African Safari in Botswana — Central Kalahari Game Reserve Park
Wild Nomad Safari is organizing a safari tour in the southern region of Africa. You can choose between three different safari packages exploring different parts in either 10, 20 or 30 days. This article focuses on the first ten-days of the unique safari adventure through Botswana. You will be able to drive a 4x4 vehicle yourself through the southern region of Africa in a well guided and save car-convoy. This special tour will also take care of the catering whilst crossing the Central Kalahari Game Reserve park (CKGR). Join the adventure and drive a 4x4 off-road vehicle with roof-top-tents in Van-Life style on a mesmerizing safari trip.
Logistics and where to start
The ten-day safari trip starts in Gaborone and ends in Maun. Gaborone is the capital city of Botswana and makes a great city to start from. The first get together will be at a lovely dinner where we get to know all the adventurers joining the safari. On the following day, we will take over the rental cars and get familiar with the equipment and test the cars in light off-road conditions to assure the functionality and proper function. During the test ride, we will learn off-road skills and how to handle the car in savannah style terrain. Safety comes always first therefore safety instructions have topmost priority. when the tar-road finishes and we enter the savannah where we will see the wildlife first hand and as close as possible.
How to get there?
As an experienced traveller, you will find an affordable way to get to Gaborone by yourself. In case you want to make sure to find an affordable solution, we recommend using http://skyscanner.net, https://www.google.com/flights, https://www.secretflying.com or another flight search/comparison engines to assure finding affordable ways to get to Botswana and back.
If you have further questions please contact us via our Website or visit our Facebook page.
For whom is this trip?
Wild Nomad Safari aims to provide a unique experience for like-minded spirits such as Digital Nomads, entrepreneurs, location independent people and alike. The dry Savannah of the Kalahari offers a temperature range from 18°C to over 40°C. Keep in mind that the heat can be challenging and drinking water is extremely important. This is definitely an adventure and has not much in common with a usual tourist safari tour. The combination of van life, wild camping, safari and wildlife is very unique and one of its kind.
Expectations
Have you ever been on a Safari? Some people think of a luxury all-inclusive and pampering service where no wish is left behind. For us the unique experience is the topmost priority, however, there will be no luxury on this trip. We want to provide an experience you can otherwise not find. Driving yourself, get into the shoes of an explorer and adventurer to make your way and fully immerse into the safari expedition.
What is included?
The ten-day trip includes wild camping at campsites as vast as your eyes can see. With a small group of people, we want to share an exquisite experience with the freedom of driving your own vehicle whilst having the backup you need from people with experience. Sign up and apply at https://wildnomadsafari.com to get all the information regarding this unique experience.
Food and drinks
Wild Nomad Safari provides food and drinking water. We will cook together on the bonfire and have a BBQ in the natural environment of the Kalahari. The fridges in our cars will keep the drinks cold and there is nothing better than a cool drink whilst the sun sets in the dessert-like/savanna bushland. Camping tables and chairs are provided with the cars. The calm nights will provide a great balance after exploring and excitements of an entire day.
Solar showers
Solar showers are provided and you can shower in between. Water is scarse and you might want to use water very carefully. There are facilities at the campsites which can be used. The facilities are rather basic and water is not provided.
Power
Best you use the 12 Volt plug in the car to charge your equipment. There will be no 110 nor a 220 Volt outlet in the park whilst we drive within the Game Reserve. You will be able to use power in Gaborone and in Maun, either in the beginning or at the end of the trip.
Internet, connectivity and phone reception
During the crossing of the Kalahari, there will be no phone reception and no internet at all. Once back in civilization we will have all these amenities and we will be able to catch up with work, families and friends. But during the safari, we will have no possibility to go online.
Facilities
The facilities, as mentioned above, are basic and water is not provided. Composting toilets are maintained by the park authorities. Those wooden sheds provide privacy for taking showers and other necessities.
Safety first
Our topmost concern is safety. Travelling in a convoy with a group of people and several cars is generally very safe. The wildlife we encounter is well overlooked by park rangers. If in case the wildlife is behaving unusually we will get information along the way. With us is not only the experience of people who have done this route before but also we carry extra water and fuel, as well as a well equipped first aid kit. Within the park are several gates and patrolling park rangers. In case of emergency, there are airstrips where smaller aircraft can land and start from for a quick evacuation.
