The Central Kalahari Game Reserve was gazetted in the year 1961 covering 52,800km² approximately the double size of Massachusetts and 1/11 of the total land in Botswana qualifying as the world’s second largest game reserve. The main motive for the establishment of the park was to create a sanctuary for the san in the heart of Kalahari to live an undisturbed hunter gather life. Positioned in the Kalahari Desert, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is a home to a range of wildlife species including the Brown Hyena, the South African Giraffe, wart hog, the Cape Wild dog, the South African Cheetah, Transvaal lion, the African leopard, the Blue Wildebeest, the Gemsbok, Eland, the red Hartebeest and the kudu. The Land on which the reserve is located on is extensively flat with gentle undulating landscape covered with grasses and bush that cover the sand dunes and large tree areas. The vegetation includes Kalahari sand acacias, silver terminalia sandveldt and Kalahari appleleaf. The Kalahari Central Game Reserve features four fossil river valleys meandering through it including the Deception Valley that started to form about 16,000 years ago.
The San or famously known as the Bushmen lived in this area for thousands of years past living a nomadic hunting culture. However, the government has from mid 1990s tried to relocate them and by 1997, ¾ of the San population had relocated from the reserve and by Oct 2005, only 250 permanent residents were remaining in the park. The court nullified the decision by the government to evict the Bushmen in 2006 but by 2015, these people were still blocked from accessing their ancestral lands. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is the most remote destination to the South of Africa and though it is positioned in the desert land, it experiences good summer rains which spur good grass in the northern section of the park attracting counts of Gemsbok, Springbok, Hartebeest, Wildebeest, Giraffe and Eland. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve features rains from November to March and the months of February to April are the best months to visit. From May to October, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is dry, hot and dusty which chases away many of the animals

Safari Attractions in Central Kalahari Game Reserve Botswana

Wildlife as a Botswana Safari attraction in Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The Reserve features counts of wildlife that are always abundant following the heavy rains making the park worth exploring on safaris in Botswana. The Wildlife species include; Brown Hyena, the South African Giraffe, wart hog, the Cape Wild dog, the South African Cheetah, Transvaal lion, the African leopard, the Blue Wildebeest, the Gemsbok, Eland, the red Hartebeest and the kudu.

Birds as a Botswana Safari attraction in Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is also a good birding site. The myriad of bird spceis thrive here including; Tawny eagle, African jacanas, ring-necked dove, Crowned lapwings, Cape glossy starlings, helmeted guineafowl, coloured lilac-breasted roller, shaft-tailed whydah and white-backed vulture among other species.

The San Culture as a Botswana Safari attraction in Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is an ancient home to the Bushmen or the San that have lived a nomadic hunting culture for centuries past. These people feature unique traditions, way of life, settlement patterns, music dance and drama that combine to make their encounter memorable.

Safari Activities in Central Kalahari Game ReserveBotswana

Game drive as a Botswana Safari activity in Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The game drive are carried out in customised safari vehicles and can be conducted both in the morning and in the afternoon allowing one to explore the amazing wild game in Central Kalahari National Park. The best game viewing time is from February to April when the animals gather to feed on the lush green flat grasses in the deception valley following the rainy season. The game drive offers possible sights of Elands, the Gemsbok, the Kudu, Hartebeest, Blue Wildebeest along with predators like Brown Hyena, the South African Giraffe, wart hog, the Cape Wild dog, the South African Cheetah, Transvaal lion and the African leopard

Birding as a Botswana Safari activity in Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve also presents good birding possibilities. With your cameras and under the guidance of expert bird guide, the birding experience in Central Kalahari is memorable with good photo shoots. The bird species to look out for include among others Tawny eagle, African jacanas, ring-necked dove, crowned lapwings, Cape glossy starlings, helmeted guinea fowl, coloured lilac-breasted roller, shaft-tailed whydah and white-backed vulture.

Cultural tours as a Botswana Safari activity in Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is an ancestral homeland of the famous San Bushmen who lived nomadic hunting culture for the last 30,000 years. These people are now intermingled with other locals to the south of the reserve. These communities feature remarkable traditions that make the cultural tours worth undertaking.

Accommodation in Central Kalahari Game Reserve Botswana

Deception Valley Lodge

The Deception Valley Lodge takes a maximum of sixteen (16) people and the lodge is accessed by road and Air. The guests can connect by flight from Maun to Deception Valley Airstrip and by road using 4 X 4 Vehicle.

Facilities at Deception Valley Lodge

• Dining room
• Lounge
• Bar Area
• Curio shop
• Small Library
• Swimming pool
• Six (6) en suite twin room chalets
• Two (2) interconnecting rooms suitable for families
• Private deck for each room
• Private Mini bar

Accommodation Rates for Deception Valley Lodge

Kalahari Plains Camp

Kalahari Plains Camp is positioned in the central Kalahari Game Reserve presenting a good base for summer wildlife viewing opportunities. The Camp overlooks the extensive pan and the endless horizons of the Kalahari Desert.  The Kalahari plains Camp is now positioned on a new location after shifting in the year 2009.
Kalahari Camp Facilities

• Ten (10) en-suite canvas units
• Lounge in the main area
• Swimming pool
• Sleep out Deck
• Solar power for lighting and water heating
• No Wi-Fi
• Bar

Tau Pan Camp

Tau Pan Camp is a permanent camp positioned inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The camp stands on the low sand ridge overlooking the plains and the Tau pan. Tau Pan is noted to be the first environmental sensitive Camp to be constructed in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve utilising water from deep under the sands of Kalahari and Solar power that provide lighting and also pumping water from underground. The used water is keenly treated after which it returns to where it came from.
Facilities at Tau Pan Camp

• Nine (9) en suite chalets taking a maximum of eighteen (18) guests
• Dining
• Tea and Coffee making facilities
• Lounge
• Fire pit
• Viewing deck
• Plunge pool

Haina Kalahari Lodge

The Haina Kalahari Lodge is positioned to the north of Central Kalahari Central Reserve Botswana presenting Luxury and midrange accommodation option to the travellers on Safaris in Botswana in its Luxury and Superior tents accommodation up to 20 Pax.  The lodge is 3 hours drive from the deception valley and 2 ½ hours from Maun town.
Facilities at Haina Kalahari Lodge

• Six (6) Luxury en suite tents
• Coffee & Tea Making facilities in the rooms
• Two (2) luxury tents that are interconnecting to form a family room
• Three (3) superior Tents
• Lounge
• Dining room
• Bar Area
• Swimming pool
• Sundeck
• Solar power in the tents

Brakah campsite

Brakah Campsite is positioned at 1.5km from the main gate of Haina Kalahari Lodge. It belongs to Haina Kalahari Lodge. The five (5) sites stand below the thorn tree shades presenting an ideal bush experience of the Botswana safari undertakers.
Facilities at Brakah Campsite

• Ablution block with showers featuring cold running water & flush toilets
• Communal utensil washing sink
• Drinks and a barbeque can be secured from the Haina Kalahari Lodge before arrival
• No electrical points

Google Map Showing the Location of Central Kalahari Game Reserve