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Central Kalahari Game Reserve |
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The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is the second largest game reserve in the world. Situated right in the centre of Botswana, this reserve is characterised by vast open plains, saltpans and ancient riverbeds.
Founded in 1961, this dramatic reserve with an area of 52, 800 sq km, was ironically meant to protect man, not wildlife ! Specifically, this reserve, being the natural home of the endangered San Bushmen, was established to preserve their unique way of life. The reserve is arid to semi arid, with some grasslands and pans breaking the desert landscape.
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Varying from sand dunes with many species of trees and shrubs in the north, to flat bushveld in the central area, the reserve is more heavily wooded in the south, with mophane forests to the south and east. Rainfall is sparse and sporadic and can vary from 170 to 700 millimetres per year.The main wildlife concentrations are to be found in the tourist areas in the northern half of this vast reserve. Game like giraffe, brown hyena, warthog, cheetah, wild dog, leopard, lion, blue wildebeest, eland, gemsbok, kudu, red hartebeest and springbok can be viewed. It is best between December and April, when the animals congregate in the pans and valleys.
The Basarwa or San people, have been resident in and around this area for probably thousands of years. Originally nomadic hunters and gathers, the lifestyle of the Basarwa has gradually changed with the times and they now live in settlements, some of which are situated within the southern half of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.
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