot switch off.
In a continent full of surprises, and a place full of nothing, Planet Baobab is truly something.
Accommodation Details
Bakalanga Mud Huts
The Bakalanga mud huts are en suite and equipped with linen. The interiors of these huts reflect what Planet Baobab is about: true creativity.
The walls are smeared with cow dung in traditional Botswana style and adorned with art made from natural pigments found in the many termite mounds in the area.
Traditional Grass Huts
The traditional grass huts at Planet Baobab are constructed in the manner used by the first inhabitants of the Makgadikgadi—the Bushmen of Botswana. These huts are not en suite, but you are guaranteed a very comfortable night’s sleep on two single traditional mopane and cowhide beds.
If you need the comforting presence of light, a paraffin lamp will be provided. If you prefer to sleep in your own tent, Planet Baobab offers lovely shaded camping sites, each with a braai area and shared ablution blocks.