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Venture To Botswana

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Central Kalahari Game Reserve - introduction

Larger than Denmark or Switzerland, the 54 600 square kilometre Central Kalahari Game Reserve, which was set up in 1961, is one of the largest game reserves in the world. The reserve is literally in the centre of Botswana, and is characterised by vast open plains, saltpans and ancient riverbeds.

Varying from sand dunes with many species of trees and shrubs in the north, to flat bushveld in the central area, the reserve is more heavily wooded in the south, with mopane forests to the south and east.

The people commonly known throughout the world as Bushmen, but also referred to as the San (or Basarwa in Botswana), have been resident in and around the area for probably thousands of years. Originally hunters and gathers, the lifestyle of the Basarwa has gradually changed with the times and they now live in settlements, some of which are situated within the southern half of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

One the better known areas of the Reserve is Deception Valley, which is all that remains of a sprawling riverbed that has long since dried up. Stretching across 80 kilometres of the Reserve’s northern reaches, the valley is now covered with short grass, and dotted with the occasional island of bushy trees. Some of the roots of the larger trees extend as far as 50 metres below the surface to the water table, enabling them to survive the dry winters.

The low canopies of these tree grove islands, usually made up of umbrella thorn (Acacia tortilis) and buffalo thorn (Ziziphus mucronata) provide shelter for game during the heat of the day and one can often see lion dozing in the shade of these thickets.

After the summer rains arrive (generally November to March), from Deception Valley to Piper Pans, the vast plains produce sweet grasses making the area one of the prime game-viewing areas in Botswana. Not many people seem to be aware of this and visitors are few.

​The clear blue sky fills with gigantic clouds and the stage is set for an amazing transformation. Here you will find thousands of oryx, springbok and wildebeest, with numerous predators in attendance (lion, cheetah, hyena and jackal). Game viewing in the Kalahari is thus best between December and April, when the animals congregate in the pans and valleys.

