Central Kalahari
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The Central Kalahari Game Reserve was for a long time closed to the public, and it is still now only accessible to any great extent by mobile safari-goers. There are a handful of excellent lodges scattered around the periphery however, so the Kalahari does have something to offer the fly-in safari-goer too.
Situated in the centre of Botswana, the Central Kalahari measures 52,800 square kilometres, bigger than Denmark or Switzerland. The reserve varies in vegetation from sparse scrub and rolling dunes in the north, through the characteristically flat, “bushveld” plains in the central area, to denser mopane woodlands in the south.
The Kalahari Desert is home to the San or Basarwa people, more commonly referred to as Bushmen. These ancient peoples have formed settlements in the southern area of the reserve having lived for many thousands of years as nomadic hunter-gatherers. Several of the lodges around the Kalahari offer walks led by (cont.)
Bushmen guides, to give visitors a unique insight into the desert and the lives and customs of the people that live there.
The rains fall early in the year, from December to March, and during these months the bush becomes verdant and wildlife congregates in the valleys between the dunes and on the pans. This is the best time to visit the Kalahari for game-viewing, and you are likely to see a wide variety of wildlife including giraffe, cheetah, vast herds of wildebeest, springbok and gemsbok, as well as black-maned lion.
During the winter months (April – October), the temperatures drop from their summer highs of 400C to a pleasant 250, although evenings and nights will be cold. Game viewing is not as good, but there is some stunning scenery on offer and it may be worth a trip for a seasoned safari traveller looking to experience a desert environment.
Wildlife Highlights:
The Kalahari contains a multitude of habitats, and a decent amount of game year-round, but the best game viewing is undoubtedly during summer (November - April), when the rains bring life to the pans and valleys. Antelope such as gemsbok (oryx) and springbok come to feed on the newly emerged grasses, and that attracts predators such as cheetah in very high numbers, as well as the majestic Kalahari Lion with their black manes, and small numbers of leopards and hyena.
There are also several endemic or rare bird species to be seen, such as the Kalahari Scrub-Robin, African Wren-Warbler and Burchell's Sandgrouse.
Getting to the Central Kalahari:
For most of our clients, access to the Kalahari will be by charter flight from Maun or the Okavango, a trip lasting 60 - 90 minutes depending on origin and exact destination. It is possible to self-drive into the game reserve, but you will need suitable expedition vehicles and preparation that isn't really our expertise!
