Central Kalahari Reserve

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is both the largest game reserve and the largest sand basin in the world. Situated right in the centre of Botswana, this reserve has no permanent surface water, but unlike most deserts, the Kalahari is well vegetated with a wide variety of habitats including areas of flat grasslands that seem to stretch forever.

The pristine isolation of the desert wilderness is one of the Kalahari’s major draw cards. With only a couple of luxury lodges in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve – Edo’s Camp and Deception Valley lodge being our two favourites – the peace and solitude you find in the Kalahari desert would be more than enough to make a trip here worthwhile, but when you combine this with the arrival of the summer rains you have one of Africa’s most exciting, and secretly guarded, safari destinations.

After the summer rains arrive the vast plains stretching from Deception Valley to Piper Pans burst to life with sweet grasses and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve becomes one of the prime game-viewing areas in Botswana. Thousands of gemsbok, springbok and wildebeest, with plentiful lion, cheetah and jackal arrive in their hordes - a sight which can only be compared with the Serengeti and Masai Mara migrations of Tanzania and Kenya.

Originally created as a refuge for the nomadic hunter-gatherer San Bushmen - the inhabitants of the Kalahari for the past 30,000 years - the Kalahari safari lodges often hire rangers of Bushman origin to guide visitors into the desert and to impart their wisdom of how to survive, which adds an extra element to your normal safari adventure.

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is both the largest game reserve and the largest sand basin in the world. Situated right in the centre of Botswana, this reserve has no permanent surface water, but unlike most deserts, the Kalahari is well vegetated with a wide variety of habitats including areas of flat grasslands that seem to stretch forever.

The pristine isolation of the desert wilderness is one of the Kalahari’s major draw cards. With only a couple of luxury lodges in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve – Edo’s Camp and Deception Valley lodge being our two favourites – the peace and solitude you find in the Kalahari desert would be more than enough to make a trip here worthwhile, but when you combine this with the arrival of the summer rains you have one of Africa’s most exciting, and secretly guarded, safari destinations.

After the summer rains arrive the vast plains stretching from Deception Valley to Piper Pans burst to life with sweet grasses and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve becomes one of the prime game-viewing areas in Botswana. Thousands of gemsbok, springbok and wildebeest, with plentiful lion, cheetah and jackal arrive in their hordes - a sight which can only be compared with the Serengeti and Masai Mara migrations of Tanzania and Kenya.

Originally created as a refuge for the nomadic hunter-gatherer San Bushmen - the inhabitants of the Kalahari for the past 30,000 years - the Kalahari safari lodges often hire rangers of Bushman origin to guide visitors into the desert and to impart their wisdom of how to survive, which adds an extra element to your normal safari adventure.

The Bushman still use traditional hunter and gathering methods for survival and often carry a bow and arrow. They will show you how to find water-filled tubers in the sand and explain how to catch an ostrich – transporting you with their animated language of clicks and elaborate mimicry to an ancient time which still lives on through them.

The remoteness, unforgiving climate and harsh terrain have kept the Central Kalahari Game Reserve pristine and those who venture into its endless depths are rewarded with untamed Africa at its best

Contact one of our Safari and Travel Experts to find out more about the Central Kalahari Game Reserve area or Enquire about creating your own tailor-made African safari itinerary.