Lying just east of both the Nxai Pan and Makgadikgadi Pans National Parks, on the main road between Maun and Nata, Planet Baobab is a sociable, light hearted place offering a user friendly introduction to this unique Kalahari region. Operated by Uncharted Africa, who run a clutch of more luxurious camps further south, there are various quirky accommodation options here, including a campsite and seven Boabab Huts with shared bathrooms. Our preferred option would be the traditional Bakalanga Huts, styled on the traditional homes of the local communities and constructed from brick and mud. These roundhouses are all slightly different but each has en-suite bathrooms, comfortable beds, a private veranda and colourful African furnishings and décor.

You are not likely to spend a great deal of time in your room though, as there is a very friendly, communal vibe at the camp, with a funky bar and restaurant area and a lovely swimming pool for a touch of respite from the desert heat. Imaginative touches abound throughout, with a giant aardvark, cow hide chairs and bright African artwork bringing unique colour to the desert. The activity range is varied, incorporating meerkats, pan sleepouts and quad biking on the Makgadikgadi pans with visits to Nxai Pan to search for fossils and ancient stone tools, and a guided walk through a baobab forest. Planet Baobab is defiantly unique, the sort of place you would have wanted to visit in more youthful days and where you will still have great fun now!