Kalahari, Botswana
Deception Valley Lodge
Luxurious and comfortably traditional, Deception Valley Lodge is a family-run property set to the north of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Nestled on a private concession, it offers exclusivity, seclusion and unspoilt wilderness. Home to a variety of game, big and small, as well as the indigenous San Bushmen, your experience at the lodge is bound to be extraordinary.
Luxurious and comfortably traditional, Deception Valley Lodge is a family-run property set to the north of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Nestled on a private concession, it offers exclusivity, seclusion and unspoilt wilderness. Home to a variety of game, big and small, as well as the indigenous San Bushmen, your experience at the lodge is bound to be extraordinary.
Luxurious and comfortably traditional, Deception Valley Lodge is a family-run property set to the north of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Nestled on a private concession, it offers exclusivity, seclusion and unspoilt wilderness. Home to a variety of game, big and small, as well as the indigenous San Bushmen, your experience at the lodge is bound to be extraordinary.
Luxurious and comfortably traditional, Deception Valley Lodge is a family-run property set to the north of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Nestled on a private concession, it offers exclusivity, seclusion and unspoilt wilderness. Home to a variety of game, big and small, as well as the indigenous San Bushmen, your experience at the lodge is bound to be extraordinary.
Location
Situated in the heart of a 43,000 hectare private reserve adjoining the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Deception Valley Lodge lies in the beds of a fossilised river. Covered with tall, tawny grasses and groves of trees, the gently undulating landscape is rich with mammals and birdlife.
Accommodation
Built to fit into the surrounding terrain without altering, damaging or detracting from its ambience, eight thatched chalets stand on stilts rising from the arid Kalahari bush land. Each chalet comprises a thoughtfully appointed lounge area, spacious bedroom and en-suite bathroom with Victorian style fittings (including a clawfoot bath to sink into after a day out in the wilds).
The hardwood floors continue out through large folding doors to a covered porch complete with deck chairs, and you’ll find an open-air shower outside too. Two of the eight rooms turn into a family suite by way of an interconnecting door, making it ideal for small groups or families.
The hardwood floors continue out through large folding doors to a covered porch complete with deck chairs, and you’ll find an open-air shower outside too. Two of the eight rooms turn into a family suite by way of an interconnecting door, making it ideal for small groups or families.
In between activities, make use of the lodge’s main area which is linked to all rooms by a slightly raised wooden walkway. Here, you’ll find an indoor lounge, bar and dining area furnished in warm Kalahari colours, dark woods and African artefacts. For those days where the heat of the desert gets too much, head outside to the shared swimming pool to cool off.
The main hub of activity is the outdoor deck featuring a lounge area perfect for unwinding in, and a dining area where fresh and tasty meals are served alongside other guests. Both afford unspoilt views of the nearby watering hole, frequented by wildebeest, zebra, giraffe and more. As the sun sinks and the sky is set alight by countless twinkling stars, gather around the boma to share tales of your day's activities.
The main hub of activity is the outdoor deck featuring a lounge area perfect for unwinding in, and a dining area where fresh and tasty meals are served alongside other guests. Both afford unspoilt views of the nearby watering hole, frequented by wildebeest, zebra, giraffe and more. As the sun sinks and the sky is set alight by countless twinkling stars, gather around the boma to share tales of your day's activities.
Experiences
- Delight in action packed morning, afternoon and early evening game drives in an open, 4×4 vehicle. Led by professional guides and Bushmen trackers, you’ll have the chance to see animals including cheetah, elephant, giraffe, springbok, ostrich and occasionally even the magnificent black maned Kalahari lion.
- Seize the opportunity to catch a glimpse of Africa's elusive nocturnal animals after dark on an enthralling night drive.
- A bird lover's paradise, Deception Valley is home to over 200 bird species that can be seen flitting across the reserve and splashing in waterholes.
- Venture out on a walking safari with your expert guide and local Bushmen to learn more about the native flora and smaller fauna that inhabit the area.
Walk with the Bushmen of the Naro Tribe
The San Bushmen were the first inhabitants in Southern Africa, and over 20,000 years later, the community has continued to adapt and survive the arid conditions of the Kalahari. At Deception Valley Lodge, take pleasure in a truly remarkable experience, meeting Bushmen from the Naro speaking tribe and learning about their unique culture.
Depart on a guided walk where the San people will share their knowledge, allowing you to experience, taste and feel how the people of the oldest surviving culture in the world live.
Depart on a guided walk where the San people will share their knowledge, allowing you to experience, taste and feel how the people of the oldest surviving culture in the world live.
Positive Impact
We prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.We prioritise working with properties that collaborate with local communities and address location-specific needs from education to anti-poaching. We assess our partners to ensure the people we work with share our values of ensuring our trips continue to act as a force for good. Here we share some of the positive impacts your stay here contributes to.
Conservation
The vision at Deception Valley Lodge (DVL) is to return previously farmed and hunting land back into wild spaces. In 2017, the lodge was taken over by conservation-focussed owners who turned the grazing land into a 43,000-hectare conservancy within which wildlife can roam freely.
Environment
DVL strives to keep the overall carbon footprint of the camp as low as possible. They do this by using solar systems, minimising waste and growing their own vegetables. They are also looking to push boundaries and bring in an electric fleet of game drive vehicles.
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