Weather forecast in the CKGR
Things to Know
Central Kalahari GR
Nothing prepares you for the immensity of this reserve, nor its wild, mysterious beauty. There is the immediate impression of unending space, and having the entire reserve to yourself.
Waist-high golden grasses seem to stretch interminably, punctuated by dwarfed trees and scrub bushes. Wide and empty pans appear as vast white stretches of saucer-flat earth, meeting a soft, blue-white sky. At night the stars utterly dominate the land; their brilliance and immediacy are totally arresting.
The Central Kalahari game Reserve (CKGR) is the largest, most remotely situated reserve in Southern Africa, and the second largest wildlife reserve in the world, encompassing 52 800 sq kms.
During and shortly after good summer rains, the flat grasslands of the reserve’s northern reaches teem with wildlife, which gather at the best grazing areas. These include large herds of springbok and gemsbok, as well as wildebeest, hartebeest, eland and giraffe.
At other times of the year, when the animals are more sparsely distributed, the experience of travelling through truly untouched wilderness, of seemingly unending dimensions, is the draw.
The landscape is dominated by silver terminalia sandveldt, Kalahari sand acacias, and Kalahari appleleaf, interspersed with grasslands, and dotted with occasional sand dunes, pans and shallow fossil river valleys.
CKGR is unique in that it was originally established (in 1961) with the intention of serving as a place of sanctuary for the San, in the heart of the Kalahari (and Botswana), where they could live their traditional hunter/ gatherer way of life, without intrusion, or influence, from the outside world.
The reserve was closed for about 30 years, until in the 1980s and 1990s, both self-drive and organised tours were allowed in, albeit in small, tightly controlled numbers.
The northern deception valley is one of the highlights, principally because of the dense concentrations of herbivores its sweet grasses attract during and after the rainy season (and of course the accompanying predators). It is also the most travelled area of the reserve, with a number of public campsites, and proximity to the eastern Matswere Gate. The other two gates are completely at the other side of the reserve, at Xade and Tsau, where public campsites are also available.
Other worthwhile areas to drive are Sunday and Leopard Pans, north of Deception Valley, Passarge Valley, and, further south, Piper’s Pan.
In the Central Kalahari Game Reserve the The ecosystems very much to what you would experience further north in Botswana. With this you will notice a variety of species that are more prolific here than elsewhere in the country; such as brown hyena, aardwolf, oryx, bat-eared fox and ostrich.
The game viewing can seem sparse when compared to the densities of wildlife that can often be seen in the Okavango-Linyanti-Chobe region. Springbok are the most numerous of the large herbivores. Oryx numbers in the Central Kalahari are also very strong, often seen on the short grass plains during the rains in herds exceeding 100. Red hartebeest, eland, wildebeest, kudu and giraffe can also be found in good numbers.
The main predators here are lion, cheetah and leopard, though leopard are much less frequently seen. The lion prides range over large territories and are connected by loose associations. Many of the lions are solitary or live in prides, and will often hunt smaller prey such as porcupines. The Central Kalahari’s low density of predators makes it an ideal place for cheetah resulting in this being one of sub-saharan Africa’s better places to see them.
The birdlife in the Central Kalahari is varied. The largest of these, the ostrich and kori bustard, are doing extremely well and are commonly spotted. Doves are well represented with Cape turtle doves, laughing doves and Namaqua doves all seen in high numbers.
All the sub-Saharan species of sandgrouse can also be found in the reserve. During the day these can be difficult to spot with their excellent camouflage, however, during the mornings large numbers can be seen flying to the waterholes. Large flocks of red-billed queleas are also common, often seen as they swarm down from trees to drink or in search of food.
The Central Kalahari’s most common raptor is the pale-chanting goshawk, there are also a good number of black-shouldered kites, rock kestrels, bateleurs, black-breasted and brown snake eagles, martial and tawny eagles and lanner falcons are also around.
THE KALAHARI PEOPLES FUND
The Kalahari Peoples Fund (KPF) is a non-profit organization formed for the benefit of the San and other peoples of the Kalahari desert region of southern Africa. KPF is a non-government advocacy group composed of anthropologists, development workers, and other interested individuals who have worked closely with the San or are familiar with the situations they are dealing with. KPF’s function is to act as a channel of communication between southern African peoples and the wider world, bringing information about their hopes and needs to interested individuals, groups, and agencies who are able to help them.
