Reviews of safaris to Central Kalahari Game Reserve
151 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Central Kalahari .
Mrs. F
Canada
"Our March-April 2025 Botswana Safari"
I visited Botswana between 23 Mar 2025 and 4 Apr 2025
"Our safari experience was incredible.
Anton did a great job of organizing our trip and ensuring that it was a huge success.
Every staff member was helpful and kind.
The Ker & Downey safari camps were exceptional." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari
Anton did a great job of organizing our trip and ensuring that it was a huge success.
Every staff member was helpful and kind.
The Ker & Downey safari camps were exceptional." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
JW
San Francisco
"My Mar 2025 trip"
I visited Botswana and 2 other countries between 9 Mar 2025 and 24 Mar 2025
"The overall experience was excellent! Maruska was a wonderful partner in planning the trip and was very responsive to requests or needs we had. Everything works so smoothly: drivers were on time to pick us up; the quality of the guides was superb; the accommodations were good; and, the cars were in good condition.
A few recommendations for future travelers:
• If you have heat sensitivity, make sure you mention it and ask for tents in shaded areas, if it all possible.
• Bring extra money to tip at the lodges – not just drivers, guides and housekeepers – the entire lodge staff expects to be tipped.
• Luggage size and restrictions are not quite as limited as mentioned in the itinerary. As a note: Maruska was so very helpful in tracking down information directly from the airline providers… and, that helped to relieve the stress of restricted weight/size limits, especially, for a six week long trip.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I will be contacting Maruska in the near future to plan another trip to Africa, it was a fabulous experience!" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari
A few recommendations for future travelers:
• If you have heat sensitivity, make sure you mention it and ask for tents in shaded areas, if it all possible.
• Bring extra money to tip at the lodges – not just drivers, guides and housekeepers – the entire lodge staff expects to be tipped.
• Luggage size and restrictions are not quite as limited as mentioned in the itinerary. As a note: Maruska was so very helpful in tracking down information directly from the airline providers… and, that helped to relieve the stress of restricted weight/size limits, especially, for a six week long trip.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I will be contacting Maruska in the near future to plan another trip to Africa, it was a fabulous experience!" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
E & D
New Mexico
"My Feb 2025 trip"
I visited Botswana between 25 Feb 2025 and 14 Mar 2025
"We always recommend Expert Africa to friends and acquaintances because from experience we know that we will receive the best advice and the best outcomes. All travel has the potential for hiccups and this is when the rubber hits the road - we know we can count on EA..
We have gone with the knowledge that we will see amazing things, will be well-prepared in what to expect, and happily surprised by the level of care and hospitality we receive.
I don't know how it all seems to come about so effortlessly but am grateful that a vacation with Expert Africa is also an adventure of the best kind." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 16 on a Botswana safari
We have gone with the knowledge that we will see amazing things, will be well-prepared in what to expect, and happily surprised by the level of care and hospitality we receive.
I don't know how it all seems to come about so effortlessly but am grateful that a vacation with Expert Africa is also an adventure of the best kind." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 16 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Ms H
Zurich
"My Feb 2025 trip"
I visited Botswana between 8 Feb 2025 and 18 Feb 2025
"Thank you for the organisation of my holiday.
As always, everything went smoothly, a very pleasant experience." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari
As always, everything went smoothly, a very pleasant experience." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Andy & Karen
Malvern
"Green Season Botswana"
I visited Botswana between 26 Jan 2025 and 6 Feb 2025
"A first visit to Botswana in green season and generally a success - we knew that the viewing may be more challenging at this time of year, but the trade off is lush greens, flowers and fewer vehicles on the sightings.
It was great to see Botswana in a different light, albeit we never got any rain and moody skies! Climate change makes the seasonal rains far more unpredictable.
On the downside, low season meant fewer camp mates, and chatting around the table is part of the fun of safari, plus last minute camp changes due to maintenance was not something we had expected nor want again - a free upgrade is not always a positive.
