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The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is larger than Denmark and at approximately 52,800 sq kilometers, is the largest game reserve in Botswana and is the second largest game reserve in the world. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve was set up in 1961 and is situated in the central part of Botswana. This area is one of the largest protected areas in Africa and is an arid vista of open plains, saltpans and ancient riverbeds.
The Bushmen (Basarwa or San) have resided in and around the Central Kalahari Game Reserve for thousands of years. The lifestyles of the Basarwa has been of nomadic hunting and gathering, however has had to change with the more modern age. Most of the Basarwa have live in settlements, mostly within the Southern half of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, however the Botswana Government is trying to persuade the people to move to areas outside of the reserve in order to be provided with modern facilities e.g. schools, clinics etc .
Vegetation: The landscape is characterized by sand dune with different species of trees and shrubs in the north, to flat bushveld in the central area. In the Southern part it is more heavily wooded, with mophane forests.
The annual rainfall is sporadic and can vary from between 170 – 700 mm per year. The summer rainfall is between November and April. The dry season is during our winter months, which is between May and October. From August, the temperatures start rising making it very hot, dry and dusty. There is little water and limited animals in this area during this time.
Best time to visit: Between December to April.
Wildlife: The main wildlife concentration is in the Northern part of the reserve. The best time to view game including giraffe, brown hyaena, warthog, wild dog, cheetah, lion, leopard, blue wildebeest, eland, gemsbok, kudu, red hartebeest and springbok, is between December and April. The animals tend to congregate in the pans and valleys. The three most famous pans are Pipers Pans, Sundays Pan and Deception Valley Pan.
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve becomes one of Botswana ’s prime game viewing areas after the rains arrive. The vast plains become alive with sweet grasses and beautiful flowers. Together with the land coming to life, thousands of gemsbok, springbok and wildebeest, together with smaller numbers of lion, cheetah and jackal can be spotted. This gathering is an amazing site to watch! This is the best time to visit the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Please be advised that it is dangerous to sleep out in open without a tent. Please do sleep in a tent and make sure you keep your tent fastened to prevent snakes, scorpions etc from gaining entry. Foodstuffs should be closed up and kept in a vehicle to avoid unwanted attentions from lions and hyenas.
Central Kalahari ’s Unique Features:
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Beautiful Deception Valley.
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Magnificent cloud formations during the summer rains.
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Thousands of animals on grass plains in the Northern Central Kalahari Game Reserve from February to April.
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Different types of reptiles, scorpions and insects.
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The most beautiful blanket of stars at night.
Access to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve:
There are 3 entrances to the reserve:
1. Xade Gate on the Western border
2. Khutse area in the South via Molepolole
3. Matsere access in the North East
Access on the Western border at Xade, is where you need to turn off East from the Ghanzi-Kang road, approximately 36 kilometers South of Ghanzi. This is indicated by sign posts. You will then drive for about 160 km on loose sandy road and it will take approximately 3 hours from Ghanzi. Please make sure you fill up with fuel in Ghanzi as there are no filling/petrol/gas stations within the reserve. Upon your arrival at Xade, you will need to check in and pay your national park fees.
Access to Matswere in the North East is made via Rakops. Rakops can be accessed from Maun, Motopi, Kumaga and Tsoe in the North. From the South, Rakops can be accessed by Mahalapye, Serowe, Letlahkane and Mopipi. 55 kilometers from Matswere, there is a filling station where fuel/petrol is available. There is a short cut from Maun which takes approximately 3 hours: drive 57 km east, turn right at the Makalamabedi junction, drive for 20 km to the village where you will turn right on the Western side of the veterinary fence. Follow the fence South for approximately 80 km to the Kuke corner verterniary gate. After the gate, drive a further 21 km down the Eastern boundary of the reserve and this will take you to the entrance gate which is only 9km from Matswere.
As the main wildlife is concentrated in the Northern half of the reserve, this is the main tourist area. However, it is possible for the more adventurous and self contained traveler to drive through the reserve between Khutse in the South and the Northern section. This will take a minimum of two days of driving in a 4x4 vehicle. There are camp sites along the way at Moapo, Gope, Bape and Xaka.
It is advisable, when travelling this route, that you travel with sufficient amounts of fuel, food, water and a comprehensive medical aid kit. It is also advisable to travel in a group of two or more vehicles with basic spares and survival aids.
Camping Facilities: Inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, there are a few public camping sites available. There are undeveloped camp sites in the region of Deception Valley , Sunday Pan, Leopard Pan and Passarge Valley . These sites are accessed by the entrance at Matswere. The camping sites at Piper Pan can be accessed from either Matswere or Xade. Please note that there is no running water and ablution facilities in the camp sites within the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Visitors need to dig a hole in order to go to the toilet and must ensure they leave no signs of being there. Firewood may be collected from wooded areas, however not from tree islands. Ashes from fires must be buried before vacating a campsite. Rubbish that can be burnt, must be burnt and rubbish that cannot be burnt must be transported back to the rubbish pit at the entrance gate.
Drinking water must be brought along with you and water not used for drinking is available from the Wildlife Camp at Xade and Matswere entrance gates. There are plans in the pipeline to develop these camp sites so that there are shower facilities at the entrance gates for visitors to use, however water is the problem in these desert areas.
Campsites outside of the Reserve:
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Brakhab Camp
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De Graaf Grassland Safaris
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Xwarage Camp
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Campsites inside the Reserve:
There are a total of 14 public camp sites within the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Reservations for these camp sites must be made through the Department of Wildlife and National Parks. All the sites are good, however the recommended sites are Sunday Pan, Passarge Valley, Piper Pan and Tau Pan.
*Please note that reservations for public camping sites must be made with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.
Their contact details are as follows:
Maun office: Tel: (+267) 6861 265
Fax: (+267) 6861 264
Gaborone office: Tel: (+267) 318 0774
Fax: (+267) 318 0775
Notes:
o When camping, please make sure you burn all litter that can be burnt
o Litter that cannot be burnt, please take with you and deposit at the Wildlife Camp upon your exit, if possible
o When having made a fire, please bury the ashes
o When driving in a national park, please drive only on the tracks
o Do not go off road
o No night drives are permitted within a national park
o Please camp only at designated campsites
o Consideration for other peoples as well as for the environment should be of paramount concern
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