Makgadikgadi & Central Kalahari

In complete contrast to the lush Okavango, the semi-arid central Kalahari is a must for those who want to really explore the diversity of Botswana. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve covers 52,800km² of wilderness and dominates the centre of Botswana. The mostly flat, gently undulating landscape is defined by its vast savannah grasslands, interspersed with vegetated sand dunes and occasional patches of thorny shrubland. Fossilised river valleys and salt pans add variety to the open plains and grassy dunes. The game here differs from the northern parks of Botswana: savannah and desert-adapted species dominate - springbok, gemsbok and eland - and the density of predators is good, particularly lion and cheetah.

The north-eastern region of the Kalahari Basin contains the Makgadikgadi and Nxai Pans, a huge network of salt pans and ephemeral lakes - the remains of an ancient lake which dried up thousands of years ago. They are thought to be the largest of their kind in the world.

After the November rains, Makgadikgadi is transformed into a vast wetland, becoming a breeding ground for huge flocks of flamingo and other migratory birds. Notable species include brown hyena, meerkats, gemsbok, springbok and the black-maned Kalahari lion.

In and around Makgadikgadi & the Kalahari, Botswana
4x4 drives are the main mode of game viewing in Makgadikgadi and the Central Kalahari. Walking safaris with the local Bushmen are also offered by some lodges. In the winter months, quad biking on the salt pans is a possibility.

In the Central Kalahari, you can visit San communities for half-day, full-day or multi-day tours to learn more about their way of life. It is also one of the only places in Botswana where you can find rhino.

Unlike the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park, Makgadikgadi and the Central Kalahari are generally best visited during the "green season" months between Jan and May, when the rains bring green shoots to the savannah plains of the Kalahari and the saltpans fill with water, attracting large herds of zebra and wildebeest in what is one of Africa's largest wildlife migrations.