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Haina Kalahari Lodge

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Hotel overview

Located on the northern boundary of the Central Kalahari on private land, Haina Kalahari Lodge has just nine tents, including one family tent. Guests can explore the area on traditional game drives and night drives or for those wanting something different, the lodge also offers slow-paced quad bike safaris.

Guests can head out on informative walks with the resident San Bushmen in the area, who will share stories of their ancient culture as well as their knowledge of the environment and the fauna that live there.

The lodge also offers day trips into the Central Kalahari Reserve at an additional cost, giving guests the opportunity to further explore this arid area.

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Quirky excursions

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Excursion

Deception Valley

Deception Valley is the most famous area within the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, an evocative, ancient place that befits its attention grabbing moniker. The name comes from the nearby Deception Pan, where a mirage caused largely by the desert heat and bluish tinged clay can make it appear that the pan is full of water, even when it is bone dry. Deception Valley itself is a long, broad valley running between wooded dunes, covered with grass throughout the year but particularly during the rainy season. It was once a river that was perhaps a tributary of the great super lake that covered huge swathes of what is now Botswana. The lush grasses attract significant densities of animals, with game viewing in this area during the rainy season generally superb. The two camps within the Central Kalahari reserve offer day trips to Deception Valley, with plentiful game viewing opportunities en-route, before lunch is taken in the valley and further wildlife encounters sought out.

Excursion

Mobile Safaris (Central Kalahari)

Mobile camping essentially involves moving from one destination to the next, often day by day, to stay in temporary camps that are set up anew in each area. These mobile safaris are outstanding in Botswana, partially as a potential way to visit the highlights without breaking the bank, and also as a means of getting a vintage, old fashioned safari ambience with a close to nature feel. Mobile itineraries that take in the Central Kalahari can use sites in the heart of the reserve, at some of the most renowned wildlife hotspots such as Deception Valley and Piper Pan. Different levels of comfort are offered, from relative "luxury camps" with spacious en-suite tents, to simpler dome tents with shared ablutions. Activities will usually focus on the wildlife, with game drives and some nature walks, but the time spent here will also give you an intimate understanding of the vast landscapes and the ancient Bushman people who have lived here for thousands of years. Some of the understated pleasures of a mobile trip include a morning coffee after waking up to the sun streaming through your tent, evening drinks around a roaring campfire and, of course, the sound of animals around camp as you drop off to sleep after a rewarding day of activities.

Excursion

Game Drives (Central Kalahari)

The nature of Central Kalahari game drives, whether inside the reserve or in a private concession on the outskirts, varies dramatically throughout the year. During the wetter summer months of roughly late November to April, the wildlife sightings can be absolutely sensational. As a carpet of lush grasses descends on the desert with the arrival of the rains, a significant volume of plains game moves in to take advantage of fresh grazing and water sources. This in turn attracts a strong predator presence, including lion, cheetah and hyena. During the dry season, wildlife numbers will be far lower but drives are still fascinating, with oryx, springbok and other desert adapted wildlife on the agenda. Throughout the year there is a fair chance of seeing Central Kalahari specials, such as the famous Kalahari black maned lions and one of the continent's last remaining populations of brown hyena. Drives can be enjoyed during the morning and afternoon, although for excursions within the Central Kalahari Game Reserve there is no off-road driving or night drives allowed.

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