Khutse Game Reserve- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Khutse Game Reserve, a serene wilderness that extends over 2,500 square kilometers, offers an authentic slice of Botswana's natural heritage. This reserve, with its name meaning "where one kneels to drink" in the local Sekwena dialect, reveals the cultural reverence towards nature held by the people who share this land. Located a mere 240 kilometers from the bustling cityscape of Gaborone, it serves as an easily accessible retreat for both residents of the capital and visitors yearning for an escape into the wild. The journey to Khutse itself is a prelude to the adventure, as it winds through the Kalahari villages and past Molepolole, often referred to as the "gateway to the Kalahari". Khutse Game Reserve's geographical profile is a mosaic of distinct Kalahari landscapes, from rolling grasslands and riverbeds to fossil dunes and a mixture of grassed and bare pans. This variety in terrain seamlessly adjoins the vast expanse of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve to the north, with no fences to obstruct the free movement of wildlife between these reserves. This uninterrupted natural continuity ensures a rich tapestry of habitats, supporting a diverse array of flora and fauna. The reserve is a haven for wildlife enthusiasts, presenting frequent sightings of springbok and gemsbok, which thrive in abundance within this environment. The reserve's unique ecosystem also supports other notable species such as the South African giraffe, wildebeest, hartebeest, kudu, and an intriguing variety of smaller mammals like the black-backed jackal, steenbok, and duiker. Predators roam the reserve, maintaining the natural balance, with lion, African leopard, South African cheetah, wildcat, and the elusive endangered brown hyena marking their presence across the landscape. This dynamic interplay of predator and prey, set against the backdrop of Khutse's vivid Kalahari vistas, offers a captivating experience of Africa's untamed beauty.