Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Overview
The Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) in Botswana is a vast, arid wilderness known for its fossil river valleys, seasonal pans, and unique Kalahari wildlife like oryx (gemsbok), springbok, red hartebeest, brown hyenas, and black-maned lions. Deception Valley, Passarge Valley (often spelled "Passarge"), and Sunday Pan are iconic spots in the northern CKGR, accessible via the Matswere Gate. This area is best explored on a self-drive 4x4 safari or guided tour, focusing on remote, unfenced campsites with basic facilities (long-drop toilets, bucket showers—no water or electricity). Game viewing peaks in the rainy season (November–March) when lush grasses draw herds, but dry-season visits (like July) offer pristine solitude and mirage illusions on the pans.
Tour Overview
Availability
12/03/25 - 18/03/27
Duration
7 Days/ 8 Nights
Pickup Location
Airport avaiable
Included
- Parks fee
- Game Drive
- Guide
- Still Water
- Food
- Alchool
- Accommodation
- Camping Fee
Excluded
- Flights Tickets
- Airport Tax
- Optional Activities
- Travel Insurarance
- All Laundry
- Tellphone Call
Itenary
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Day 1: Arrival in Maun
Morning/AfternoonArrive at Maun International Airport. Transfer to your lodge or guesthouse
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Activities
Check in, relax, and attend a safari briefing with your guide or tour operator. Optional afternoon activity: scenic flight over the Okavango Delta.
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Evening 18:00
Dinner at the lodge, review itinerary, and prepare for early departure. Overnight in Maun.
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Day 2: Maun to Central Kalahari Game Reserve (Deception Valley)
Morning: 06:00Early departure (around 6:00 AM) after breakfast. Drive to CKGR (~4-5 hours, ~200 km on tar and gravel roads). Packed lunch en route.
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Afternoon 14:00
Arrive at Deception Valley campsite or lodge (e.g., Deception Valley Lodge or Kalahari Plains Camp). Settle in and take a short afternoon game drive (~2-3 hours) to spot wildlife like oryx, springbok, or lions.
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Evening: 1800
Sundowner drinks, dinner at camp, and stargazing (CKGR’s skies are spectacular). Overnight in Deception Valley.
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Day 3: Full Day Game Drive in Deception Valley
MorningEarly start (5:30-6:00 AM) for a sunrise game drive. Explore the fossil riverbeds and grasslands, known for predators like cheetahs, leopards, and the Kalahari black-maned lion. Coffee/tea stop in the bush.
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Afternoon:
Return to camp for lunch and a rest during the heat (12:00-3:00 PM). Head out for a late afternoon drive, focusing on waterholes or pans where animals gather.
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Evening: 18:00
Dinner and storytelling around the campfire. Overnight in Deception Valley
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Day 4: Deception Valley to Passage Valley
Morning: 06:00After breakfast, depart for Passage Valley (~2-3 hour drive within CKGR). Enjoy game viewing en route, as animals roam freely across the reserve.
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Afternoon: 14:00
Arrive at Passage Valley campsite or lodge. Short afternoon game drive to explore the area’s open plains and acacia woodlands, home to giraffes, wildebeest, and possibly wild dogs.
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Evening: 18:00
Dinner at camp, relax, and enjoy the remote wilderness. Overnight in Passage Valley.
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Day 5: Full Day Game Drive in Passage Valley
MorningEarly morning game drive (6:00 AM) to catch active wildlife, including antelopes and predators. Visit nearby pans or follow animal tracks with your guide.
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Afternoon:
14:00Lunch at camp, followed by a siesta or cultural talk about the San people (if offered by your lodge). Late afternoon drive to spot nocturnal animals starting to emerge.
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Evening: 18:00
Bush dinner (if arranged) or camp dinner. Overnight in Passage Valley.
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Day 6: Exploring Sunday Pan
Morning: 06:00After breakfast, drive to Sunday Pan (~1-2 hours from Passage Valley). Morning game drive around the pan, a hotspot for herbivores and predators, especially in the dry season.
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Afternoon: 14:00
Picnic lunch near the pan, followed by relaxed exploration or birdwatching (over 200 bird species in CKGR, like kori bustards or secretarybirds).
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Evening: 18:00
Return to camp (either back in Passage Valley or a new site near Sunday Pan). Dinner and overnight.
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Day 7: Return to Maun
Morning : 07:00Early breakfast, then depart CKGR for Maun (~5-6 hours). Optional game viewing stops en route if time allows.
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Afternoon
Arrive in Maun by midday. Check into a lodge for a quick refresh or head to the airport for departure. If time permits, visit a local market for souvenirs.
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Evening
Depart Maun or extend your stay for additional Okavango Delta experiences (e.g., mokoro canoe trips).
