The magnificent expanse of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is a not-to-be-missed attraction when embarking on a Botswana safari. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is the second largest reserve in the world and by far the most remote reserve in southern Africa. Extending over 52,800 km² (32,808 m²) of arid bushveld, the reserve is home to rhino, black-maned lion and desert-adapted elephants, among other striking game species.
Considered to be more of a semi-desert, the reserve encompasses an array of habitats, from grasslands to scrubland to savanna. Throughout the reserve, travellers are reminded of a more bountiful period in Kalahari history, one where rain fell in abundance and temperatures less extreme. Now days, fossil riverbeds crisscross the reserve.
After the wet season, the reserve becomes a hive of activity for large herds of plains game such as springbok and gemsbok. Guests will also be treated to wonderful sightings of wildebeest, hartebeest, eland, giraffe, cheetah and the legendary black-maned lion.
During the dryer months, the Kalahari reveals wide, desolate pans, which offer exceptional photographic opportunities. The reserve is well-known for providing awe-inspiring stargazing experiences as well as for its most notable attractions such as Deception Valley, the Sunday and Leopard Pans, Passage Valley and Piper’s Pan.
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is the remotest reserve in southern Africa. Escape the crowds and bustle of modern life and revel in the reserve’s pristine, off-the-beaten-track wilderness. Set in the heart of the Kalahari Desert, this is the ideal destination to experience the deep silence and solitude of an open desert.
Head out in search of Kalahari’s legendary black-maned lions. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to hear the lions’ mighty roars in the otherwise still nights. Black-maned lions were said to have been one of the earliest speciose to have roamed the vast Kalahari. These magnificent big cats have aptly adapted to this land of extremes and contrasts.
Watch serene sunsets over the wide horizons while you sip on sundowners. Allow the starry desert skies to dazzle you with their silent beauty. Slow down your mind and soul, and take the time to stop and truly marvel at the sheer scale of Africa’s immense empty skies and landscapes. It is wondrous and humbling sight to behold.
Named after the mirage-style effect that makes the pan’s blue-clay look as if it is filled with water when in reality it is bone dry, Deception Valley has been known to fool travellers for decades. Most noticeable from air, even the most seasoned pilots have said to still be deceived today. A birder’s paradise, the valley boasts incredible and unique sightings.
From charming under-canvas extravagance to elegant safari tents to magnificent nature-inspired lodges, Botswana offers travellers, from all corners of the globe, a wide variety of accommodation options well-suited to the unique safari experience they are after.
While exploring the renowned Central Kalahari Game Reserve, enhance your experience and stay at one of these exceptional and exclusive safari tented camps entrenched in luxury.
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