About Thakadu Bush Camp
Thakadu is in a prime location, a mere 3km from Ghanzi, offers a perfect blend of tranquility and accessibility.
A tranquil oasis nestled in the heart of the Kalahari
We are a small, family-run lodge that takes great pride in our warm welcome, friendly service and peaceful surroundings. As you can see we are not a 5-star hotel, nor would we want to be! Thakadu provides a true bush experience with all the rustic authenticity we can muster.
Opened in 1999 by Chris and Jeanette Woolcott, Thakadu has built a strong reputation as a great place to stop over for a comfortable sleep and delicious food. Now with the help of the next generation, the camp is continuing to grow whilst maintaining the original vision.
We look forward to welcoming you soon!
A Family Owned Rustic Camp
Thakadu, meaning Aardvark in Setswana was started in 1999 by Chris and Jeanette Woolcott, we are a family owned rustic bush camp with added comforts. We are situated on a private game reserve, with all emphasis being with truly experiencing the feel of the Kalahari and a personal relaxed environment.
Through the years of recent times the management has changed hands due to unforeseen obstacles, however this I am elated to say is steady with me (Laurie- the son of the original owners) and my wife Januska, Banda, Tuto and Kerapetse making up the management team that has been striving over the last 2 years to renovate the lodge and rooms, Bar and kitchen to develop a great experience for clients.
Wildlife
We have a plethora of Kalahari game from giraffe to steinbok, resident shy nocturnal aardvark to predators such as cheetah that come and go as they please. It is safe however to walk around freely as there is no dangerous game. the birdlife is astonishing with resident and migratory birds.
Our future
The San people have recently been exposed to Western civilization at a rapid rate due to the movement from ancestorial grounds in the central Kalahari to settlements.
We have begun and are further developing a project whereby we supply machinery, stock, and expertise in small stock husbandry and crop production to integrate the San people while keeping the culture alive for present and future generations through access to land and tourism.
Conservation Efforts
We also have a keen eye on conservation, by teaming up with projects such as vulture research and building a vulture restaurant we will continue helping this species.
We have a strong link with Texas University’s research team who come every year and conduct studies on how to more sustainably utilize the land and reduce degradation and with these findings, we advise surrounding farms and also have a hand in a new carbon project.