​Overview – Khutse GR

Anthony Ham
Expert
By Anthony Ham

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the Botswana & Namibia guide.

Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Botswana & Namibia Lonely Planet guide.

Anthony is the author of the Botswana & Namibia Lonely Planet guide.

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 for the Kalahari than intensive wildlife viewing.

Best Time To Go December to March (Best wildlife viewing)
High Season July to October (The park never gets crowded)
Size 2,500km² / 965mi²
Altitude 1,001-1,098m / 3,284-3,602ft

Pros & Cons

  • Easily accessible from Gaborone
  • Gives a taste of the Central Kalahari
  • Stunning desert scenery
  • No accommodation in or near the park, only campsites
  • Only one campsite (at the gate) has running water and facilities
  • Little wildlife in variety and numbers
  • It is very hot and dry

Khutse GR Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding

Wildlife

Common antelope species include springbok and gemsbok. Other animals to look out for are giraffe, wildebeest, kudu and hartebeest. The most common predator is the black-backed jackal, but lion, leopard and cheetah are all present as well. The desert-adapted brown hyena can sometimes be spotted in the early morning or late afternoon.

Scenery

The park is a good example of Kalahari habitats, incorporating grassy plains, pans, dry riverbeds and fossil dunes. The stark scenery is particularly appealing at the end of the day when the sun is low in the sky and the shadows are long.

Weather & Climate

Each year at Khutse is equally divided into a Dry season (April to October) and a Wet season (November to March). Water evaporation in the park accelerates in June, with precipitation at its lowest the following month, and by October the park is crying out for rain. The Wet season begins with the odd shower, but by January, thunderstorms are replenishing the park’s water stocks.

Best Time To Visit

The Wet season (November to March) is the best time for wildlife spotting in Khutse. After the rains have broken, animals flock to the filled-up pans to quench their thirst, which makes for quite a spectacle. This is also the time of year when babies appear, which attracts the attention of local predators.

Want To Visit Khutse GR?

Khutse Operators

Khutse GR Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
Most Helpful Expert Review
Expert
Emma Gregg  –  
United Kingdom UK

Emma is an award-winning travel writer for Rough Guides, National Geographic Traveller, Travel Africa magazine and The Independent.

A taste of the Kalahari, within reach of the city
4/5

This small, southern extension of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is close enough to Gaborone to be popular with city-dwellers and overseas visitors alike. I think to get a true sense of the Kalahari wilderness it’s best to head deeper...

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Latest User Review
Hennie Lacock  –  
South Africa ZA
Reviewed: Apr 7, 2014
Lions in camp and a blanket of stars!
5/5

Upon arrival in the early mornings at the Khutse gate, we were greeted by friendly staff that assisted us with a prompt check in, advised us on which roads to travel to camp and shared some more vital information with us. The staff also...

Full Review