The Kalahari comes to life during the wet season. As if by magic, the fresh grass attracts oryx and springbok, and their predators, the Kalahari lion and cheetah.

This seemingly endless expanse is home to several open ‘valleys’ and beautiful grassy plains. The most famous of these valleys is Deception Valley, and the best-known waterholes include Piper Pan, Tau Pan, Leopard Pan and Sunday Pan. Deception Valley and the pans attract a dense population of game during the wet season, mainly oryx and springbok, neither of which are to be found in the Okavango Delta. The greatest attraction here, however, is the black-maned Kalahari lion, which has learned to survive in this arid environment, and is able to go with out water for long periods of time. With a bit of luck, visitors may also spot cheetah, which has become much less common in other areas.

The best time to visit the Kalahari is from December to April. Every now and then a storm breaks over the Kalahari at the end of a scorching day, bringing with it long-awaited moisture to an otherwise parched region. Afterwards, the air is clean, the view clear, the stars in the night sky seem close enough to touch and the heavens hover like an immense blanket that gently covers everything.