CENTRAL KALAHARI

Deception Valley Lodge is located on the North Eastern Boarder of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve - Botswana.

The Kalahari has no seasons. Instead there are three distinct phases: the rains, which may commence anytime from November to January, and last through to March, April, making the Kalahari a birder's paradise. A cold dry spell follows from June to August. And the hot dry spell lasts from September until the rains start.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve (52 000sq km in size) is the second largest game reserve in the world. It is home to large animal populations. The department of wildlife and national parks does not wish to allow the development of lodges within the Central Kalahari Game Reserve but wishes to keep it as a true wilderness area.

Landscape

In the southern Kalahari area the sand lies in distinct linear dunes. These dunes are covered in grass, shrubs and trees. In contrast with true sand deserts, the sand in the Kalahari is stabilized by vegetation.

Rainfall

Although the Kalahari is generally seen as a desert, it is in actual fact a semi-arid savannah, with average rainfall at Deception Valley Lodge of 300mm per annum.

Rainfall is one of the main ecological driving forces in this area. It determines the quantity of plant growth produced each year and the amount of food for game. The quantity and distribution of rainfall through the wet periods is also important. If for example it rains early in the season certain grass and tree species are favoured. Should it rain at a later stage totally different species are favoured and this phenomena will give the eco-tourist a totally different experience of the Kalahari every season.

Climate

The best time to visit Botswana is from April to October, when the days are sunny and warm; around 25ºC. Evening temperatures drop sharply to as low as 5ºC. During the summer months, November to March, temperatures can rise to over 40ºC and usually drops to 25ºC at night.

Plant growth

The waving landscapes consist of vast sand dunes. Between the dunes one encounters low lying areas with small pans. The bigger trees are found on top of the sand dunes and around the pans. The most important large trees in this area are Acacia luederitzii, Terminalia prunioides and Boscia albitrunca.

Grass cover

The grass cover in the Kalahari is abundant and important after rain, not only as animal grazing but also as