Central Kalahari National Park-Botswana (Southern Africa)

Central Kalahari National Park is a vast wildlife sanctuary, situated in the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, Southern Africa. Established in 1961, this extensive national park is the largest, most remotely situated reserve in Southern Africa; and covers a surface area of 52,800 km²; rendering it the second largest park in the world.

This wildlife refuge contains a ceaseless stretch of waist-high golden grass, randomly interspersed by dwarf trees and forested shrubs. The territory is mostly flat, and the floor carpeted by immense white empty pans.

The landscape is dominated by sand veldt, Kalahari sand acacias and Kalahari apple leaf; punctuated by grasslands, sporadic sand dunes, pans and shallow fossil river valleys.

The park is home to a lavish spectrum of wildlife, among which are giraffe, brown hyena, warthog, cheetah, wild dog, leopard, lion, blue wildebeest, eland, gemsbok, kudu and red hartebeest.

When the park was established in 1961, the initial intention was for it to serve as a natural residential abode for the San ethnic group, where they could dwell in peace and observe their traditional way of life in a manner devoid of intrusion or influence from the outside world.

The reserve was initially closed for 30 years, until in the 1980s and 1990s, when a restricted number of both self-drive and organised tours were permitted in the park. The Botswanan government has unleashed a program to develop tourism in the Kalahari; and has allocated concessions for the construction of lodges; both within the park; and on its fringes; paving the way for the arrival of fly-in tourists.

The northern Deception Valley constitutes a cardinal area of interest, mainly due to its dense concentration of herbivores, essentially attracted there by the valley’s sweet grass, which flourishes during and after the rainy season. It is also the most visited area of the reserve, with a number of public campsites; and is close to the eastern Matswere Gate. The other two gates are completely on the other side of the reserve; at Xade and Tsau; where public campsites are also available.

Other areas worth visiting are Sunday and Leopard Pans, north of Deception Valley, Passarge Valley and Piper’s Pan further South.