A unique opportunity to explore the Kalahari with the San tribe
Deception Valley earned its name from early travellers, who, seeing the mirage on the pans, mistook it for water only to be sorely disappointed. The camp lies on a private concession to the far north of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Earthy-coloured chalets with thatched roofs and wooden verandahs look over the flat, dry bush of the Kalahari, where water is scarce.
The private concession on which the lodge stands benefits from five permanent waterholes which is the only permanent water for miles around and attracts a variety of game. The main lounge and dining area is furnished in earthy, African colours and offers a cool shelter in the heat of the day or a cosy refuge on a chilly evening.
After the wildlife bonanza of the Okavango Delta, it is quite tricky for other areas to compete but Deception Valley does offer a good variety of game, though a little less in the green season which is between December and March. It also has something that is found in very few other places in southern Africa; the San or Bushman tribes are the most incredible game trackers and their knowledge of the intricate details of their bush environment is unparalelled. A walk with a Bushman guide is a real experience and one not to be missed.
Another awe-inspiring aspect of the Kalahari is the night sky. Unpolluted by light and smog-free, the stars take on a clarity and nearness that will have you giving yourself a crick in your neck from looking up. Evening meals under the starry canopy is a highlight at Deception Valley. For longer stays here, a two night mobile safari into the Central Kalahari Game Reserve can be arranged to give you a real taste of safari under canvas.
6 double, 2 family chalets
A unique opportunity to explore the Kalahari with the San tribe
A great chunk in the middle of Botswana is occupied by the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Indeed, at over 50,000km2, it is quite a whopping area. Comprised of grassland, scrubby bush and ancient dry riverbeds this doesn't really look like your quintessential desert landscape. However, since there is no surface water here, it is indeed a desert, and the flora and fauna are specially adapted to this harsh environment. You can expect to see giraffe, zebra, gemsbok, the famous black-maned lions, meerkats and rhino in certain areas. There is also a reasonable chance of seeing wild dog and cheetah if you are lucky. Read more?
Safaris in Botswana offer dramatic extremes. One the one hand, the lush landscapes of the Okavango Delta and the Linyanti/Chobe River systems, on the other, the beautiful other-worldly expanse of the Makgadikgadi Pans and the Kalahari Desert. The variety of habitats makes for varied animal and birdlife as well as beautiful scenery. Strict controls mean that Botswana safari camps and lodges are generally small, and due to the tricky logistics of operating in a delta or a desert, a safari here is seldom cheap, and it's important to know where to go if you are looking for that authentic safari experience. Read more?
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Vanessa's 16 years in travel has seen her knowledge develop from sub-Saharan Africa into North Africa, Central and Southern America and the Galapagos. Consequently, she’s a veritable encyclopaedia of travel information and exceptionally cool, calm and collected in the face of the greatest planning demands.
At Natural High, we've had long experience putting together trips in Africa that really work. Whether it's intimate bushcamps in out of the way places, or a private lodge in one of Africa's top-billing wildlife areas, light mobile camping or remote island escapes, we know there is a lot to choose from. We're absolutely confident that we can recommend the right places for you.