Leopard (Panthera pardus), Central Kalahari, Botswana
Lion family (Panthera leo), Central Kalahari, Botswana
Oryx (Oryx gazella) and Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis), Central Kalahari, Botswana
Eland (Taurotragus oryx)  Bull, Central Kalahari Game Reserve
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Website for Venture To Botswana by Campbell's African Safari Ventures (Pty) Ltd, T/A Venture To Africa
  • Home
  • About Botswana
    • Why choose Botswana
    • Best time to visit
    • Types of Botswana Safaris
    • Top 10 things to do
    • Climate
    • Geography
  • Safari Planning
    • Safari ideas >
      • Luxury Safaris >
        • 12 Night Classic Botswana Safari
        • 13 Night Romantic Botswana Safari
        • 10 Night Ultimate Botswana
        • 10 Night Platinum Botswana
        • 8 Night Magical Botswana
        • 6 Night Luxury Delta and Victoria Falls
      • Highlight Safaris >
        • 13 Night Botswanas Best
        • 11 Night Authentic Botswana
        • 11 Night Botswana Adventure
        • 11 Night Explore Botswana
        • 11 Night Across Botswana
        • 10 Night Botswana Wildlife
      • Budget Safaris >
        • 12 Night Bountiful Botswana
        • 11 Night Splendid Vic Falls and Botswana
        • 10 Night Vic Falls and Botswana Contrasts
        • 10 Night Beautiful Botswana
        • 9 Night Remote Botswana
      • Short Safaris >
        • 5 Night Okavango and Vic Falls Sojourn
        • 5 Night Delta and Chobe River
        • 4 Night Okavango Escape
        • 4 Night Vic Falls and Chobe
        • 4 Night Delta and Moremi Break
        • 3 Night Just the Okavango
      • Overland Safaris >
        • Miracle Rivers
        • Northern Highlights
        • Lion Safari
        • Kalahari Safari
        • Fish Eagle Safari
        • Elephant Safari
        • Buffalo Safari
        • Leopard Safari
        • Botswana Explorer
    • SADC Itineraries >
      • 5 Nights Moremi and Okavango
  • Activities
    • Botswana Riding Safaris >
      • African Horseback Safaris
      • Limpopo Horse Safaris
      • David Foot Safaris
      • Okavango Horse Safaris
    • Botswana Birding
    • Chobe Houseboats >
      • Chobe Princess 1
      • Chobe Princess 2 and 3
      • Pangolin Voyager
      • Zambezi Queen
  • Accommodation options
    • Okavango Lodges >
      • Moremi Game Reserve Lodges >
        • Camp Moremi
        • Camp Xakanaxa
        • Okuti Camp
        • Chief's Camp
        • Mombo Camp
        • Xigera Camp
      • Khwai Private Reserve Lodges >
        • Sable Alley Lodge
        • Elephant Pan Camp
        • Skybeds
        • Little Sable
        • Tuludi Camp
      • North West Okavango Lodges >
        • Kadizora Camp
        • North Island Okavango
        • Mapula Lodge
        • Jumbo Junction
        • Kwetsani Camp
        • Duba Plains Camp
        • Duba Explorers Camp
        • Jao Camp
        • Tubu Tree Camp
        • Bushman Plains Camp
        • Duke's Camp
        • Vumbura Plains Camp
        • Little Vumbura
        • Mopiri Camp
        • Nxamaseri Island Lodge
      • North East Okavango Lodges >
        • Camp Okavango
        • Xugana Island Lodge
        • Shinde Camp
        • Splash Camp
        • Kwara Camp
        • 4 Rivers Camp
        • Sango Safari Camp
        • Machaba Camp
        • Khwai River Lodge
        • Khwai Bush Camp
        • Nokanyana Camp
        • Mboma Island Camp
      • South West Okavango Lodges >
        • Abu Camp
        • Macatoo Camp
        • Pom Pom Camp
        • Nxabega Okavango Tented Camp
        • Kanana Camp
        • Oddballs Camp
        • Oddballs Enclave
        • Delta Camp
      • South East Okavango Lodges >
        • Eagle Island Lodge
        • Gunns Camp
        • Moremi Crossing Camp
        • Sandibe Safari Lodge
        • Chitabe Camp
        • Chitabe Lediba
        • Khwai Leadwood
        • Saguni Safari Lodge
        • Khwai Guest House
        • Stanleys Camp
        • Baines Camp
        • Gomoti Plains Camp
        • Rra Dinare Camp
        • Mma Dinare Camp
        • Mankwe Tented Retreat
    • Chobe Lodges >
      • Northern Chobe Lodges >
        • Ngoma Safari Lodge
        • Muchenje Safari Lodge
        • Chobe Elephant Camp
        • Chobe Bakwena Lodge
        • Elephant Valley Lodge
        • Chobe Game Lodge
        • Kubu Lodge
        • Garden Lodge
        • Chobe Chilwero Lodge
        • Chobe Safari Lodge
        • Chobe Bush Lodge
        • Mowana Safari Lodge
        • Chobe Savanna Lodge
        • Wildtrack Safaris Lodge
        • Nogatsaa Pans Lodge
      • Savute Lodges >
        • Savute Elephant Lodge
        • Savute Safari Lodge
        • Camp Savuti
        • Ghoha Hills Savuti Lodge
        • Savuti Camp
      • Linyanti Lodges >
        • Lagoon Lodge
        • Lebala Camp
        • Linyanti Bush Camp
        • Linyanti Ebony Camp
        • Linyanti Expeditions
        • Camp Linyanti
        • Selinda Camp
        • Kings Pool Camp
        • Zarafa Camp
    • Kalahari Lodges >
      • Central Kalahari Game Reserve Lodges >
        • Tau Pan Camp
        • Kalahari Plains Camp
        • Deception Valley Lodge
        • Dinaka Safari Lodge
        • Gham Dhao Lodge
        • Grassland Bushman Lodge
        • Edo's Camp
      • Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pan Lodges >
        • Meno a Kwena
        • Leroo la Tau Lodge
        • Boteti River Camp
        • Jacks Camp
        • San Camp
        • Camp Kalahari
        • Planet Baobab
        • Nxai Pan Lodge
    • Booking Campsites
  • Blog
  • Free Quotes
  • Safari Testimonials
  • About Us