The Kalahari Desert is the largest sand basin in the world—a vast, arid tract of land in southwestern Sub-Saharan Africa. It extends over 362,000 miles and covers much of Botswana as well as parts of Namibia and South Africa. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve within Botswana’s portion of the Kalahari Desert is the world’s second largest game reserve. A Kalahari safari rewards those who venture to its remote climate with unique sights and sounds.

After the life-giving annual summer rains, the desert holds many tracts of undulating grazing lands. Classic Kalahari animals include zebra, wildebeest, eland, springbok, and giraffe. The park also has a well-deserved reputation for predators. You are likely to see black-maned Kalahari lions as well as cheetah, black-backed jackal, and brown and spotted hyena. The rare wild dog and reclusive leopard also make appearances.

During your Kalahari safari in Botswana, you will discover amazing experiences. There are ultra-luxurious accommodations in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve with Ker & Downey at Kalahari Plains Camp. Another wonderful camp on the edge of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is Dinaka.

In addition to luxurious lodges and traditional game drives, a Botswana desert safari offers a wide range of adventures for active travelers. Mobile expeditions take you to remote parts of the Kalahari where you can have an exciting experience in fully furnished safari tents.

Opt for an exciting desert sleep-out under the stars. Or take guided nature walks with San Bushmen. Here you can learn about ancient tracking, spoor identification, and survival techniques. The nomadic people of the desert, the San Bushmen are revered hunters and gatherers. They are known for their unique “clicking” method of communicating and have lived within the Kalahari for the past 30,000 years.

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is one of the most remote reserves in Southern Africa, but it is well worth the effort to get there. Seeing desert-adapted species like oryx, springbok, and honey badgers in their natural environment should not be missed.