Kalahari Desert Drive

The Kalahari Desert Drive covers 1250 km from start to finish.

Most travellers spend 6–8 days on the Kalahari Desert Drive, depending on stops and pace.

The recommended season for the Kalahari Desert Drive is Jun–Aug.

The Kalahari Desert Drive runs from Gaborone to Maun.

The Kalahari Desert Drive passes through Gaborone, Jwaneng, Kang.

The Kalahari Desert Drive is rated hard and is best handled with 4wd only.

Yes — the Kalahari Desert Drive includes off-road or rough sections that require 4wd only.

Yes — the Kalahari Desert Drive requires permits, fees, or border paperwork. Plan ahead: The Central Kalahari Game Reserve requires a paid entry permit booked in advance through Botswana's Department of Wildlife. Campsites inside the reserve are booked separately through private concessionaires and commonly sell out months ahead, so secure a site before relying on the entry permit alone. There is no direct road between Kang and Rakops; reach the reserve by driving north via Ghanzi and entering through Xade Gate, then crossing deep sand tracks to Deception Valley before exiting near Rakops via Matswere Gate. Tracks inside the reserve strictly require a 4WD vehicle with low-range capability, and night driving anywhere in this region is dangerous due to livestock and wildlife on the roads. There is no mobile signal inside the reserve, so travel with a second vehicle or a satellite communicator. Carry substantial fuel, water, and food as facilities are almost nonexistent. Kalahari winter nights can approach freezing even though the recommended Jun-Aug days are warm and dry, so pack and camp accordingly. The Maun/Okavango end of the route is a malaria-risk area; a prophylaxis check is worth doing before departure.

Plan around 2 refuels (or about 4 EV charges) along the Kalahari Desert Drive, based on its 1250 km length.

The Central Kalahari Game Reserve requires a paid entry permit booked in advance through Botswana's Department of Wildlife. Campsites inside the reserve are booked separately through private concessionaires and commonly sell out months ahead, so secure a site before relying on the entry permit alone. There is no direct road between Kang and Rakops; reach the reserve by driving north via Ghanzi and entering through Xade Gate, then crossing deep sand tracks to Deception Valley before exiting near Rakops via Matswere Gate. Tracks inside the reserve strictly require a 4WD vehicle with low-range capability, and night driving anywhere in this region is dangerous due to livestock and wildlife on the roads. There is no mobile signal inside the reserve, so travel with a second vehicle or a satellite communicator. Carry substantial fuel, water, and food as facilities are almost nonexistent. Kalahari winter nights can approach freezing even though the recommended Jun-Aug days are warm and dry, so pack and camp accordingly. The Maun/Okavango end of the route is a malaria-risk area; a prophylaxis check is worth doing before departure.

The Kalahari Desert Drive is a notable drive — Notable scenic drives — strong character routes that locals know well and that reward travellers willing to step beyond the most-photographed roads.