The cars are our home for the time being
We need to have cars with good off-road capabilities in order explore the bits and pieces of the Kalahari, spot wildlife and protect us from the heat. They are not just simply vehicles which will bring us from A to B, but they are our homes, shelter and transport vehicles for food water and all necessities we need to accomplish such a trip.
Toyota Single Cab 4x4 SC
The single cab option is great for couples or two people who want to share driving and a great experience throughout the course of the entire safari. Costs can be divided between two people, that makes the trip very affordable and more fun — sharing is caring! The single cab offers enough space for two people and luggage. The roof-top-tent can easily fit two people, it is fast to deploy and safe at night. Even in very rare occasions of rain, the tent protects you as well as the gear you might take into the tent.
The car feels agile and has great off-road capabilities. Specifications read as follows: 160 Liter Diesel Fuel Tank, Fuel Economy: 8km/litre, Manual Transmission, 4 Wheel Drive, Air-condition, Radio, Power Steering, ABS, Diesel engine.
Nissan Double Cab 4x4 MDE
For those of you who want to do a self-drive safari on a budget, it is possible to share a double cab between four adults. Pack your luggage very carefully and take only what you need and you will have plenty of space to enjoy the safari even with four people in one car. Costs can be divided between three or four people and thus make the trip super affordable! The single cab offers enough space for two people and luggage. The roof-top-tent can easily fit two people, it is fast to deploy and safe at night. Even in very rare occasions of rain, the tent protects you as well as the gear you might take into the tent.
The car is a bit heavier and thus has a stronger feel on the off-road stretches, but still very good off-road capabilities. Specifications read as follows: 140 Litre Diesel Fuel Tank, Fuel Economy: 8km/litre, Manual Transmission, 4 Wheel Drive, Air-condition, Radio-CD, Power Steering, ABS, Diesel engine.
What about the equipment for the safari/camping?
The rental cars come complete with all the equipment we need to do such a tour. The cars are self-sufficient with extra-large fuel tank, fridge, cooking equipment, cutlery, a big water tank and a roof-top-tent. The tents are easy to unfold and accessible via a small ladder.
Ten days are not enough, do you want more?
The Kalahari, which this article is focussing on, is only one part of a 30 day journey. Let me give you the entire scope of our trip. We combined several routes and divided them into three packages: 10, 20 and 30 days, check out our homepage to learn more about the details.
The entire trip (all 30 days) starts in Gaborone and ends in Windhoek, Namibia. On the screenshot above you can see 5 routes marked with colors and numbers.
Route #1: The first part of the trip, describes crossing the central Kalahari. We will spend ten days starting from Gaborone and finishing in Maun, all in Botswana.
Route #2: The second part of the trip, will be from Maun to the Makgadikgadi Pans and back to Maun, all in Botswana. We will have ten days to explore these corners of Botswana.
Route #3, #4, #5 and return to Windhoek: The third part of the trip, we will head from Maun to Windhoek in Namibia and explore the Etosha National Park, head further to Swakopmund, the Skeleton Coast, Walfishbay and check out the Namib Naukluft Park with several little side expeditions along the way.
The southern region of Africa is not only vast but offers amazing and stunning views, deep African culture, unseen beauty, a wild and rough nature. You will experience many magical moments which will surprise you on a daily basis. Diving into that part of the world will open a completely new chapter if you haven’t seen it before. Think about extending and visiting neighbouring countries, even if you explore on your own, write to us if you have questions or doubts.
Ghassan and Uwe would love to welcome you on this unique safari tour! I have done this exact tour a while ago and I can tell you first hand that this is very unique and otherwise you do not have the chance to do such a trip in this way of self-exploring safari. Seeing the animals in the wild and having the time to hang out in a desert-like and vast environment such as the Kalahari is a very special and amazing experience. Check out our website, hit the apply button or simply get more information about the tour. We would highly appreciate if you share our website or our article with your friends!
