In the heart of Botswana’s remote wilderness, far from the tourist trails and delta crowds, you’ll find something rare: a safari lodge where rugged meets refined, and the silence of the Kalahari is your soundtrack. Welcome to Evolve Back Gham Dhao Lodge, a hidden gem tucked into the wild soul of the Central Kalahari. On this episode of Keep Traveling: Your African Vacation, host Rael Zieve sits down with Thomas Emmanuel Ramapuram, director of Ramapuram Holdings, to talk about their bold African venture — and why Gham Dhao is so much more than just another safari stay.
🦁 Where the Wild Still Whispers
Located in a 110 sq. km private reserve, Gham Dhao Lodge sits right on the edge of the vast Central Kalahari — a place where only the strongest survive. “This Central Kalahari safari lodge is not the usual Botswana,” Thomas explains. “It’s dry, raw, real Africa.”
Guests reach the lodge via a scenic bush flight from Maun, landing right on Gham Dhao’s private airstrip. Alternatively, the adventurous can opt for a three-hour drive through ever-changing desert terrain. Either way, it’s the beginning of something unforgettable.
🌌 A Lodge Built for the Soul of the Kalahari
Gham Dhao isn’t about over-the-top luxury — it’s about authentic African comfort, the kind that’s warm, wild, and woven into the land. The lodge blends traditional architecture, local staff, and classic safari storytelling to create something truly rooted.
Every tented room is spaced far from the next, designed so you can’t hear or see your neighbors — just the open savannah and the call of lions. “We want you to feel a little out of your comfort zone,” Thomas says. “That’s the thrill of Africa.”
And then there’s the Sky Bed — an open-air sleep-out deck connected right to your room. No reservations needed. Just slide open the door, climb into bed, and sleep under a sky so full of stars it’ll silence you.
🐾 A Day at Gham Dhao: Rugged, Raw & Rich
Your day starts with a pre-dawn coffee and a morning game drive, guided by expert trackers — including San Bushman guides who know the land like an old friend. Look out for the black-maned lions, cheetahs, and even elusive creatures like the caracal, cape fox, or the infamous honey badger.
After a bush breakfast, relax at the lodge’s waterhole-viewing deck — affectionately called the “city square,” where zebras, giraffes, and antelope gather like market-goers.
Evenings bring more game drives, a different side of the Kalahari, and sometimes a bush dinner under the stars, complete with a roaring campfire and the sound of the wild close by.
🌿 Sustainability in Action
Gham Dhao is 80% solar powered, with plans to go fully off-grid. The lodge has been renovated from the ground up — not just for guests, but for staff too. “We upgraded everything — staff tents, Wi-Fi, even a cafeteria where meals are provided,” Thomas shares.
And it’s more than comfort. Gham Dhao is 100% citizen-run, with all 35 employees hired locally, many from communities near the reserve. Ongoing training, career support, and upskilling are part of the deal.
📡 The Great Wi-Fi Debate
Yes, there’s Wi-Fi — even fast Wi-Fi — in every room. But not in the main lodge. That space is reserved for real human connection: stories by the fire, laughs over dinner, and quiet moments watching elephants stroll past.
“If you want to disconnect, switch your phone off,” says Rael. “But for those who need it — it’s there.”
🎁 Win a Gham Dhao Escape
Gham Dhao Lodge is offering a 2-night, all-inclusive stay for two. That includes game drives, gourmet meals, and a front-row seat to the stars. For more information and how to enter, visit www.wildsunsets.travel/podcast.
🗺️ A Future as Big as the Kalahari
Thomas and his family business, Ramapuram Holdings, started in India with just a 10-room lodge. Now, after expanding across India and into Botswana with this Central Kalahari safari lodge, they’ve got their eyes on growing a chain of soulful, sustainable safari lodges across Africa.
“I think African tourism is the next big opportunity,” Rael says. And with places like Gham Dhao leading the way — we couldn’t agree more.
✨ Plan Your Journey
Whether you’re after raw adventure, quiet luxury, or a moment of reconnection beneath an African night sky, Gham Dhao Lodge is ready to welcome you. Wild, warm, and deeply unforgettable — this is the Kalahari as it was meant to be.