​Wildlife & Animals – Central Kalahari GR

Anthony Ham
Expert
By Anthony Ham

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the Botswana & Namibia guide.

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Botswana & Namibia Lonely Planet guide.

Anthony is the author of the Botswana & Namibia Lonely Planet guide.

In the harsh desert environment large concentrations of herbivores, such as blue wildebeest, oryx and springbok, can be seen at the water-filled pans in Deception Valley after the rains. Eland, greater kudu and red hartebeest can be found in smaller numbers, and following this migration are the black-maned Kalahari lion and cheetah.

Abundant
Common
Occasional
Rare
None
ElephantNone
GiraffeOccasional
HippoNone
BuffaloNone
ZebraOccasional
WildebeestCommon
White RhinoNone
Black RhinoNone
LionOccasional
LeopardRare
CheetahOccasional
HyenaOccasional
Wild DogRare

Wildlife Highlights

Dawn and dusk are the best times to spot hyenas returning to, or leaving, their dens. Spotted hyena are common, but the less common brown hyena is quite easy to find as well. The desert is also home to many smaller predators, such as bat-eared fox, yellow mongoose, aardwolf and the charismatic suricate.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Central Kalahari has very seasonal wildlife viewing. The best time is in the wet months, from December to March, when animals gather around the pans in Deception Valley. Some of the roads can become difficult to navigate during this time. April and May, at the end of the rains, are perhaps a good compromise. They offer good wildlife viewing in better weather conditions.

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