The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is the ultimate in 'remote' safari destinations. It covers over 50,000km², most of which is inaccessible. It was, until very recently, closed to the public, although there have always been small groups of Bushmen living in the reserve. Even now, this region is seen by only a handful of visitors every year.
The best-known account of the area was the haunting book, Cry of the Kalahari, written by American biologists Mark and Delia Owens about their research in Deception Valley.

Safaris to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Currently, there are no permanent safari camps situated inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Hence the best way to visit this area is with your own mobile safari; see Botswana mobile safaris on our Wild about Africa website for more ideas of private mobile safaris. It's also possible to organise short 2-3 trips into the Central Kalahari from:

Meno a Kwena Tented Camp

The Meno a Kwena Tented Camp is actually near to the Kalahari's Salt Pans; it is a great old-style safari camp. (Read more about Meno a Kwena Tented Camp ... )

Just outside the northern boundary of the Central Kalahari Reserve, there is already one small lodge which is easily reached on a fly-in safari:

Deception Valley Lodge

The Deception Valley Lodge is a beautifully constructed retreat with eight stylish, thatched bungalows. It is an excellent lodge to visit at any time of year. (Read more about Deception Valley Lodge ... )

Having said this, a new private camp is due to be opened in November 2008, inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve; this will be called Kalahari Plains Camp.

Safaris elsewhere in the Kalahari Desert

There are several lodges dotted around Botswana's Kalahari Desert, far from the Central Kalahari Game Reserve itself, including:

Edo's Camp

Edo's is situated on a 1,200km² game conservancy in the northwest Kalahari. The camp's main attraction is its permanent floodlit waterhole. (Read more about Edo's Camp ... )

When to visit the Kalahari

The Central Kalahari is probably at its most enticing when travel there is most difficult: in the first few months of the year. At this time, the beautiful inter-dune valleys become lush with vegetation, attracting thousands of springbok and gemsbok. You'll also find good numbers of ostrich and giraffe, herds of wildebeest, excellent cheetah and the Kalahari's famous black-maned lions. Leopard and brown hyena are common residents, too, though rarely seen.


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