CENTRAL KALAHARI

- Central Kalahari - 

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Nothing prepares you for the sheer magnitude of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, or its rugged and magnificent beauty. If you are looking for a remote unexplored rugged wilderness, seemingly frozen in time, this is it, with only small numbers of visitors making their way here every year.
Much of the Central Kalahari remains to this day inaccessible and unexplored, except by the San Bushmen, a people of nomadic hunters and gatherers who have inhabited the area for the past 30,000 years. Many of the San are now mixed with other local tribes and live in villages or settlements in the southern part of the reserve, and often work as guides for the lodges offering their fascinating and authentic insight into the region.

Measuring in at a gargantuan 52,000km2 (that’s bigger than the entire Switzerland!), the Central Kalahari is both one of the most remote reserve in southern Africa as well as one of the largest reserves in the world. Yet, the inhospitable desert habitat can’t support as many animals as found in greener destinations where water is more readily available, but sightings in this arid landscape are truly special.
In the Central Kalahari you will see big herds of desert-adapted antelope, such as springbok and oryx, as well as their main predator, the stunning Kalahari black-maned lion. Cheetah in particular thrive in this open country, and the Central Kalahari is in fact one of the best places to see them in Southern Africa. Lucky visitors might even come across a pack of wild dogs, a solitary honey badger, the elusive aardwolf or the even rarer pangolin. 

If you do decide to embark on a Kalahari Desert adventure, we strongly recommend you read Cry of the Kalahari, written by American biologists Mark and Delia Owens, a narrative about their conservation research in this extraordinary region.

Check it out on our favourite book list here.

Each region is unique!

Click on the different regions below to find out more about the unique beauty each offers, and when the best time is to visit.

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- Best time to go to Central Kalahari -

Best time to go to Central Kalah

Summer (December – March):  Most people will tell you the best time to go to the Central Kalahari Reserve is during summer, and although summer is certainly worth considering, we actually prefer spring or autumn (more about that below). While summer is the rainy season, you will typically get short but intense rain showers, so the rain itself is not a major problem. The rain transforms the barren and arid Kalahari into a lush green oasis for a few short months. Animals congregate around water sources, they give birth, which in turn attract predators… this is definitely the best season for some spectacular sightings. 


The one downside is that the heat is at its peak, with temperatures up to 40°C / 105°F being very common. This combined with the fact that few hotels have air conditioning means the heat can be unbearable for some, and with the rains, the dirt roads will be muddy and uncomfortable. 


Spring (September  – November) and Autumn (April – May): Our favourite time at The Travel Cafe to visit the Central Kalahari is autumn, to be precise April and May, just after the rains. These are spectacular months to go to the Central Kalahari. Animals linger in the region after the summer rainfalls. as they do not need to move on in search of new water sources yet, but the temperatures are cooling down and becoming much more bearable. The roads are also dry and easier to pass than during summer, when storms are common. Spring (September – November) is also pleasant from a weather point of view, but the Central Kalahari is still dry and arid at this time before the arrival of the summer rains, and as a result animal sightings are less likely. 


Winter (June to September): Winter has perfect temperatures, however, this is the dry season and our least favourite season for visiting the Central Kalahari. Dry season in this arid climate means no water, less animals as some migrate in search of water, and dry and dusty roads.


However, even during the dry winter months, we won’t deny that the Kalahari is full of charm and boasts a different kind of beauty. If you wish to experience a proper arid desert experience, winter is a great time to go to the Central Kalahari. It is well worth it, just remember the Central Kalahari is not the best safari destination during winter, so we recommend pairing it with the Okavango Delta (an area in its prime during winter) or Chobe.
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