Since its beginning in 1973, KPF has responded to several requests for help made by San, Nama, and other rural southern African communities. It does this by raising funds and providing technical and advisory assistance. San and other Kalahari peoples are having to cope with rapidly changing conditions as populations have grown and development programs have expanded. Political, economic, and environmental conditions have changed significantly, and local peoples have undergone transformations in the ways that they live and interact both among themselves and with the governments of the states where they live.
Currently, there are over 115,000 people who see themselves as San in southern Africa. Nearly half of these people are in the Republic of Botswana, and a third are in Namibia. San are also found in Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Some of the San and other groups face economic difficulties in part because they have not been able to take advantage of some of the opportunities offered to their fellow citizens due to remoteness, insufficient information about the availability of funds, or lack of technical assistance. Many San are dealing with problems of severe poverty and lack of security of land tenure.
Help provided by the KPF has taken several forms. It has provided an anthropologist to act as liaison between local people and government agencies in Ngamiland, Botswana. KPF also funded an agricultural adviser to the people of Ngamiland. Scholarships have been provided to enable children to attend school. KPF has also made available small grants to organizations to undertake community projects, such as an irrigation scheme in a rural Nama settlement in southern Namibia. In addition, KPF personnel have conducted research on development-related issues that has been used in the design of agricultural, income generation, and other kinds of kinds of community development projects.
Present KPF projects include assisting in curriculum development for education, providing scholarships for students, sharing information on community-based natural resource management and local-level development projects, capacity-building in local-level organizations such as community trusts, and compiling a detailed overview of the applications of research and development work conducted in the Kalahari Desert region. KPF continues to try and bring accurate and up-to-date information on the situations and aspirations of Kalahari peoples to public attention.
https://www.kalaharipeoples.orgThe Central Kalahari has a hot desert climate and experiences a distinct Dry and Wet season. It is recommended to bring warm clothing for early morning drives in the Dry season – especially June to August.
Dry season – April to October
April usually is when the last rains of the season fall. From May onward, the park becomes more and more thirsty as the Dry season progresses. June and July are the coolest months, but temperatures start rising in August and peak in October and November.
April & May – These months mark the beginning of the Dry season. It is mostly dry and sunny. The middle of the day is pleasant with temperatures rising to 28°C/82°F.
June, July & August No rain at all are expected in this period. It is cooler now, with afternoon temperatures reaching up to 24°C/75°F on average. Early mornings are chilly at about 6°C/43°F.
September & October The Dry season comes to an end. It gets hotter and hotter before the rains break. October is extremely hot with average, afternoon temperatures of 33°C/91°F. Nights and mornings are pleasant.
Wet season – November to March
When the first rains come Iit is a relief for the Kalahari. It immediately cools down, and the dust settles. It rarely rains all day, but afternoon thunderstorms and short showers are the pattern. It stays hot throughout the season, with afternoon temperatures of about 32°C/90°F. Mornings are pleasant.
November & DecemberIt is hot and mostly sunny. It only rains every now and then, and it mostly comes as a relief. Early mornings are the most comfortable, with average temperatures of about 18°C/64°F.
January & February - January & February – These are the wettest months. It rains some afternoons, but it is usually over in a few hours. Heavy storms are common.
March – The rains are dwindling. It can still rain every couple of days, and it mostly comes in the form of a thunderstorm. Mornings are slightly cooler at 17°C/63°F.
A self-drive safari into the CKGR is not an easy adventure, then a stay in one of the lodges in the park will include a fly-in transfer, taking a lot of pressure off your trip.
If you relish the idea of a wilderness trip in your own vehicle, then use the best 4x4 vehicle possible and stock up on supplies. The reserve is immense, so it is essential to be prepared.
Never get out of our vehicle, except in designated areas. Even there, you’ll need to keep an eye out for dangerous wildlife. Wildlife like to stay close to ablution facilities..
It can be tedious getting a permit for the park, book your trip with us and we’ll organise everything for you.
