Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is a place of superlatives, covering 10% of Botswana’s total surface with an astonishing 52,800 square kilometres in total. This is the largest reserve in Southern Africa and the second largest worldwide. To give you an idea, the sand of this reserve would cover the whole country of the Netherlands and still have sand remaining. Even more impressive is that, together with Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans National Parks, it’s part of the greater Kalahari Desert, a desert stretching over 900,000 square kilometres, covering Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.

Expect vast, open pans, low shrubs and endless horizons when visiting Botswana’s part of the Kalahari. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is all about space and silence, with ancient fossil riverbeds and vast salt pans. Until the rains come and this seemingly stark landscape transforms into a surprisingly lush, wildlife-rich environment. Stay after sunset, and the real show begins. With zero light pollution, the night skies here are nothing short of extraordinary – think galaxies, rather than just stars. Night drives add another layer of magic, revealing elusive creatures like leopards, brown hyenas, genets, owls and nightjars, with the iconic Kalahari lion never far from the scene. The days impress, but the nights steal the show.

Deception Valley

Named after the mirage-style effect that makes the pan’s blue clay look as if it’s filled with water (when in reality it’s bone-dry), Deception Valley has fooled travellers for decades. Most noticeable from the air, even the most seasoned pilots admit they have been deceived into thinking they saw water. Stretching north to south as a long inter-dune valley, it’s one of the highlights of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
After the rains, sweet grasses draw in dense herds of herbivores – and, naturally, the predators that follow them. Add excellent birdlife to the mix, and it’s easy to see why Deception Valley is one of the most popular areas to explore in Central Kalahari.

Keepers of the Kalahari

Long before maps and safari routes, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve was (and still is) home to the San – one of the world’s oldest living peoples. Established in 1961 as a sanctuary for the San’s traditional way of life, the reserve is deeply connected to their presence and etched across the landscape with ancient rock paintings and subtle artefacts, telling stories of human resilience and a deep-seated connection to nature.

Being masters of survival, the San have thrived here for thousands of years, reading the land like a living book. Their outlook on life is refreshingly light, and their laughter is infectious, with about 20 different words to describe a smile. They are far more concerned with giving thanks to Mother Earth than with actually owning anything she provides. Possessive pronouns? Not even present in their language.