Botswana - Central Kalahari Game Reserve

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve (CKGR) and adjoining Khutse Game Reserve, lie between 21°00'S and 23°20'S and between 22°45'E and 25°20'E. Situated in central Botswana, it is part of the Kalahari Basin, the world's largest continuous stretch of sand, stretching from the Orange river up to Zaire. The CKGR is bordered to the north by the Kuke veterinary cordon fence and to the south by the Khutse Game Reserve. The Game Reserve was established in 1971 to protect its series of pans, dry river valleys and game. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is presently inhabited by traditional hunter-gatherers belonging to the Basarwa (San) and Bakgalakgadi tribes, but there are no human inhabitants in Khutse. Although there are large open grasslands, the Game Reserves are both largely covered with semi-arid shrub savanna and scrub. There are small patches or strips of Acacia woodland, and large areas of Terminalia sandveld. Fossil riverbeds found in Deception and Okwa valleys, and in the Khutse Game Reserve, mark the positions of rivers which once drained into the ancient Lake Makgadikgadi. Pans and shallow depressions periodically containing water are widespread. The floors of the pans are bare or covered with short grass and herbs, but may occasionally develop into wetlands after heavy rains.