Deception Valley, Botswana

Deception Valley is all that remains of a sprawling riverbed that has long since dried up. Stretching across 80km of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve's north, the valley is now covered with short grass, dotted with the occasional island of bushy trees. Some of the roots of the larger trees extend as far as 50m below the surface to the water table, enabling them to survive the dry winters.

The low canopies of these tree grove islands, usually made up of umbrella thorn (Acacia tortilis) and buffalo thorn (Ziziphus mucronata) provide shelter for game during the heat of the day and one can often see lion dozing in the shade of these thickets.

The fossil valley was first brought to the world's attention in 1985, by the book Cry of the Kalahari written by Mark and Delia Owens, who lived on the pan for seven years studying the brown hyaena that live here.

Camping is permitted in Deception Valley at Piper's Pan and at Sunday Pan, although there is no drinking water or any other facilities at these sites. Drinking water is sometimes available in the reserve at the Game Scout Camp at Matswere, near to the entrance gate on the road from Rakops.

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