Itineraries - Botswana and Namibia - page 49

Two Weeks Secrets of the Kalahari
If you're looking to leave the khaki-clad tourist crowds behind, this off-the-beaten-track
option in Botswana takes you straight through the heart of the Kalahari. If you're starting
in Johannesburg, head west for the border, where you can cross at Bokspits to enter the
enormous Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park . The park is one of the only spots in the Kala-
hari where you can see shifting sand dunes, though the undisputed highlight is its pristine
wilderness and low tourist volume. The Kalahari of your imagination, it's noted for its
wildlife watching, being home to large numbers of springboks, gemsboks, eland and
wildebeest as well as predators, including lions, cheetahs, leopards, wild dogs, jackals and
hyenas. If you like birdwatching then you're in for a treat here too.
From here, head east towards Gaborone and then loop back to enter the southern gates
of the utterly wild Khutse Game Reserve . Here are well-maintained trails and around 60
pans that once made up the largest inland lake on the continent. Leopard and lion sight-
ings are possible wildlife highlights. From here, traverse north through some exciting
4WD territory into the adjoining Central Kalahari Game Reserve , where you can nav-
igate one of the continent's most prominent topographical features. It's about the size of
Denmark, so there's plenty of scope for losing yourself in Africa's raw heart. Before leav-
ing, spend a night or two in Deception (Letiahau) Valley , renowned for its rare brown
hyenas. Although wildlife densities are significantly lower than in Chobe or the Okavango
Delta, so are the numbers of safari vehicles.
Heading north, you'll pass through D'kar , where you can pick up some beautiful San
crafts. If you're here in August immerse yourself in traditional bushman culture at the
Kuru Dance Festival. Then press on for the remote Gcwihaba (Drotsky's) Cave ,
renowned for its 10m-long stalagmites and stalactites, as well as Commerson's leaf-nosed
bats. Finally, at the furthermost tip of the country, you'll come to the mystical Tsodilo
Hills , which are a treasure chest of painted rock art that continue to be revered by local
communities. The beautiful colours of these remote hills are striking but it's the 4000-plus
prehistoric rock paintings throughout the hills that most people are here to see.