- Botswana
- 5,280,000 hectares (52,800 km²) — The second-largest wildlife reserve in the world.
- 1961 (Initially as a sanctuary for the San people).
- Ghanzi and Central Districts.
- Famous black-maned Kalahari lions; brown hyena; cheetah; honey badgers; and desert-adapted antelope like oryx (gemsbok) and springbok.
- Low risk (Arid environment).
- ~21°53′S 23°45′E
- Partially fenced along veterinary lines, but largely open to the south and west.
- Fossil river valleys (Deception Valley), salt pans, sand dunes, and silver terminalia woodlands.
- for the best wildlife concentrations in the northern valleys.
The CKGR is the ultimate definition of isolation. It is a vast, ancient landscape where "silence you can hear" is a literal experience. Unlike most African parks, the CKGR is best visited during the rainy summer months when the arid valleys transform into lush grazing carpets, attracting thousands of animals.
- Matswere Gate (North-East), Xade Gate (West), Tsau Gate (North-West).
- * The primary jumping-off point.
- Luxury lodges like Tau Pan or Dinaka have private strips for "fly-in" guests (~45-60 min flight from Maun).
- A rigorous 4.5–6 hour drive from Maun. 4x4 is non-negotiable due to deep sand and remote tracks.
- Un-graded sand tracks; self-drivers must be fully self-sufficient with fuel and water.
- Larger and more resilient than their northern cousins, these lions are the apex predators of the dunes.
- One of Africa's rarest large carnivores, frequently sighted here at dawn and dusk.
- The open pans provide the perfect "racetrack" for these hunters to chase springbok.
- Several habituated colonies allow for incredible up-close photography.
The only time of year the desert "blooms." Massive herds gather in Deception Valley.
Mild days, freezing nights
Easier driving conditions and crystal-clear night skies for stargazing.
Challenging but rewarding for predator sightings at permanent waterholes.
- The most authentic way to see the park, moving between remote, unfenced campsites.
- Interpretive walks with local San trackers to learn about desert survival and ancient botany.
- With zero light pollution, the CKGR offers some of the best celestial viewing on the planet.