Antelope in the grasslands of the Central Kalahari

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Remote, vast and beautifully quiet: the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is Botswana at its most elemental. Open valleys, grasslands, fossil riverbeds and desert-adapted wildlife create a safari experience for travellers who love solitude and big horizons.

Antelope in tall grass in the Central Kalahari
Giraffe in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Springbok portrait in the Central Kalahari
Wide landscape in the Central Kalahari
Meerkats in the Central Kalahari
Desert-adapted antelope in the Kalahari
Kalahari wilderness Kalahari wilderness
Green season Green season
High price level High price level
2 - 4 days 2 - 4 days

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve covers around 52'800 square kilometres, making it one of the largest protected areas in Africa. Unlike Botswana’s water-rich north, this is a dryland wilderness of open plains, acacia islands, dunes and ancient riverbeds.

Deception Valley is the best-known area and can be especially rewarding during the green season, when fresh grass attracts antelopes and predators become more active. The landscape is subtle rather than lush, but its scale and silence are unforgettable.

A safari in the Central Kalahari is best suited to travellers looking for remoteness, specialist guiding and a slower, more contemplative wilderness experience.

Antelope in the Central Kalahari

Wildlife in the Central Kalahari

Wildlife in the Central Kalahari is adapted to a dry and demanding environment. Springboks, gemsboks, giraffes, wildebeests, steenboks and other antelopes move across the plains, especially when seasonal grazing is available.

The reserve is known for black-maned Kalahari lions, and cheetahs can also be seen on the open terrain. Brown hyenas, bat-eared foxes, jackals and meerkats add to the dryland character of the region.

Birdlife includes raptors, bustards, korhaans and many species that thrive in open savanna and semi-desert habitats.

Highlights

  • 01

    Deception Valley

    The fossil river valley is the reserve’s most famous region and a focal point for wildlife during productive periods.

  • 02

    Black-maned lions

    The Central Kalahari is associated with powerful desert-adapted lions, often seen moving through open country.

  • 03

    True remoteness

    Distances are vast, visitor numbers are low and the sense of wilderness is exceptional.

  • 04

    Green-season transformation

    After rainfall, the Kalahari can change quickly as grasses, flowers, antelopes and predators become more active.

Activities

Game Drive

Explore fossil valleys, grasslands and pans with an experienced guide.

Antelope in the Central Kalahari

Predator Tracking

Search for lions, cheetahs and hyenas across the open Kalahari plains.

Wide landscape in the Central Kalahari

Desert Wildlife

Discover springboks, gemsboks, meerkats and other dryland specialists.

Meerkats in the Central Kalahari

Stargazing

Enjoy the deep quiet and clear night skies of one of Botswana’s remotest regions.

Kalahari landscape

Getting there

By car

By car

The reserve is reached by 4x4 from Maun, Rakops or other access points. Distances are long and route planning is essential.

By plane

By plane

Some high-end camps are reached by light aircraft, usually as part of a fly-in Botswana safari.

Are you ready for your adventure?

Whether you want to glide through the Okavango Delta by mokoro, follow elephants along the Chobe River or experience the silence of the Kalahari - we will help you plan the right Botswana safari.

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