Central Kalahari Overlanding Safari
Embark on a remote 9-day overlanding safari exploring Botswana’s largest nature reserve, The Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR). Our seasoned guides will lead you to off-the-beaten-track sites like Deception Valley, Sunday Pan, Piper Pan, and Xhade Camp, ensuring incredible wildlife encounters and breathtaking Kalahari landscapes.
Experience the pristine wilderness of the Central Kalahari’s vast savannahs and witness unique flora and fauna thriving in this remote location.
Customize your journey, whether you seek thrilling wildlife encounters, peaceful moments, or in-depth exploration of ecology, star constellations, and culture. This 9-day adventure guarantees an unforgettable, personalised experience in Africa’s heartland.
ITINERARY
Day 1-3: Sunday Pan, CKGR
Upon arrival in Francistown, our dedicated team will be at the airport to welcome you. Our safari begins with the first leg of the journey to Sunday Pan, our initial campsite. One of the better-known pans in the Central Kalahari, a large crater-like pan surrounded by relatively high dunes. In the pan are some acacia tree islands that provide shelter for the wildlife of the area during the scorching hot days.
Over the next two days, we’ll explore Sunday Pan and the surrounding area. This gives us the chance to spot the diverse wildlife of the Kalahari, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, and various antelope species. Each evening, after sundowners in the bush, we’ll return to the camp for relaxation and dinner around the campfire.
- Morning Game Drive
- Afternoon Game Drive
Arrival Transfer:
The AOF team will meet you at Francistown Airport from where we will drive to Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE (CKGR)
Central Botswana
Its vastness and wild beauty strikes visitors to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR). This remote reserve in Southern Africa spans 52,800 square kilometers, making it the second-largest wildlife reserve globally.
After summer rains, the northern grasslands teem with wildlife, including springbok, gemsbok, wildebeest, hartebeest, eland, and giraffe. CKGR is a sanctuary for herbivores and a haven for predators. Lions, cheetahs, leopards, and other carnivores roam these lands, creating an intricate balance in the ecosystem.
Established in 1961 to preserve the San people’s traditional way of life, CKGR was reopened to limited self-drive and organised tours in the 1980s and 1990s. Deception Valley in the north is a highlight, with rich grasses drawing herbivores and predators alike.
Day 4 & 5: Piper Pan, CKGR
On the fourth day, we’ll head towards Piper Pan. The pan is situated within the Deception Valley and appears to ascend in a sequence of picturesque depressions referred to as Piper Pan. This location exudes exceptional beauty, characterised by an amalgamation of pans of various dimensions and soil compositions that merge into a complex network of ecosystems.
Within the primary depression, certain areas are adorned with swaying grasses, interspersed with sporadic clusters of shrubs, which serve as resting spots for lions seeking refuge from the daytime heat. Along the periphery, meerkats and ground squirrels make their homes, while birds of prey survey survey the landscape from the skies.
Over the following two days, we’ll explore Piper Pan on various game drives. These excursions offer a chance to encounter the distinctive animals and birdlife that call the Kalahari home. As day turns to night, we’ll gather around the crackling campfire, immersing ourselves in the captivating sounds of the African nocturnal world.
Activities:
- Morning Game Drive
- Afternoon Game Drive
Day 6 & 7: Xhade Camp, CKGR
As we journey westwards on our way to the boundary of the park we head towards Xhade Camp. Upon reaching Xhade Camp, we settle in at our campsite and relish a serene evening followed by a sumptuous dinner. The seventh day unfolds with exploration of Xhade Camp and the surrounding area.
Activities:
- Morning Game Drive
- Afternoon Game Drive
Day 8 & 9: Maun
After breakfast on the eighth day, we commence our return journey to Maun. Upon our arrival in Maun, we’ll check in at our lodge accommodation for a well-deserved rest and refreshment and a final sundowner boat cruise on the Okavango River before our departure on the ninth day. The Kalahari always leaves a lasting impression, our Central Kalahari Game Reserve safari promises an immersive and captivating exploration of this remarkable African wilderness
Activities:
- Sundowner Boat Cruise
- Farewell Dinner in Maun Town
Departure Transfer:
The AOF team will transfer you to Maun International Airport, in time for your return flight.