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Botswana's Kalahari Desert
Tour Code: BWA06A 10-day safari to Botswana's Kalahari Desert, including six nights of mobile camping in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, timed to coincide with the end of the rainy season when the mammals and birds move in and the desert bursts into life.
£4,695 (Inc flights)
£3,695
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
This holiday is timed to coincide with the end of southern Africa’s summer rains. At this time, in early March, the parched landscape of the Kalahari Desert bursts into life and is fleetingly transformed into a mosaic of rich grasslands dotted with colourful flowers, acacia scrub and seasonal watering holes. Great herds of game move in to take advantage of the new growth, stalked in turn by predators, whilst numerous birds arrive either to breed or to refuel on their long journeys north. After an initial night in a comfortable lodge near Maun, this safari offers six nights of fully serviced en suite camping in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. We will head out on morning and afternoon game-drives in our open vehicles in search of such mammals as Gemsbok, Springbok, Cheetah and Brown Hyena, while birds to look out for include Pale Chanting Goshawk, Temminck's Courser, Crimson-breasted Shrike and Northern Black Korhaan.
- Includes 6 nights of fully-serviced mobile camping in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve
- Open vehicles with great visibility
- Stay at 2 exclusive & remote campsites in Deception Valley & Passarge Valley
- Look for mammals such as Cheetah, Lion, Bat-eared Fox & Brown Hyena
- Raptors including Martial, Tawny & Steppe Eagles
- Abundant birdlife such as Crimson-breasted Shrike, Violet-eared Waxbill & Sociable Weaver
- Extend your holiday in the Okavango Delta or with a visit to the Victoria Falls
- Led by expert naturalist guides
Grading
Grade A. A traditional African safari, travelling by vehicle with the occasional gentle walk.Beyond the watery reaches of Botswana's magnificent Okavango Delta, lies the vast expanse of the Kalahari Desert. Although baked by an unrelenting sun for much of the year, the Kalahari bursts into life at the end of Southern Africa's summer rains. By early March, the parched landscape is fleetingly transformed into a mosaic of rich grasslands, dotted with colourful flowers, acacia scrub and seasonal watering holes. This is an exciting time to visit. Great herds of game move in to take advantage of the new growth – stalked by their attendant predators – whilst numerous birds arrive to either breed or refuel on their long journeys north. The starkly beautiful landscape of the Kalahari is best explored on a mobile safari and this tour follows a similar format to our long-running, and very popular, 'Botswana's Desert & Delta' holiday.
After an initial night in a comfortable lodge near Maun, the safari includes 6 nights of fully serviced ensuite camping in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, split between two exclusive and remote campsites in Deception and Passarge Valleys. From here we will head out on morning and afternoon game drives in our open vehicles in search of such mammals as Cheetah, Lion, Bat-eared Fox, Gemsbok, Springbok, Southern Giraffe, Eland and perhaps something rarer such as a Caracal or Brown Hyena. Martial, Tawny and Steppe Eagles circle overhead, whilst other birds to look out for include Pale Chanting Goshawk, Temminck's Courser, Northern Black Korhaan, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Black Cuckoo, Violet-eared Waxbill and the aptly-named Sociable Weaver.
For those wishing to see more of Botswana, or another southern African country, there are plenty of extension options available, including time in the Okavango Delta or a visit to the spectacular Victoria Falls.
Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation: One night in a comfortable lodge outside Maun (all rooms have private facilities) followed six night in a mobile wilderness safari camp under the shade of trees, in dome tents equipped with camp beds, bedding, pillows and ensuite facilities (shower and 'bush loo').
- Food: All food is included in the cost of the holiday (with the exeption of lunches on Days 2 and 9, i.e. whilst travelling) and consists of delicious meals cooked by camp / lodge staff.
Dates & Prices
2025
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The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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Mammal Watching Holidays
Many of the world’s mammals are instantly recognisable to us. Animals such as Lions, Tigers, elephants and bears capture our imaginations from an early age. At Naturetrek, we take great pleasure and pride in helping people to fulfil their lifelong dreams of seeing these iconic species in the wild. We also enjoy introducing our clients to some of the world’s more unusual mammals, many of which are just as fascinating.
Naturetrek Mammal Watching Tours
Many of our tours have a primary focus on mammals and we offer the widest choices of mammal-watching holidays across the globe, from the poles to the tropics. Our holidays are guided by at least one professional naturalist tour leader and usually benefit from additional guiding by expert local naturalist guides. We have holidays to see an incredible range of the world’s most sought-after mammals, such as orangutans, lemurs, bats, polar mammals, big cats, and mammals of the African savannah. A significant number of tours also targets some of the planet’s more unusual and elusive species, from pottos and pangolins to slender lorises and obscure cetaceans.
