Overview–botswana

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is Botswana’s biggest reserve and is situated in the middle of the Kalahari Desert. This is pure, untrammeled wilderness. The inhospitable desert habitat doesn’t support the wide variety of safari animals found in greener destinations – but sightings in this arid landscape are special.

Scenery

The scenery can be monotonous but the endless horizons – as the sun gets low in the sky and afternoon colors soften – are mesmerizing. The landscape is a mix of straggly bushes, including the desert-adapted silver Terminalia, patches of acacias, pans, and fossil riverways interspersed with dunes. In the Wet season, the inter-dune valleys transform to green.

Weather & Climate

The desert climate of the Central Kalahari is at its most testing in the Dry season (April to October), with average daytime temperatures peaking at 33°C/91°F. The only exception is early in the morning when you’ll need to rug up against the chill if you’re doing a game drive. The Wet season (November to March) cools things down with its intermittent showers.

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Rates

From: $152 to $651 pp/day

Best Time to Go

From: December to March (Best in Deception Valley)

High Season

From: July to October (The park rarely gets crowded)

Size

From: 52,800km² / 20,387mi²

Wildlife & Animals

In the harsh desert environment large concentrations of herbivores, such as blue wildebeest, oryx, and springbok, can be seen in the water-filled pans in Deception Valley after the rains. Eland, greater kudu, and red hartebeest can be found in smaller numbers, and following this migration are the black-maned Kalahari lion and cheetah.

Wildlife Highlights

Dawn and dusk are the best times to spot hyenas returning to, or leaving their dens. Spotted hyenas are common, but the less common brown hyena is quite easy to find as well. The desert is also home to many smaller predators, such as bat-eared foxes, yellow mongoose, aardwolf, and the charismatic suricate.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Central Kalahari has very seasonal wildlife viewing. The best time is in the wet months, from December to March when animals gather around the pans in Deception Valley. Some of the roads can become difficult to navigate during this time. April and May, at the end of the rains, are perhaps a good compromise. They offer good wildlife viewing in better weather conditions.

General Wheather

Central Kalahari Game Reserve has a hot desert climate and experiences a distinct Dry and Wet season. It is recommended to bring warm clothing for early morning drives in the Dry season – especially from June to August.

Dry Season –April to October

The last rain of the Wet season usually falls in April. From May onward, the park becomes more and more parched as the Dry season progresses. June and July are the coolest months, but temperatures start rising in August.

April & May – This is the beginning of the Dry season. It is mostly dry and sunny. The middle of the day is pleasant with temperatures rising to 29°C/84°F.
June, July & August – These months see almost no rain at all. It is cooler now, with afternoon temperatures reaching up to 24°C/75°F on average. Early mornings are chilly at about 6°C/43°F.
September & October – This is the end of the Dry season. It gets hotter and hotter before the rains break. October is extremely hot with average afternoon temperatures of 32°C/90°F. Nights and mornings are pleasant.

Wet Season –November to March

It is a relief when the first rains come. It immediately cools down, and the dust settles. Afternoon thunderstorms and short showers are the pattern. It stays hot throughout the season, with afternoon temperatures of about 32°C/90°F.

November & December – It is hot and mostly sunny. It only rains every now and then, and it mostly comes as a relief. Early mornings are the most comfortable, with average temperatures of about 18°C/64°F.
January & February – These are the wettest months. It rains some afternoons, but it is usually over in a few hours. Heavy storms are common.
March – The rains are dwindling. It can still rain every couple of days, and it mostly comes in the form of a thunderstorm. Mornings are slightly cooler at 17°C/63°F.

Prons

Adventurous wilderness destination
Off the beaten track and little visited
Stunning desert scenery
Chance to see striking Kalahari black-maned lions

Cons

Very little accommodation in and outside the park
Self-drive visitors exploring the interior of the park need to be totally self-sufficient
Limited animal species
It is very hot and dry
Limited tracks inside the park

How To Get There

Central Kalahari Game Reserve is located 250km/155 mi south of Maun, the gateway to the Okavango Delta. The drive takes about 5 hours*. The reserve has four entrances. Most visitors use the Matswere Gate, which is about 40km/24 mi north of the popular Deception Valley. After rain, the road can be in very bad condition and driving times will be longer.

It is much easier to fly to one of the camps inside or outside the reserve by chartered plane. Or you can fly to Maun Airport (MUB) and rent a 4x4 to drive yourself to the game reserve. Alternatively, you can book a safari by 4x4, and you will be picked up by your driver-guide at the airport.

Tour operators usually book charter flights between parks as part of your tour package. There are no scheduled flights to Central Kalahari.

*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Botswana, and what tickets would cost.