The Kalahari Desert is one of the most inhospitable places in Africa. Most of the time, it is a place to wonder at the surrounding desolation and the vastness of Africa, but during the rains it is transformed into a startlingly beautiful, never-ending meadow. Khutse Game Reserve is a good place to catch this fantastic display.
The Kalahari covers more than two-thirds of Botswana. It is classed as a desert because of the low rainfall it receives, but underground reserves mean that it is mostly scrubby grassland rather than the typical sandy desert.
Visitors need to bring all their own equipment and need to be experienced in 4WD driving. San guides can be hired at the entrance to the park. They can show visitors how to live off the desert and the best places to see the flowers and animals in the reserve.
Khutse doesn't have the concentration of game that the other parks have, but visitors are still likely to see herds of antelope and ostrich as well as many smaller animals. Look out for the kori bustard, the world's heaviest flying bird. You can get pretty close before it bothers lifting its massive weight into the air.
To the north of Khutse lies the massive Central Kalahari Game Reserve, which was created to protect the lifestyle of the San Bushmen. It is still untouched and any expedition into it must be very experienced and well-prepared. You can expect to see a variety of animals throughout the year - wildebeest, antelope, lion, leopard and cheetah. You might also see some of the remaining San. Some continue to cling to their ancient nomadic ways, but many have been forced to lead a marginalised existence in shanty villages - a sad life for the original inhabitants of Southern Africa.
Visitors need to bring all their own equipment and need to be experienced in 4WD driving. San guides can be hired at the entrance to the park. They can show visitors how to live off the desert and the best places to see the flowers and animals in the reserve.
Khutse doesn't have the concentration of game that the other parks have, but visitors are still likely to see herds of antelope and ostrich as well as many smaller animals. Look out for the kori bustard, the world's heaviest flying bird. You can get pretty close before it bothers lifting its massive weight into the air.
To the north of Khutse lies the massive Central Kalahari Game Reserve, which was created to protect the lifestyle of the San Bushmen. It is still untouched and any expedition into it must be very experienced and well-prepared. You can expect to see a variety of animals throughout the year - wildebeest, antelope, lion, leopard and cheetah. You might also see some of the remaining San. Some continue to cling to their ancient nomadic ways, but many have been forced to lead a marginalised existence in shanty villages - a sad life for the original inhabitants of Southern Africa.
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