Tsodilo Hills Sleep-Out Camp: Our full report

Opened in September 2024, the Tsodilo Hills Sleep-out Camp will offer a unique opportunity to immerse yourself ...

... in a magical area. Famed for the diversity of ancient rock art that is hidden in the surrounding hills, this is one of Botswana’s two UNESCO World Heritage sites – the other being the Okavango Delta. Just four rustic canvas “pods” merge into the surrounding cluster of trees, a fitting place from which to explore the paintings and the hills themselves on foot.

The camp is linked to the long-established Nxamaseri Island Lodge, and is exclusive to guests who are staying at least three nights across both locations. Typically you’ll spend a night or two at Nxamaseri, followed by a night at the Tsodilo Hills Sleep-out Camp, returning to Nxamaseri to round off your visit here.

We have yet to visit the new camp, but understand that its four “pods” will be simple dome tents set on low wooden platforms and covered with local reeds. Their rounded, near-beehive design is redolent of nomadic Bushman dwellings that have dotted this area for millennia. An open-air private bathroom next to each pod will incorporate a bush toilet and a bucket shower, with hot water prepared on request.

Three of the pods will sleep two people, while a fourth is designed with families in mind, combining two pods that will sleep up to two adults and two children. Each of the pods will have mosquito netting.

Simple wooden walkways will lead to a dining table under the trees and a separate firepit.

Visitors to the Sleep-out Camp will leave Nxamaseri by 4WD mid-afternoon, taking around 1–1 ½ hours to reach the hills. After a guided walk around the camp there’ll be time for sundowner drinks around the firepit, where local guides will entertain you with stories of the hills and their significance in traditional Bushman culture. The day will be rounded off with dinner around the firepit.

In the morning, an early start will give you time to explore the hills and the paintings, with options ranging from short interpretive walks to a 2–3-hour sunrise hike to the summit of the Male Hill, which rises 410m above the surrounding bush, and at over 1,400m is Botswana’s highest peak.

Returning to camp around 10am, there’ll be time for drinks and snacks before the drive back to Nxamaseri, where lunch will be served.

A spectacular alternative to driving into the hills – at extra cost – is to opt for a helicopter transfer, either one way or in both directions. The ten-minute flight offers an aerial view of the Panhandle and the hills, and gives you a little longer to take in the atmosphere of the Tsodilo Hills.

Our view

We have visited Nxamaseri Island Lodge many times and have always enjoyed our welcome there. We have high hopes of the new Tsodilo Hills Sleep-out Camp, which we anticipate will be handled sensitively, in the company of knowledgeable guides.

Tracy Lederer

Country manager: Botswana

Geographics

Location: North-west Kalahari & Panhandle, Botswana
Ideal length of stay: One night at Tsodilo combined with two nights at Nxamaseri Island Lodge
Directions: 4WD transfer from Nxamaseri Island Lodge, or helicopter transfer
Accessible by: Self-drive or Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Half Board
Food quality: Meals at Nxamaseri are typically simple yet well-produced, and we would expect the same standard to prevail at the Sleep-out Camp.
Dining style: Group Meals
Dining locations: Outdoor Dining

Special interests

Cultural experiences: Close to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Tsodilo Hills, with their wealth of ancient rock art, the Tsodilo Hills Sleep-out Camp offers visitors interested in Botswana’s culture the opportunity to immerse themselves in the traditional culture of the Bushman people.; See ideas for Cultural experiences in Botswana

Children

Attitude towards children
Special activities & services: None
Equipment: None
Generally recommended for children: The appeal to children of camping in a wilderness area needs to be matched by an interest in culture, national history and the environment. Visiting Tsodilo Hills also involves hiking, often on uneven terrain. For these reasons, we would not normally recommend the Sleep-out Camp for younger children.
Notes: Although the Tsodilo Hills is not known as a wildlife area, dangerous animals can and do occur here, so children must be supervised at all times by a parent or guardian.

Communications

Power supply notes: It would be helpful to bring a headtorch.
Communications: There is no cellphone reception and no WiFi. In an emergency, the guides can contact Nxamaseri by satellite phone.
TV & radio: None
Water supply: Other
Water supply notes: Simple bathrooms have bush toilets and bucket showers, with hot water provided on request.