More than 100 years ago the first European people moved to Ghanzi district in Botswana by ox-wagon from South-Africa, lured by the good grazing opportunities for their cattle in this fertile area and the shallow underground water.

Almost exactly century later, the De Graaff family, direct descendants of the first settlers, saw the opportunities of combining game farming with the cultural activities of the San people in the area as a means of sharing the charms of this unspoilt semi-desert area in western Botswana with other people.

Neeltjie Bower, professional guide, speaks the local language (Naro), fluently, having grown up on a cattle ranch where she and the San children shared the pleasures of free childhood in a natural environment.

She will guide you through a magnificent experience of observing the interaction of the world's oldest people with nature in the ancient Kalahari.

Location
Grassland Safaris is situated next to a vast stretch of unoccupied land between Ghanzi ranches and the well known Central Kalahari Game Reserve, the second largest game reserve in the world.

Big and small game from the reserve move freely into this area adjacent to the farm, complementing the wildlife sighting opportunities the farm already offers.

On game drives big herds of strictly Kalahari Game can be seen. Experience the famous Kalahari sunset with the silhouette of herds of eland, gemsbok, blue wildebeest etc. Several of the smaller species such as duiker and steenbok are also present.

During night drives you are likely to see a slough of nocturnal animals like porcupine, aardvark, brown hyena and much more. The brilliant stars in the Kalahari night sky with the cool desert breeze is a sensuous experience not to be missed.

During your cultural activities you will have a once in a lifetime chance to join the local people on a food gathering experience. See their amazing skills of "reading" the signs of the veld and understand more about the reason for their survival for so many centuries in a seemingly hostile environment. See how even the youngest ones knows how to distinguish between the myriad of tracks in the sand, telling about every animal's exact behaviour.

Botswana
Situated in the heart of Southern Africa, Botswana remains one of last wild and untamed areas left unspoiled by civilization.

Botswana is a land-locked country dominated in geographical terms by the Kalahari Desert. It is bordered by Zambia and Zimbabwe to the northeast, Namibia to the north and west, and South Africa to the south and southeast. The distance between the far north and south of Botswana is about 1,110 kilometers. It is 960 kilometers across at its widest.

The Kalahari
The Kalahari Desert stretches west covering 84% of the country. The Kalahari extends far beyond Botswana's western borders, covering parts of South Africa, Namibia and Angola.

Most of the Kalahari is covered with vegetation including stunted thorn and scrub bush, trees and grasslands. The largely unchanging flat terrain is occasionally interrupted by gently descending valleys, sand dunes, large numbers of pans and, in the extreme northwest, isolated hills, such as Aha, Tsodilo, Koanaka and Gcwihaba.

In the north-west, the Okavango River flows in from the highlands of Angola and soaks into the sands, forming the 15,000 sq. km network of water channels, lagoons, swamps and islands. The Okavango is the largest inland delta system in the world.

Climate
The dry season is between April and September. Most of the rainfall starts late in December, and stops towards the end of February. Average rainfall is 450mm per year.

Average midsummer temperatures are between 35 degrees Celsius and 40 degrees. Normal temperatures average between 30-35 degrees. It can occasionally rise into the forties on a very warm day, but do not fear, for the swimming pool is near..

During winter, daytime temperature are about 27 degrees Celsius, lowering to 6 degrees at night, only occasionally dropping below freezing point in winter.