Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is one of the largest protected areas in the world covering over 52000 square kilometres of ancient Kalahari sandveld in the heart of Botswana. Originally established to protect the traditional territory of the San Bushmen the reserve encompasses a vast landscape of grass-covered sand dunes, salt pans, and fossil river valleys including the famous Deception Valley. During the green season from December to April the rains transform the Kalahari into a wildlife spectacle as huge herds of springbok, gemsbok, and wildebeest gather on the grasslands attracting predators including black-maned Kalahari lion, cheetah, and brown hyena. The reserve’s remoteness and lack of infrastructure mean that self-sufficient travellers with properly equipped 4×4 vehicles can experience true wilderness solitude. The night skies here are among the darkest in Africa and the San cultural heritage adds a profound human dimension.