Central Kalahari safaris, tours & holiday packages
Arid wilderness and desert solitudeCustom Central Kalahari
- Describe your dream trip
- We'll source the best value
- Book when you're ready
Botswana's largest conservation area sprawls across a massive 52 000-square-kilometers of vast, wildlife-rich Kalahari desert that is home to lion, leopard and cheetah
Carnivores are well represented across the Kalahari landscape with the fabled black-maned lions of the Kalahari being the ultimate drawcard and top priority on most visitors wish lists.
The open terrain and sparse vegetation cover makes spotting animals considerably easier than in many of Africa's other national parks, although the arid nature of the Central Kalahari means that animal densities are far lower than in other more well-watered game reserves. But even more than its wildlife - elephants also frequent the greener northern reaches of the park - it is the Kalahari's big skies and boundless horizons that truly enthralls visitors.
“With its wide-open spaces there can be no better place in Africa to embrace solitude and decompress from the stresses of city life than in the company of the black-maned king of the Kalahari.”
More on Central Kalahari holidays
Nowhere else in Africa will you feel the same strong allure of genuine African wilderness. The landscape is meditative and rejuvenating. Visitors quickly lose themselves in their thoughts and all worldly cares and stresses soon evaporate while exploring the Kalahari's parched landscapes.
Like any desert wilderness, the park is largely dry and can become extremely hot during summer days and icy-cold on winter nights. While it is a place of extremes, it is precisely these extremes that give the Central Kalahari one of its greatest attributes... solitude. Few travellers step off the well-trodden Botswana safari circuit to sample the desert wilderness experience. Consequently, you can go for days at a time without seeing another vehicle or person in the Kalahari.
As you relax and rejuvenate your world-weary soul, you can expect to see the full suite of desert-adapted wildlife species with springbok, oryx, kudu, hartebeest and wildebeest providing food to lions, leopard, cheetah and the rare African wild dog. You might have to work a little harder for your sightings here than in other more renowned African safari destinations, but the beauty is that you probably won't have to share your sightings with anyone else.
Central Kalahari Map
Central Kalahari's location on Google Maps
Frequently Asked Questions about Central Kalahari
December to March are the sunniest months and perhaps the best time to visit. There are some cloudy periods and rain from March to May, and drizzle from October to early December which may restrict clear views. However, Mount Kenya National… go there.
The months of December through March and July through October are dry, making them by far the best months to visit the Samburu National Reserve. When the wildlife viewing is at its prime. go there.
May to October is the best time to visit Tsavo East and West National Park. The wildlife is easier to spot - since they gather around the waterhole. go there.
The best time to see the wildebeest migration is in August as the herds cross the Nile crocodile infested Mara River, crossing an international border between Kenya and Tanzania. go there.
Botswana: Electric plug M 230V and 50Hz Kenya: Electric plug G 240V and 50Hz Malawi: Electrical plug G 230V and 50Hz Mauritius: Electrical plug C & G, 230V and 50Hz Mozambique: Electrical plug C,F,M, 220V and 50Hz Namibia: Electric plug… go there.
Kenya has a world of variety when it comes to tented accommodation camps, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to another realm in the bush as your every desire comes try. go there.
Whether you are in the Southern or East Africa you will generally be able to see the big five. The difference really comes in when considering antelope as they are based on your chosen location. go there.
This is all dependant on the countries that you will be visitng and due to the status of certain vaccinations changing at times, please consult our experts before getting vaccines. go there.
In some parts of Southern Africa it is safe to drink the tap water, however it is highly recommended to stick to bottled water (mostly supplied) during your trip as even drinkable African water is completely different in taste and… go there.
Reviews on our Central Kalahari safaris
Discover Africa and Carel has put in such an effort for us to experience the annual wildebeest migration, meticulous planning and accurate predictions with logical and the best accommodation options both sides of the Mara River guaranteed us…
Jates and Hil Oettle
from South Africa
Our trip was arranged by Carel Verhoef at discoverafrica.com and was perfectly organised. We flew into the Masai Mara from Nairobi and all flight connections and transfers were arranged for us and went like clockwork. Carel was also very…
Geoffrey Burton
from South Africa
Every one was so helpful in making the arrangements. The booking people helped in all the questions we had, they were polite and helpful. The tour and lodge were amazing. Every one was helpful and very interesting to talk to. They made our…
Shelia
from United States of America
It took one e-mail to Discover Africa (very friendly and competent staff), one phone call for details and one phone call for minor modifications and in the end we had a perfect holiday experience - a magical Botswana safari as they titled…
Friedrich
from Germany
Our service from Carel at Discover Africa was outstanding. His recommendations on the timing of our trip, the lodges we should book, communication and overall assistance ensured that our trip went off very smoothly and that we were in the…
Patti Legg
from South Africa
Discover Africa planned our safari to East Africa and we were certainly in the right areas at the right time, our itinerary was well designed to maximize time with the migration and related sightings - logistics ran smoothly and all in all…
Billy
from South Africa
Related Articles
17 Things you have to see and do in Kenya
Witness large herds of wildebeest thundering across the savanna during the Great Migration in the Masai Mara. Come eye to eye with elephants in the Amboseli National Park or Lake Nakuru flecked with thousands of flamingos. Beyond the… read more
Five Best Serengeti Safari Tours
Stretching itself across 1.5 million hectares of land, the Serengeti National Park is known for its impressive population of wildlife - most notably the Big Five. It is perhaps more renowned for being part of the stage on which the annual… read more
A short guide to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve (referred to as CKGR) is the second largest reserve in the world and by far the most remote reserve in Southern Africa. The CKGR covers an area of 52000 square kilometres and it is home to rhino, black-maned… read more
11 Facts about the Chobe National Park to share around the campfire
Impress your friends and family with these interesting facts about one of the most famous national parks in the world. 1. Chobe National Park is divided into four different areas, each with distinctly unique geographical landscapes. They… read more
__1920x864.jpg){kind=link}
__1920x864.jpg){kind=link}