Kalahari Experience
(The real “last great wilderness” – vast, remote, and soul-stirring)
This is the classic deep-CKGR trip that serious safari lovers dream about: 6 full nights inside the world’s second-largest protected area, camping wild among black-maned Kalahari lions, surreal Deception Valley sunsets, and endless golden grasslands. Very few people, zero permanent lodges in the core zones, and some of the best dry-season predator viewing in Africa.Package Overview
Here’s a polished and practical 7-day Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) safari itinerary, assuming a mobile camping setup starting and ending in Maun (Botswana’s safari gateway). The CKGR is the world’s second-largest game reserve (~52,000 km²), known for its stark beauty, ancient salt pans, fossil riverbeds (like Deception Valley), and desert-adapted wildlife. It’s remote, rugged, and best for experienced safari-goers seeking solitude over high game density—think black-maned lions, cheetahs, meerkats, and San Bushmen cultural encounters. This itinerary focuses on a mobile participation safari (guests help with light camp setup) for an authentic feel.
- Camping Fees
- Park fee
- Game drive and local transfer
- Tented Accomodation
- All Meals
- Water
- Soft Drinks
- Alcohol
- Travel Insurance
- All Flights
- Staff Gratuties
- Optional Safari
Duration
7 Days / 6 Nights
Cancelation Policy
Get a 50% refund when you up until 7 days before check‑in
Airport Pickup
Available
Itenary
-
Day 1: Arrival in Maun – Prep for the Kalahari
Morning/AfternoonArrive at Maun International Airport (MUB). Transfer: Meet your guide at your lodge (~15–30 min transfer)
-
Safari briefing, optional village walk or market visit in Maun. Stock up on essentials if self-preparing.
-
Dinner
-
Maun (lodge)
-
Day 2: Maun → Northern CKGR (Deception Valley Area)
MorningDepart Maun (~07:30) in a 4x4 safari vehicle (~160–200 km, 4–5 hrs drive southwest). En Route: Stop for game viewing in transitional bushveld; spot giraffe, oryx, and springbok.
-
Midday
Brunch & rest.
-
Afternoon
Arrive at Deception Valley (fossil riverbed famous from The Gods Must Be Crazy). Set up camp and afternoon game drive—look for cheetah on the open plains.
-
Evening
Bush dinner around the fire; stargazing in the clear desert skies.
-
Overnight
Mobile camp in Deception Valley (en-suite tents, participation setup)
-
Day 3: Full Day in Deception Valley – Game Drives & Pans
Morning/span>Sunrise game drive along the valley floor—prime for lions, bat-eared foxes, and meerkats "standing sentinel."
-
Midday
Return to camp for brunch and rest (avoid peak heat). Optional guided nature walk to track San spoor.
-
Afternoon:
Explore nearby salt pans; drive to Sunday Ridge for panoramic views of the ancient landscape.
-
Evening:
Sunset drive, then relax with sundowners.
-
Overnight
Deception Valley mobile camp.
-
Day 4: Deception Valley → Central CKGR (Tau Pan Area)
Morning /span>Pack up camp; drive south (~2–3 hrs) through rolling grasslands and dry pans.
-
Midday
Picnic lunch at a scenic pan; birding for Kalahari specials like the society finch.
-
Afternoon:
Arrive Tau Pan (hilltop views over endless plains). Afternoon drive—elephant herds at waterholes, brown hyenas if lucky.
-
Evening
Camp setup and storytelling session on Kalahari ecology (inspired by Cry of the Kalahari).
-
Overnight
Tau Pan mobile camp
-
Day 5: Full Day in Tau Pan – Wildlife & FossilsMorning
Early game drive to Tau Pan waterhole —magnet for predators and herbivores during dry season.
-
Midday
Brunch and siesta; optional San Bushmen cultural talk (learn traditional hunting skills).
-
Afternoon
Explore fossil river valleys; optional short hike for meerkat colonies and aardvarks.
-
Evening
Night drive (spot nocturnal critters like porcupines and genets).
-
Overnight
Tau Pan mobile camp
-
Day 6: Central CKGR → Southern Edge (Kalahari Interaction)
MorningFinal Tau Pan game drive; head southeast (~3–4 hrs) toward park's southern boundary.
-
En Route
Detour to Gully Track for oryx and potential leopard sightings in acacia thickets.
-
Afternoon
Arrive southern campsites; afternoon drive or optional Bushmen village visit (ethical interaction with San communities).
-
Evening
Farewell bush braai (BBQ) with reflections on the desert's "fiercely beautiful" isolation.
-
Overnight
Southern CKGR mobile camp
-
Day 7: Southern CKGR → Maun – Departure
MorningShort sunrise drive or nature walk.
-
Late Morning
Pack up and return drive to Maun (~200 km, 4–5 hrs).
-
Afternoon
Arrive Maun by ~13:00–14:00 for flights or extensions.
(The real “last great wilderness” – vast, remote, and soul-stirring)
This is the classic deep-CKGR trip that serious safari lovers dream about: 6 full nights inside the world’s second-largest protected area, camping wild among black-maned Kalahari lions, surreal Deception Valley sunsets, and endless golden grasslands. Very few people, zero permanent lodges in the core zones, and some of the best dry-season predator viewing in Africa.