Central Kalahari Game Reserve
52,800 sq. km
1961 (Game Reserve)
December to March
Into the wild
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is a place to truly take a break from the rest of the world. It is vast and wide and beautifully undeveloped. The terrain can be harsh and roads tough, but stunning landscapes and wildlife encounters off the beaten track will reward you on an unforgettable adventure.

Far from your standard wildlife game reserve
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve has its own special appeal: Its sheer size, its untamed wilderness and its harsh conditions, create a unique experience for those who venture into it. The animals of the CKGR have had to adapt to survive and any traveller to this region will admire nature’s resolve and ingenuity.
Although the Kalahari is not technically a desert, it is no stretch of the imagination to call it dry. Any rainfall in the region is precious and vital for the ecosystem’s survival. However, it wasn’t always like this. Dried riverways and pans indicate a time when water flowed through the Kalahari. Now these pans are the gathering points for much of the CKGR’s wildlife as they can hold water well into the dry season. Of these the most famous is in the Deception Valley, where the pan of the same name has deceived many a traveller into believing it was filled with water when it was actually bone-dry. Together with other pans such as the Leopard, Sunday and Piper’s Pan, they form an integral part in the perseverance of the CKGR’s wildlife.
It is during the wet season, when the CKRG is most alive and active. During this time, you can encounter large herds of oryx, springbok, impala, zebra, and wildebeest with their predators always nearby. The rare Kalahari lions, with their distinct black manes can best be seen during this time. They have adapted to the harsh conditions, covering a wider territory, and moving in smaller prides, sometimes even solitary in their search for prey. Reports indicate that these lions can go up to two weeks without consuming water. The wide-open plains of the Kalahari is ideally suited to the hunting style of cheetahs and the CKRG is considered one of the best locations to observe them. If you are very fortunate you might also come across a pack of wild dogs and, due to the nature of the CKRG, you could very well have this sighting all to yourself.
During your stay in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, you will notice that every animal has an interesting story tell. For example, the African giant bullfrog. They survive the dry season by aestivating in the mud. Some suggest they can even spend years in this state. They will then emerge after heavy rains and the chorus of their chanting can be heard from far afield as the males try to impress the females with their bellowing and the resulting vibrations caused in the water. Sometimes their contest results in dramatic fights. Watching these giant, sometimes over 1-kilogram bullfrogs rival each other for mating rights is a sight to behold.
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is a place which gives you no quarter and that is why you can so easily fall in love with it. Its beauty is one of ruggedness and its inhabitants have learned to adapt in order to survive its harsh conditions. Due to the low number of visitors, you have the opportunity to feel like you have this massive reserve all to yourself and you can truly get away from the world as you know it and immerse yourself in the nature around you.
So much Space
You can explore the second largest game reserve in the world. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) is larger than the Netherlands and spans almost 10% of Botswana’s land area.
King of the Kalahari
You can observe the rare black-maned lions of the Kalahari. These striking lions have adapted to the arid conditions of the region and are the kings of the Kalahari plains.
Fascinating Landscapes
You can be forgiven should you also be deceived by the mirage created at Deception Pan. The clay pan appears to be filled with water, even when completely dry and attracts animals year-round.
WHEN TO GO
Best time to go to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve
The CKGR is worth a visit at any time of year and never feels crowded. During the dry winter months, temperatures are cooler, and the reserve offers amazing landscapes which completely contrast the Okavango Delta. During the wet summer months, large herds of grazing animals move into the CKGR, closely followed by predators creating fantastic game viewing opportunities.
Dry Season
April to OctoberBest for stunning landscapes
Green Season
December to MarchBest for wildlife sightings
Why to go
A great chance to see cheetahs
You will be in one of the best locations to see cheetahs in the wild when you are surrounded by the vast, open plains of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The flat plains of the CKGR create their ideal hunting conditions and witnessing a cheetah in full flight is a breath-taking sight.


The Central Kalahari is one of those places that have a very unique appeal, especially for seasoned travellers who have ticked off the sights on their bucket list and are now ready to appreciate the beauty in the moment. If you’re looking for that one trip that has the potential to sweep you off your feet, I would recommend taking the detour that will bring you to the Central Kalahari.Holger | Founder Botswana-Experience
Where to stay in the Central Kalahari
Location
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is located in the centre of Botswana and within the Kalahari Desert. It covers almost 10 percent of Botswana’s total land area. You can fly to Maun international airport, from there, either go by road (5-hour drive) or fly directly to one of the camps.
- Central Kalahari Game Reserve
- Maun 290 km | 6-8 hours’ drive | 25 minutes’ flight
- Moremi Game Reserve 420 km | 12 hours’ drive | 45 minutes’ flight
- Okavango Delta 310 km | 50 minutes’ flight
- Makgadikgadi Pans National Park 150 km | 4 hours’ drive | 55 minutes’ flight
- Nxai Pan National Park 280 km | 6-8 hours’ drive | 35 minutes’ flight
- Ghanzi 300 km | 8 hours’ drive | 55 minutes’ flight



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