Great service from Lucy and the Expert Africa team once again." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 11 on a Botswana safari
It was great to see Botswana in a different light, albeit we never got any rain and moody skies! Climate change makes the seasonal rains far more unpredictable.
On the downside, low season meant fewer camp mates, and chatting around the table is part of the fun of safari, plus last minute camp changes due to maintenance was not something we had expected nor want again - a free upgrade is not always a positive.
Great service from Lucy and the Expert Africa team once again." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 11 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Family H & L
Berks
"My Sep 2024 trip"
I visited Botswana between 13 Sep 2024 and 28 Sep 2024
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs LP
United Kingdom
"Our Botswana Aug 2024 trip"
I visited Botswana between 16 Aug 2024 and 31 Aug 2024
"Anton put together a fabulous trip for us. He listened carefully to our wishes, chose camps which suited us perfectly & enabled us to experience different aspects of the Delta plus the Central Kalahari.
A member of the team was always available with advice or to answer questions, excellent service." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 13 on a Botswana safari
A member of the team was always available with advice or to answer questions, excellent service." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 13 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Miss L.
United Kingdom
"My Jul 2024 trip"
I visited Botswana and 1 other country between 9 Jul 2024 and 20 Jul 2024
"This was the most amazing trip. We saw so much wildlife the highlights being the cheetah the sable and the baby elephant giraffe hippo and lion cubs. We experienced being very close to lions and a little too close to elephants. My only disappointment was not seeing the wild dogs but they had moved out of the area and also not seeing a leopard. Our guides did everything they could to find the leopard and we did spend time tracking but if they don’t want to be found then no amount of searching will get that sighting."
Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 7 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs A
Kent
"My May 2024 trip"
I visited Botswana between 30 May 2024 and 11 Jun 2024
"Our 10 days in Botswana was better than we could have imagined.
We went just before the high season and it was very dry, but in our four day stay at Splash camp, we could see the difference as the floods started to arrive. There were many highlights and this trip has created lasting memories.
The friendliness of everyone we met was amazing, they work long days but were always smiling and wanting to help." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari
We went just before the high season and it was very dry, but in our four day stay at Splash camp, we could see the difference as the floods started to arrive. There were many highlights and this trip has created lasting memories.
The friendliness of everyone we met was amazing, they work long days but were always smiling and wanting to help." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Clare
London
"My Feb 2024 trip"
I visited Botswana and 1 other country between 17 Feb 2024 and 28 Feb 2024
"very helpful indeed and extremely knowledgable."
Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
151
reviews of Central Kalahari by travellers since August 2007
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Inspire meWhere to stay in Central Kalahari
Our suggestions for safari camps in Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Tau Pan Camp
The comfortable Tau Pan camp inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve offers some of Botswana's best summer game viewing and birdwatching.
Kalahari Arms Hotel
Kalahari Arms Hotel, in the town of Ghanzi, is a practical overnight stop for travellers crossing the Kalahari to or from Namibia.
Kalahari Plains Camp
Kalahari Plains Camp, situated in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, is a traditional tented camp offering some of Botswana's best summer (Dec–Mar) game viewing, and an introduction to authentic Bushman culture.
Edo's Camp
Edo's Camp is a small camp with only four spacious tents overlooking a permanent waterhole. Surrounded by 20,000 hectares of private game conservancy you can expect to see white rhino, springbok, oryx and eland here.
Dinaka
The newest addition to Ker and Downey Botswana’s portfolio, Dinaka is based on a private game reserve on the northern boundary of the CKGR.
Deception Valley Lodge
A private reserve on the border of the CKGR, Deception Valley Lodge offers more flexible activities than within the reserve and a particularly good Bushman experience.
Gham Dhao Lodge
Within a private concession, Gham Dhao Lodge is one of a number of lodges located on the northern boundary of the CKGR, offering a year-round Kalahari experience.
