Thirsty cheetah in Central Kalahari GR | J.Goetz Thirsty cheetah in Central Kalahari GR | J.Goetz
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Central Kalahari Game Reserve

2 reviews

Safari suitability: 8/10

Find your tour

Remote. Limited lodging options inside of the park but great camping opportunities. No buffalo or rhino.

Found in: Botswana
Companies: 333
Tour packages: 51
Wildlife: 24 animals listed
Total area: 52,000 km² (20,000 mi²)
Year established: 1961
Anti-malarial: Not required

What YAS members think

Quality of wildlife:
Crowdedness:
Quality of lodging:
Most-visited month:
February
* Crowded parks have a lower rating

Highlights

  • Gates open 6am to 18h30 1 April to 30 September

  • Gates open 5:30am to 19h00 1 October to 31 March

  • Best times to visit are the months of November and May—the green season

  • The third-largest national park/reserve in Africa

  • Meerkats in parts of the park

  • Bat-eared foxes!

About Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Aptly named, the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is a national park located in central Botswana and is part of the famous Kalahari Desert. At 52,000 km² (20,000 mi²), it is the third-largest national park in Africa, behind Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania and Mudumu National Park in Namibia.

Its remote location in Botswana means it receives far fewer visitors than the parks located near Victoria Falls. Central Kalahari is probably one of the few parks where the dry season is not the best time for wildlife viewing. The dry season runs from June through October and, during the time, much of the wildlife migrates north in search of water supplies. Guests visiting during this time of year will have drier weather and cooler temperatures, but there will be less game to view. Resident animals such as springbok, cheetah and meerkat can be viewed year-round.

Central Kalahari park hours

The park opens and closes around sunrise and sunset, respectively, and game drives are not allowed when the park is closed. This is one reason most of the lodges are located just outside the park, so they can offer periphery drives when the park is closed.

Central Kalahari park hours

When to visit Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The rainy or green season runs from November through May and is the best time to visit. This is also the summertime for Botswana. Days and nights are warm during this time of year. The increase in moisture turns the landscape green and the migratory animals return to feed. A visit is recommended during these months.

Central Kalahari is home to many animals, several of which thrive in the arid conditions, such as the stately oryx, the ubiquitous impala, the acacia-loving giraffe and the ostrich. CKGR also has wild dogs, blue wildebeest, zebra and, especially during the wet season, a large variety of birds.

Wildlife of Central Kalahari

The open, grassy plains and the large number of smaller herbivores render the Central Kalahari a good habitat for cheetahs. Lions and leopards also call the CKGR home. Interestingly enough, animals that are found in abundance in many other African parks are not found here due to the dry conditions. Baboons and African buffalo are absent. Bat-eared foxes are found in the desert. One has to be quick, they are shy and tend to run as soon as they hear a vehicle approaching which, given their acute sense of hearing, is often before the vehicle even draws near. The heavily-trafficked pangolin is also found here, for those who are lucky to get a glimpse of one. 

Central Kalahari lodges and campsites

There are few non-camping lodging options in Central Kalahari, with many of the more upscale lodging options located right outside the parks borders. Those wishing to stay in CKGR and keep costs down will want to do mobile safari, where tents are set up at designated campsites. This low-frills tented camping option is often appealing to those seeking a true safari experience. 

Camp sites in Deception Pan area

Matswere is the access point for designated campsites in the northern region CKGR which includes: Deception Valley, Sunday Pan, Leopard Pan and Passarge Valley, whilst the campsites at Piper Pan can be accessed from either Matswere or Xade. New tracks and campsites have been opened up along the Passarge Valley, where game viewing can be rewarding, and south from the Passarge waterhole area through to link up with the Piper Pan/Deception road.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve is recommended to travelers of all levels of experience and for those wishing to see the highest concentration of wildlife, a visit during the green season is advised.