Here’s a selection of our mammal tours:
- India’s Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves
- A cruise to Spitsbergen in search of Polar Bears
- A chance to see the ‘Big Five’ and much more in South Africa’s Kruger National Park
- Search for Blue, Fin and Sperm Whales in the Azores
- Close-up views of Brown Bear and Wolverine in Finland
- Enjoy the mammals of Kenya’s Masai Mara, while staying in luxury camps
- Search for elusive nocturnal mammals, such as Aardvark, Black-footed Cat and Aardwolf, in the Kalahari Desert
Bargain mammal selection
We offer a range of action-packed bargain holidays for the dedicated mammal enthusiast, which are exceptional value for money, from Belize to Zambia.
Our specialist recommends...
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
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Safari Holidays – Experience Earth’s Greatest Continent for Wildlife
Why choose Africa for wildlife safaris?
When people think of visiting Africa, safari holidays are regularly at the top of the list. Riding in an open-top jeep along dusty tracks and looking out across sun-baked savannahs teeming with big game is arguably one of life’s best experiences.
For the nature enthusiast, Naturetrek’s African safari holidays offer unparalleled opportunities. Africa is the world’s greatest continent for wildlife, being home to many of the planet’s most iconic mammals and birds.
Many of these animals are relatively easy to observe and exist in scarcely believable abundance, guaranteeing that our African safari tours are always full of amazing sightings.
From the Okavango Delta in Botswana and Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park to Namibia’s Etosha National Park and the superb Kruger National Park in South Africa, our African wildlife safaris will take you to all the continent’s most unmissable destinations.
Classic African safari holidays
We offer classic safari-style packages to Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and Namibia.
On these African safari tours you will stay in or very near the prime game-rich areas such as national parks and reserves, heading out daily for wildlife watching in vehicles. There will usually be additional chances to join night drives and look for nocturnal species.
On the majority of our African wildlife safaris, even those in our bargain range, we are able to use superb accommodation, including in remote locations. Tented, fully serviced camps with private facilities are the norm.
Expert naturalist guides
All of our African safari tours are led by expert naturalist guides. Most of our tours are led by superb local guides (the quality of guiding in many parts of Africa is second to none), while some of our longer tours are joined by a UK leader.
What wildlife might I see?
Africa is the best place in the world for seeing large concentrations of big game such as African Bush Elephant, Lion, Cape Buffalo, Giraffe and Blue Wildebeest. On Naturetrek’s African safari tours we visit some of the world’s most famous national parks and reserves, such as the Serengeti, Kruger and Okavango Delta, as well as some less well known regions, in search of a full range of the continent’s most spectacular mammals, from Hippos, Wild Dogs and White Rhinos to Leopards, bushbabies and African Wildcats.
The birdlife is equally staggering, with an enormous variety of charismatic species found across the continent, from bee-eaters and hornbills to finches, weavers and a stunning diversity of birds of prey. Naturetrek’s African wildlife safaris offer a chance to search for a superb variety of species and avian spectacles, such as flamingo-lined lakes in the Rift Valley, bizarre Shoebills in Uganda’s swamps, and giant Ostriches strutting across endless savannahs.
See our list of the best African Safari Holidays
Our specialist recommends...
"We offer a superb choice of expert-led African safari holidays ranging from 9-day bargain tours in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park to a 17-day birdwatching and mammal-viewing safari through Namibia, Botswana and Zambia. For those who have previously enjoyed a traditional safari, I would recommend our ‘South Africa’s Rare Mammals’ tour, which targets some of the continent’s most rarely seen creatures, such as Aardwolf, Black-footed Cat, Cape Porcupine, African Wildcat, Brown Hyaena and the iconic Aardvark
Paul Stanbury – Operations Manager
Big Cat Safari Holidays
Big cats are among the most admired and sought-after mammals on the planet, and we are proud to offer a broad and comprehensive range of big cat safari holidays. We offer inspiring and truly memorable wildlife tours to enjoy sightings of all of the world’s iconic species in their natural habitats, including Tigers in India and Nepal, Jaguars in the Pantanal, Pumas in Chile and Snow Leopards in India and Mongolia and we certainly do not neglect the smaller cats either.
We offer a range of itineraries around Africa and encounter the continent’s high-profile species like Lions, Cheetahs and Leopards and also the lesser known species such as Caracal, Sand Cat, Black-footed Cat, Serval and African Wild Cat. We also have wildlife holidays that catch sightings of the Asiatic Lion in India and the elusive Leopard in Sri Lanka.
We also offer a pioneering tour to try to see the most difficult of all big cats the Sunda Clouded Leopard in Borneo with Leopard Cat, Marbled Cat and Flat-headed Cat all having being seen on our Borneo holidays. Closer to home, we offer holidays in Europe to go in search of Wildcat and both Eurasian and Iberian Lynx.
We have run these holidays for many years with great success, working with the best local contacts and guides and staying at the very best locations with carefully crafted itineraries which allow the optimum amount of time to achieve sightings.
Our specialist recommends...
Tom Mabbett - Operations Manager
Tour Reports
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
