The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is the second-largest game reserve in the world, covering some 52,000 square kilometres of Botswana's interior. From Ghanzi, it is accessible via the A3 and then south on sand tracks — a high-clearance 4WD is essential, as is carrying sufficient water and fuel. The landscape inside the reserve is deceptive: the Kalahari is not true desert but semi-arid savannah, and after the rains (roughly November to March) it blooms with grasses and wildflowers that support remarkable concentrations of wildlife.
Lions, cheetahs, leopards, wild dogs, and brown hyenas all inhabit the reserve. The Deception Valley area in the north is particularly productive for game viewing, and the flat fossil riverbeds make for dramatic photography. The reserve sees a fraction of the tourism that reaches the Okavango Delta or Chobe, which means a genuine sense of wilderness. The Matswere Gate, the main northern entrance, is about four hours from Ghanzi on a good day.