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Khutse Game Reserve: A Kalahari Jewel

Experience the Kalahari's wild heart in Khutse Game Reserve: Remote beauty, diverse wildlife, and authentic Botswana safari adventures await.

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Khutse Game Reserve, meaning 'place where you can kneel down and drink' in Setswana, offers a tranquil safari experience in Botswana's Kalahari Desert. Established in 1971, this 2,500 sq km reserve features rolling grasslands, fossil dunes, and picturesque pans that attract diverse wildlife. It's a favorite for those seeking a remote and authentic African experience.

A brief summary to Khutse Game Reserve

Local tips

  • A 4x4 vehicle is essential for navigating the sandy tracks within the reserve.
  • The best time for wildlife viewing is during the wet season (Dec-Mar) when animals gather around the pans, or April-July after the rains.
  • Bring your own water, fuel, and supplies, as there are no shops within the reserve.
  • Book campsites in advance, especially for weekends and holidays.
  • Pay park conservation fees in advance or have cash ready, as credit/debit card facilities may not be available at the entrance gates.
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Getting There

  • Driving

    Khutse Game Reserve is typically accessed by driving from Gaborone. The 240 km journey takes approximately 4 hours, passing through Kalahari villages like Molepolole. From Molepolole, continue on the Mahalapye-Molepolole Road towards the reserve. Be prepared for the last stretch, which involves driving on sandy tracks, requiring a 4x4 vehicle. Ensure you have enough fuel, as the last fuel station is in Letlhakeng. Park entry fees are payable in cash at the gate. As of April 2022, international visitors pay BWP 190 per person per day, plus a vehicle entry fee of BWP 75 for foreign-registered vehicles. Camping fees are separate and can be paid to Bigfoot Tours.

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Discover more about Khutse Game Reserve

Khutse Game Reserve, a hidden gem in Botswana, provides an authentic and serene safari experience on the southern edge of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Officially established as a protected area in 1971, Khutse, meaning 'place where you can kneel down and drink', was the second game reserve created on tribal land in Botswana. Sharing an unfenced boundary with the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Khutse's 2,500 sq km encompasses diverse Kalahari habitats: rolling grasslands, dry riverbeds, fossil dunes, and grassed and bare pans. These pans, remnants of an ancient river system that once flowed northeast to fill the prehistoric Lake Makgadikgadi, become hotspots for wildlife, especially after rains. Artificial waterholes at Moreswa and Molose pans supplement this, improving game viewing year-round. Khutse is easily accessible from Gaborone, making it a popular weekend retreat. A drive through Kalahari villages, including Molepolole, adds to the experience. Game drives focus on pans such as Moreswa, Motailane, and Molose, offering chances to spot animals like springbok, gemsbok, giraffe, wildebeest, and predators including lion, leopard, cheetah, and the brown hyena. Birdwatchers will find raptors, bustards, and ostriches. Visitors can explore loop trails from the main lodge, with shorter and longer drives around the pans. The San and Bakgalagadi people live in villages near the reserve, offering opportunities to purchase local arts and crafts and arrange guided nature walks. Khutse offers a raw and intimate safari, far from commercial tourism, where the silence speaks volumes and every track tells a story.

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