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"Remote and amazing!"
Safari enthusiast
Canada Canada
86 kudus
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Reviews (7)
Visited: Feb. 2014 Reviewed: Jul. 28, 2014

I was pleasantly surprised by how gorgeous a desert can be. The skies were amazing and so was the wildlife. It didn't come in waves, but it was actually better that way, as it made each sighting that much more special. I especially loved the meerkats. :)

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By: CandyW
Safari enthusiast
Canada Canada
Visited: Feb. 2014
Reviewed: Jul. 28, 2014

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"Best place to get REALLY close to wildlife"
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Safari guru
African traveller
Australia Australia
551 kudus
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Reviews (15)
Visited: Feb. 2012 Reviewed: May. 10, 2013

Funnily enough this park is fenced on two out of its four sides, meaning the animals can wonder freely in and out of its boundaries. The best part about the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is that visitor numbers are strictly regulated (100 a day when we were last there), so it’s not a park you ever feel cramped in. This is the one place where if you bush camp with your vehicle, you could well wake up with a lion resting on your bonnet! The camps within the boundaries of the park are very basic, but certainly good enough to refresh and rest between day-long drives. Those looking for greater comfort could always look for the more luxurious camps outside the boundaries, but to be honest, this particular game reserve is brilliant to experience at night and the more basic the tented camp the more connected you'll feel to the environment anyway. The Central Kalahari is kind of a mid-way option between primitive Limpopo and posh Kruger; just a gorgeously rustic park boasting great vastness, a healthy amount of game and offering an authentic safari experience. We absolutely loved their ‘free bush camps’ which came complete with toilet pit and the most gorgeous outdoor bucket showers.

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14People gave this
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Safari guru
Australia Australia
Visited: Feb. 2012
Reviewed: May. 10, 2013

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The Central Kalahari can be reached by vehicle. It is roughly a six-hour drive from Maun to the northern part of the park, which is where most mobile tour operators set up. It is roughly a 4.5 hour drive to the park entry gates. Count on at least another hour of driving to reach camp sites.

It is also possible to do a fly-in safari using a private charter. Many visitors use charter companies based in Maun to fly to the various lodges in Botswana. These include Delta AirMack AirMoremi Air Services, Wilderness Air, Wildlife Helicopters and Kalahari Air Services.

The following airlines travel to Central Kalahari Game Reserve


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Botswana-based Helicopter Horizons is an experiential helicopter company, specializing in helicopter experiences for every traveler to the Okavango Delta, Makgadikgadi Pans, and the Kalahari Desert. From scenic and photography flights to private transfers, helicopter safaris, and various helicopter experiences such as village & Tsodilo Hills tours. Our team of over 10 pilots from around the world are highly experienced and extremely passionate about sharing their love of the region with each and every guest on board. Experiencing the incredible lagoons, crystal clear channels, and islands of the Okavango Delta is best from above, where you get to see the full expanse of this indescribable region. Explore Your World! Visit website

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MACK AIR is a fixed-wing charter company operating from Maun International Airport in northern Botswana. Based in Maun, the gateway to the Okavango, our destinations are throughout Botswana and neighbouring countries reaching as far as Johannesburg, Victoria Falls, Vilanculos and Windhoek. Visit website

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Wilderness Air is proud to be the air partner of Wilderness Safaris, a responsible ecotourism and conservation company with private access to the finest wilderness and wildlife areas of southern Africa. Wilderness Air began operating in 1991, with one aircraft based in Botswana servicing two camps in the Okavango Delta. Today, Wilderness Air is also based in Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, operating over 35 aircraft and employing over 50 pilots. Throughout its time, it has maintained its excellent reputation for safety and guest service. We operate a varied fleet of light aircraft, chosen for their ability to transport visitors comfortably to remote wilderness destinations with dirt airstrips. Each aircraft type has been selected based on its ability to transport different numbers of passengers, over different ranges. Our fleet operates on a daily circuit within the regions. Wilderness Air is privileged to fly into some of the most pristine wilderness areas in the world. We believe that flying is an integral part of each guest's travel experience and that our pilots' passion and professionalism can make a genuine contribution to journeys that change lives. Visit website

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Airlink is a privately-owned, BBBEE Level 4 business and regional airline serving a comprehensive network of smaller destinations throughout Southern Africa. We are now operating independently under our own unique 4Z flight code offering more freedom, more choices and more travel opportunities. Visit website

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