Deception Valley safaris, tours & holiday packages
Carnivore central in a fossil river valleyCustom Deception Valley
- Describe your dream trip
- We'll source the best value
- Book when you're ready
Help Me Plan
Deception Valley boasts a plethora of oryx along with good predator populations: black-maned Kalahari lions and brown hyenas are the real highlights
Deception Valley, also known as the Letiahau Valley, is the best known and most accessible of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve's four fossil river valleys.Conservationists Mark and Delia Owens put Deception Valley on the map with their book Cry of the Kalahari, which chronicled their time studying brown hyaenas in this fossil river valley between 1974 and 1981. At that time nobody ventured into the central Kalahari on safari. Now, 30 years later, Africa's second-largest game reserve remains gloriously wild with only a couple of lodges and a handful of wilderness campsites catering to self-drive visitors.
“It's no surprise that Mark and Delia Owens spent seven years in Deception Valley – the place is intoxicating for anyone who enjoys watching desert-adapted wildlife in the meditative solitude of such an arid wilderness. You may have to work a little harder for your sightings, but perseverance is often rewarded with amazing wildlife interactions that you can enjoy without another vehicle in sight.”
More on Deception Valley holidays
Tau Pan Camp and Wilderness Safari's Kalahari Plains Camp are the only lodges located within Deception Valley itself. Deception Valley Lodge lies to the north in a separate wilderness area adjoining the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
Self-drive visitors have a choice between the larger Deception Valley and Kori campsites or the more secluded Letiahau site. Nearby Sunday's Pan has a solid reputation for good game viewing and its great outlook over a waterhole, while Phokoje Pan campsite is gloriously wild and a little further off the beaten track. Deception Valley is a top safari destination for anyone who enjoys solitude and the roaring silence of the Kalahari.
Because of the terrain's arid nature, wildlife numbers tend to be less numerous in the Central Kalahari Reserve than in many of Botswana's other parks, but visitors still stand a good chance of seeing lions, leopards and cheetahs as well as hyenas, jackals and bat-eared foxes. Somewhat surprisingly, elephants have also made their way into this northern region of the reserve.
Deception Valley Map
Deception Valley's location on Google Maps
Frequently Asked Questions about Deception Valley
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 Deception Valley 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
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
Well planned safari and good service. 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 -…
Billy
Related Articles
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
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 or lake Nakuru flecked with thousands of flamingos. Beyond the world-famous safari… read more
Why you need travel insurance in 2018
You’ve finally booked that dream safari in Africa and as you touch down at your destination, you’re filled with trepidation, wonder and excitement for the trip of a lifetime. The sights and sounds of a foreign country can be… read more
Three reasons why we love Kenya
There are average travel destinations and then there are great destinations. Kenya is one of those great destinations. Thousands of books have been written about Kenya, spanning the space of generations. Visitors from all walks of life have… read more
