Kalahari Safari Tours

From the rolling red dunes of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Conservation Area, to the sparse grasslands of Botswana’s Central Kalahari, this is an arid wilderness that’s rich in desert-adapted wildlife and unsurpassed scenic beauty. The Kalahari Desert is vast – 900,000 km² – covering almost all of Botswana, about a third of Namibia, and a big piece of South Africa. It’s also old, stretching back to nearly the dawn of Africa itself.

A Kalahari safari is truly a spectacular tour. It’s so big that there are three main game reserves, all offering Africa desert safaris:

• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
• Central Kalahari Game Reserve
• Khutse Game Reserve

Its semi-arid sandy savannah, grasslands, and few sand dunes blend wildlife viewing, cultural immersion, and spectacular landscapes. During the wet season the pans become huge grasslands, attracting about 25,000 zebras.

Home of the San

The San are the earliest known inhabitants of southern Africa and lived there for at least 20,000 years before other groups arrived.

They traditionally lived a nomadic existence in small family groups, following animals and the availability of plants. They have a wealth of knowledge about the Kalahari, are extraordinarily good trackers and have a deep connection to their environment, seen in their belief system and rock art. Spending time with the San people while on your Kalahari tour in the desert in Botswana is a spiritual experience and highly recommended.

When to Go

• Dry season: From May to October, the desert is cooler and drier, with clear blue skies, making game viewing on your Kalahari safari easier around waterholes.
• Wet season: From November to April, parts of the desert transform into lush, green grasslands, when food and water are abundant, attracting migrating zebra herds, always followed by predators. The birdwatching is also noteworthy.

In general, the zebras are in Nxai Pan National Park in about January and February, moving to Makgadikgadi Pans National Park in about March and April, and back north to the rivers in May. It’s Africa’s longest terrestrial mammal migration, with herds travelling more than 1,000 km each year.

What to See on a Kalahari Safari

• Black-maned lions: These iconic lions, most famously associated with the Kalahari Desert, are easily recognisable by their dramatic black manes.
• Desert-adapted animals: Some animals are uniquely adapted to the arid environment, including desert elephants, oryx (gemsbok), springbok, and elusive brown hyenas.
• Big mammals and predators: Wildebeest, eland, and giraffe, as well as cheetah, black-backed jackal, and brown and spotted hyena. You may even see wild dogs and leopards.
• Small and elusive: Wild cats, porcupines, aardwolves, meerkats, and honey badgers may all be spotted.
• Birdlife: Take your binoculars and telephoto lenses for flamingos, secretary birds, martial eagles, great white pelicans, and giant eagle owls.

What to Do

• Kalahari tours are an adventurer’s playground, offering a true safari desert experience with a range of activities. There are game drives, walking safaris and tracking wildlife (including lions), quad biking, and horse riding safaris.
• For a seamless journey, look into guided Kalahari tours and charter flights to the Kalahari Desert, especially from Maun.
• You can walk with Basarwa San, to learn about their ancient traditions, survival skills, stories, and traditional dances.
• Be mesmerised by incredibly clear, unpolluted night skies.
• There are so many opportunities for photos – sunsets and sunrises in the desert are quite something to witness.
• See habituated meerkats, who are known to occasionally use visitors’ heads as lookout points.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve, among the 10 largest game reserves in the world, is particularly remote. It feels as if you have the entire place to yourself. Guided tours and charter flights to the Kalahari Desert are available, especially from Maun.

During the summer rains, the flat grasslands in the north attract all sorts of wildlife, such as large herds of springbok and gemsbok, and wildebeest, hartebeest, eland, and giraffe.

Activities in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve

• Game drives
• Wilderness drives
• Nature walks with Basarwa San
• Culture-based excursions

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Spanning Botswana and the desert in South Africa, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is the first transfrontier conservation area in Africa.

It’s immense and is jointly managed by Botswana and South Africa as a protected area. The entire park is unfenced, so wildlife can move freely along ancient migration routes, which is critical for survival.

