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Khutse Game Reserve is a popular weekend retreat for Gaborone residents. It is adjacent to Central Kalahari Game Reserve, and it has the same arid habitat. There are no fences between the reserves but wildlife densities are lower in Khutse. This place is more about getting away from the city for a couple of days and getting a taste of the Kalahari than intensive wildlife viewing.
Geography
The Khutse Game Reserve spans an area of about 2,500 square kilometers and shares an unfenced boundary with the Central Kalahari Game Reserve to the north. The terrain within Khutse encompasses various Kalahari habitat types, including rolling grasslands, dry riverbeds, fossil dunes, and both grassed and bare pans. These geographical features are remnants of an ancient river system that once flowed into Lake Makgadikgadi.
Flora and Fauna
The reserve is home to a diverse range of wildlife. Commonly sighted animals include springbok, gemsbok (oryx), giraffe, wildebeest, hartebeest, kudu, black-backed jackal, steenbok, duiker, as well as several predators such as lion, leopard, cheetah, smaller cats, and the endangered brown hyena. The wildlife population tends to increase significantly during the rainy season when water sources become available.
Activities Available
Visitors can engage in various activities within the reserve including game drives and nature walks guided by local San (Basarwa) people. There are several loop trails available for exploration; however, accommodation options are limited primarily to campsites with basic facilities.
Accommodation and Facilities
There are no lodges within Khutse Game Reserve itself; instead, visitors can find campsites that offer minimal amenities such as basic latrines but no running water or food supplies. Visitors must bring their water and fuel for their stay.
From: $319 to $2000 pp/da
From: December to March (Best wildlife viewing)
From: July to October (The park never gets crowded)
From: 2,500km² / 965mi²
Khutse Game Reserve is not a prime wildlife destination, but all animals present in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve can be found here. Oryx and springbok are quite common. Other antelope that might be encountered are greater kudu, hartebeest, and steenbok. Wildebeest and giraffes are present as well. Of the big cats, the lion is the most common.
Wildlife Highlights
The rare and very shy brown hyena can sometimes be seen at dawn or dusk. Of the smaller predators, suricate and yellow mongoose are quite common, and bat-eared foxes are easily spotted when they are denning. There have been occasional cheetah sightings in the reserve as well.
Best Time for Wildlife Viewing
The best time for wildlife viewing in Khutse is in the wet months, from December to March when animals gather around the pans. Some of the roads can become difficult to navigate during this time. The park authorities sometimes pump water from boreholes into two of the pans to attract wildlife in the Dry season as well.
A hot, desert climate awaits visitors to Khutse Game Reserve, which is also subject to a distinct Dry and Wet season. April and May are the beginning of the Dry season, and the rains that kick off the Wet season usually begin in October or November.
Dry Season –April to October
The park begins to really dry out from May onward, as the season progresses. The coolest months are June and July, but temperatures begin climbing in August and peak from October to January.
Wet Season –November to March
The first rains bring relief from the relentless heat. Afternoon thunderstorms and short showers are a daily pattern, although it rarely rains all day. Afternoon temperatures are typically about 31°C/88°F all season. Mornings are pleasant.
Khutse Game Reserve is located 240km/149 mi from Gaborone and the drive takes about 4 hours*. The park is a popular weekend retreat from the city. There is no accommodation in or near the park, but there are several campsites with limited facilities inside the park. Self-drive visitors need to be self-sufficient and bring enough fuel and water among other supplies. There are no fences between the reserve and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, and it’s possible to arrive here in a 4x4 from the north.
There are several possible points of entry into the country depending on your itinerary, but to visit Khutse, most visitors fly into Botswana’s main airport, Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE), located 11km/7miles north of Gaborone. Your tour operator will meet you there, or you can pick up a 4x4 if you have booked a self-drive safari.
Your tour operator normally books charter flights as part of your safari package. There are no scheduled flights to Khutse Game Reserve.
*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.
Airlines & Ticket Prices
Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE), and what tickets would cost.
Passport, Visa & Other Entry Requirements
Please check our Getting There – Botswana page to learn more about passports, visas, COVID-19, and other entry requirements.
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