Area Summary
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The Kalahari is truly one of the world’s most surprising landscapes; far from being a world of barren dryness, the desert teems with a myriad species which have adapted to their environment in a number of astonishing ways. Most startling, however, is the desert’s beauty; a golden sea of snd and dunes carved by winds – uncompromising, harsh, but utterly breathtaking. With little more than 10 to 20 cm of rainfall per year, the flora and fauna in the Kalahari are in a daily struggle for survival and cannot cope with the additional pressure of unchecked visitors or encroaching cattle.

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park crosses the border in the south western corner of Botswana into South Africa – a 38 000 sq km area rich with wildlife. Due to the absence of man-made barriers, there is large-scale migration of wildlife in the reserve. At the moment, only 4x4 camping safaris are run in this park, though development of a lodge and airstrip is planned. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve covers an area just less than the combined size of Holland and Belgium and is home to well adapted animals, including the majestic black-maned lions. There are San communities living in the area, so for a cultural experience with the “Bushmen People”, this is a great destination. The Deception Valley is a breathtaking and memorable destination in the Kalahari to visit. Adjoining the CKGR is the popular Kutse Game Reserve – again for camping safaris and a true 4x4 experience.

REMEMBER - We charge public rates for all the lodges listed below - we do NOT mark up the prices! Spend more than 3 nights at any lodge, we might even give you a discount!!
Prices are a guideline only, due to seasonal changes, packages offered and exclude transfers.
RATES: Most of the rates in Botswana are in US$ and the balance are in Botswana Pula (BWP) or South African Rand (ZAR). Some people feel the rates are quite high – please consider the following: The lodges/camps are in remote areas and unfenced so all the provisions, supplies, laundry have to be flown to the camp from Maun or Kasane. Most of the lodges are in concession areas, so a large portion of the fees have to go to the local community for various projects and income. Some of the lodges are situated in the National Parks, so the high Park fees are included in the daily rate.

PLEASE, only ask me for a booking if you are sincere in following through. The vast majority of lodges are in remote areas and it is time consuming for me to check on availability for you and then you tell me afterwards that the price is too high or we have booked with 1 of the other 6 companies we contacted or we have changed our mind. Seriously, I offer a personal service and it upsets me when I hear such excuses as above. We have the rates on display below and we also have an additional document on a lot of the lodges listed, with more information and photos, which we will gladly send you if you are serious in booking with us - thanks.

Note, we do not book campsites, only full-catered lodges. No profits otherwise! we do not book campsites, only full-catered lodges. No profits otherwise! we do not book campsites, only full-catered lodges. No profits otherwise! we do not book campsites, only full-catered lodges. No profits otherwise!

CAMPING .... CAMPING... We do NOT book campsites, so we therefore do NOT keep camping rates/fees, do not keep a record of where campsites are, do not deal with camping - so I will ignore any e-mails asking about camping - I cannot explain it any clearer - DO NOT ASK!! MOENIE enige vra or kampee vra! People wanting camp site locations, go to www.google.co.za and type in the following words: camp sites in BOTSWANA . Please, do NOT ask me, I have no idea where any are!


Lodge Name Description Photos  
Deception Valley Lodge
2009 - US$420 - US$800 pppn
2010 - US$400 pppn
- 		Situated on the northern border of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve,Botswana lies Deception Valley Lodge. This unique bush lodge with its ethnic African theme offers a true Kalahari, Bushmen experience. The lodge is owner managed & run and offers exclusive accommodation for 10 guests.
Daily activities include guided walks with traditional Naro Bushmen where guests have the opportunity to experience traditional hunting and survival skills of the Bushmen. On a game drive guests can expect to see a variety of desert game including gemsbok, kudu, lion, leopard and if lucky, the evasive brown hyena.

(IOA) NOTE: Summer Green Season specials available (Dec to March) - ask - BIG discount!!!
Thakadu Camp - Ghanzi
2009 - BWP100 to BWP213 pppn
2010 - From BWP220 pppn
- 		Thakadu Lodge is situated by a natural pan surrounded with ancient leadwood trees. The pan is visited by large numbers of Kalahari game. Located a few kilometres south of Ghanzi, down a dirt road and even negotiable in a standard sedan car, driven with car, the accommodation includes Meru-style en-suite tents and then the budget dome tents with communal ablutions. Activities include horse trails, game drives in day and night-time, bush walks and Bushmen Dancing and Veld Food expeditions can be arranged, if requested in advance. So if you are travelling through the western portion of Botswana, possible along the Trans-Kalahari highway, or to Namibia, then consider spending some time at Thakadu Lodge.

NOTE: This lodge is in remote area and communications takes a day or two to get replies, the owner has to drive to Ghanzi to his office, where the telephone/fax lines are. Please be patient when asking for availability or booking. Although most people only want to spend one night in Ghanzi, between South Africa and Namibia, or between Windhoek and Maun, you should seriously consider spending 2 nights here, to take advantage of enjoying the Kalahari region. If you want to make me happy and really helpful to you, book the rest of your holiday with us.... Thakadu is just one stop on your 10 to 20 day holiday, we can book ALL your accommodation in Botswana and we can also book ALL your accommodation in Namibia... as long as it is a lodge or hotel that supplies services on a B&B or DBB or fully inclusive package, then I will bend over backwards to assist you. Don't be like some unethical South Africans that have enquired with me before - they ask for prices and availability from me, I then spend hours contacting the lodge owners in these remote areas and giving these South Africans professional and personal attention - and then they go behind my back and make other arrangements!!! I have now WASTED my time on these useless individuals who should go and sit at the bottom of the Big Hole of Kimberley! ONLY send me an enquiry if you are wanting to book with me. (pvt) Thakadu 2009 rate for a double meru tent, for two people is R510 a night. This is NOT commissionable to travel agents. Fabulous meals are extra and ordered/paid direct. Very friendly and comfortable hospitality.

I visited here in May 2005.
The BEST reasons to Visit the KALAHARI REGION:

· The solitude and silence of the desert,
· Large-scale migration of wildlife due to the absence of man-made barriers,
· The legendary black-maned lions of the Kalahari,
· Vast open spaces and endless blue sky by day,
· To see how the wildlife have adapted to their harsh environment,
· A 4x4 trip to the Kutse Game Reserve to see lion, leopard and cheetah,
· The raptors that hunt over the grasslands of the Kalahari,
· Exploring undiscovered areas of the Kalahari,
· Visit to the San community game farm and tourism camp to see how the San traditionally lived,
· The two largest parks in Botswana – Central Kalahari and Kgalagadi Transfronteir Parks.

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