Tswalu Kalahari Reserve

Swathes of undulating sands punctuated with thorny acacia trees, desert scrub

The vast red-hued Kalahari Desert extends for 360,000 square miles, filling much of Botswana, parts of Namibia, and South Africa. Endless miles of undulating sands punctuated with thorny acacia trees, desert scrub, and the occasional cactus—a sanctuary for many a desert species, from the wildebeest to the adorable meerkats.

The Tswalu Game Reserve (the greenest part of the Kalahari) is notorious for its diverse desert-adapted wildlife and has become a magnet for wildlife seekers. That said, do not expect the "Big 5" or the swagger of the Kruger resorts. Tswalu is different, offering the ultimate offbeat and conscious safari experience.