Wildlife is abundant: Springbok and gemsbok, hartebeest, eland, and black-maned Kalahari lions, jackals, brown hyenas, and wild cats. More than 170 species of birds have been recorded.

Activities in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

• Wilderness drives
• Sand dune climbing
• Sandboarding
• Quad biking

Khutse Game Reserve

Khutse, near Gaborone, means “place where you can kneel down and drink”, and it was the second game reserve established on tribal land in Botswana. It shares a boundary with the Central Kalahari Game Reserve to the north, but there are no fences separating the two.

Most Kalahari habitat types are found here – rolling grasslands, dry riverbeds, fossil dunes, and grassed and bare pans.

Expect to see springbok, gemsbok, giraffe, wildebeest, hartebeest, kudu, black-backed jackal, steenbok, and duiker, as well as lion, leopard, cheetah, smaller cats, and the endangered brown hyena.

Activities in Khutse Game Reserve

• Game drives
• Nature walks with the Basarwa

Where to Stay on a Kalahari Safari

Deception Valley Lodge

Deception Valley Lodge, on the north-eastern boundary of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, is a luxurious lodge offering comfort, tranquillity, and unspoiled wilderness on your Kalahari tour.

What It Offers

• Delicious dining and excellent amenities
• Deck overlooking a waterhole

Activities

• Game drives
• Hides near waterholes
• Cultural walks with San
• Animal tracking with a San tracker

What Is Special About Deception Valley Lodge

It’s a model of conservation and sustainable tourism, known for its hospitality.

Dinaka

Dinaka, on the northern edge of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, is known for hosting one of the most unique biodiversities in southern Africa.

What It Offers

• Seven spacious en-suite tents and one two-bedroom family tent (sleeping five) on wooden decks, providing a vantage point over a permanent waterhole
• Sleep-out deck to spend a night under the stars
• Underground photographic bunker
• The camp is wheelchair friendly, increasing the accessibility of a Kalahari safari

Activities

• Game drives
• Night drives and stargazing
• Guided bush walks with the San
• Birding is spectacular, with more than 200 bird species recorded

What Is Special About Dinaka

It’s a year-round wildlife destination, but the annual rains transform the arid landscape. The conservancy has unique species such as the Kalahari lion, springbok, oryx, and brown hyena.

Feline Fields Lodge

In the northern reaches of the Kalahari, Feline Fields Lodge is an oasis in a thirsty land and a refuge for the soul. It offers an authentic desert safari experience and is completely off-grid.

What It Offers

• Total exclusivity with limited accommodation
• Three bush suites (each with a private star bath), three two-storey pool suites (each with a private pool), and one two-bedroom family villa with a pool
• Bush gym, library and bar

Activities

• Fat bike desert cycling
• Game drives
• Guided walks with the San
• Horse riding
• Sleepouts beneath mosquito net tents under the stars
• Visits to local villages and the chance to witness genuine mystical and spiritual trance dances
• Fireside storytelling with the San
• Tennis court and mini golf driving range
• Wellness massages and rituals

What Is Special About Feline Fields Lodge

The lodge is set apart by its authentic involvement with the nearby San communities.

Tau Pan Camp

Tau Pan Camp is the first and only safari camp in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. It sits on top of an ancient dune, overlooking the Tau Pan (Lion Pan in Setswana).

What It Offers

• Eight suites and one family suite, under thatch
• All suites have a private viewing deck with waterhole views
• Firepit with a spotting scope
• Swimming pool
• Sleepout deck

Activities

• Game drives
• San walks to learn ancient San survival techniques, medical plants, and more
• Day trip to Deception Valley

What Is Special About Tau Pan Camp

It’s famous for Kalahari black-maned lions who regularly visit the permanent waterhole. Guides and trackers include San, offering specialised knowledge of the harsh paradise. It’s an excellent destination for experiencing the vastness of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

Go On A Kalahari Safari

A Kalahari tour will take you deep into the Botswana desert, a place of exceptional beauty and serenity. Browse our tours or get in touch and we’ll build a trip based on your needs and budget.