Desert Wildlife
The Kalahari supports species adapted to drier country, with predators, antelope and smaller wildlife moving through open plains and scrub.
Space and Desert
Central Kalahari
Open plains, fossil river valleys and desert adapted wildlife make the Central Kalahari feel far removed from the waterways of northern Botswana.
THE AREA
WHAT MAKES THIS PLACE DIFFERENT.
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is immense. Its open plains, fossil valleys and thornveld create a safari that is as much about scale and atmosphere as it is about individual sightings.
This is not simply a drier version of the Delta. It has its own rhythm, wildlife and sense of space. For the right traveller, that difference is exactly the point.
EXPERIENCES
WHAT YOUR TIME HERE CAN LOOK LIKE.
Every camp is different, and not every activity is available everywhere or all year. These are some of the experiences that help give this part of Botswana its character.
Green Season
Summer rain can transform the northern grasslands and valleys, drawing grazing animals and creating one of the most beautiful seasonal changes in Botswana.
Silence and Scale
The reserve is enormous and the sense of distance is part of the journey. It suits travellers who value open space and do not need every hour to be filled with activity.
WHEN TO TRAVEL
The Kalahari has its own seasonal logic.
The green season from roughly December to March can be particularly rewarding as rain brings fresh grass, wildlife movement and dramatic skies. The dry winter months are cooler and more muted, with clear light and wide open country. Each season reveals a different side of the Kalahari.
WHO THIS AREA SUITS
Repeat safari travellers, landscape lovers, photographers and guests who want a quieter contrast to the Delta and Chobe.
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is one of the largest protected areas in Africa and covers an enormous section of central Botswana.
RELATED AREAS
LET EACH PLACE BRING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
Botswana has many different landscapes. These nearby and contrasting areas offer more to read about, from wetlands and woodland to open pans and desert.
DISCOVER BOTSWANA
THERE IS MORE TO DISCOVER.
Learn about other parts of Botswana and how their landscapes, wildlife and seasons compare.
ABOUT BOTSWANA