Dinaka Camp sits at the northern edge of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, one of southern Africa's largest protected areas. Seven raised tents, guides from the San community, and an horizon of fossil plains: the camp offers a documentary approach to the Kalahari, far from the classic circuits of the Okavango Delta.

Why choose Dinaka Camp

Three elements distinguish this camp in the Botswana offering. First, its location: the Central Kalahari Reserve, established in 1961, remains one of the country's least visited sectors, with fossil valleys that few travellers reach. Second, the guide team, largely drawn from the San community (Bushmen), who bring an understanding of the environment rooted in ancestral knowledge of the desert. Finally, the place's scientific heritage: biologists Mark and Delia Owens studied the brown hyena in these valleys in the 1970s, an experience recounted in The Cry of the Kalahari.

Atmosphere

The camp is understated, designed for observation. The raised tents overlook a mosaic of salt pans, fossil valleys and grassy plains. The light is stark, the night skies particularly dark — the Central Kalahari ranks among southern Africa's least light-polluted zones. Evenings revolve around the campfire, with tales from San guides and naked-eye observation of the Milky Way. The setting remains a bush camp: you'll hear hyenas at night, and temperatures drop sharply after sunset from June to August.

Accommodation

The camp has seven tents pitched on stilts, connected by wooden walkways that facilitate movement and accommodate people with reduced mobility. The layout features double or twin beds depending on the tent; a large-format tent can sleep up to five people, ideal for families or small groups.

• Private bathrooms with hot and cold water
• Flush toilets
• Private terrace overlooking the plain
• Entirely solar-powered (3-star rated camp)

Activities on offer

Walking safari

Led by a San guide and an armed ranger, bush walks allow a close reading of tracks, medicinal plants and animal behaviour. The camp's surroundings host oryx, springbok, wildebeest, zebras and giraffes depending on the season.

4x4 safari, day and night

Daytime drives target the Kalahari's large predators: lion (males here often display the region's characteristic dark mane), leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena and brown hyena. The night-time drive, equipped with a spotlight, increases your chances of spotting caracals, African wild cats, porcupines and jackals.

Fossil valleys and stargazing

Excursions to Deception Valley and Passarge Valley, ancient fossilized river beds where the Owens conducted their research. The night sky, clear in the dry season, lends itself to astronomical observation without special equipment.

Meeting the San community

Exchanges around the campfire or on guided walks, focused on tracking techniques, plant uses and the recent history of San populations in the CKGR.

Access and location

The camp has an airstrip on-site, used by most guests via charter flights from Maun. By road, allow around 2.5 hours from Rakops, passing through Kuke (Ghanzi district). The route uses sandy tracks that require a 4x4 vehicle.

When to visit

The dry season, from May to October, is the recommended window: wildlife concentrates around water sources and low vegetation makes observation easier. Nights are cool to cold in June–August. The rainy season, December to April, is not advised: difficult tracks, dispersed wildlife, frequent storms. Children are welcome from age 7, with no dedicated activities — supervision remains the parents' responsibility.

Nearby

To extend or complement your Botswana itinerary, several camps offer complementary ecosystems:

• Camp Kadizora in the Okavango Delta, for an aquatic mokoro experience
• Ghoha Hills Lodge north of Chobe National Park, focused on elephants
• Muchenje Safari Lodge on the banks of the Chobe
• Nogaatsa Pan Lodge in a more secluded area of Chobe

Build your itinerary

Dinaka Camp typically fits into a circuit combining the Kalahari, Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park. To plan your stay and tailor the duration to the seasons, consult our Botswana travel guide.