It has become tradition with us that anytime we decide to go camping, something will always turn up or happen that will make the trip that much more exciting or frustrating or nerve-wrecking (or in most cases all three).  Our latest trip to Khutse involved fire, rain, magnificent sunsets and an elephant charge!

Over the past few years that we have lived in Botswana, we have travelled to most of the “main” wildlife/camping areas in the country. We’ve visited the Tuli Block in Eastern Botswana, Kasane and the Chobe river and national park in the north, Khutse in the South-West and so we figured it was about time we went to the North-West and visit the town of Maun, the Moremi Game Reserve and of course, the Okavango Delta!

When one mentions the town of Palapye in Botswana's Central District, the association with the now well-frequented Moremi Gorge (read our review here) is often made. If, however, you want something a bit more off the beaten track, then why not explore the Old Palapye ruins and visit the smaller, but still very scenic Motetane Gorge?

The small town of Palapye, located about 270km North East from Gaborone has a population of just over 30,000 and is known for being near the Khama Rhino Sanctuary and en route to the more popular tourist destinations in Botswana like Nata, Kasane and Maun.  Yet this little gem of a town is home to some amazing landscapes and boasts a couple of fascinating gorges with crystal clear waterfalls and bubbling brooks!

“If you go to Khutse alone and unprepared, you will die!”  That was the general consensus from all our research as we planned our first trip to the Khutse Game Reserve in Botswana.  "One life, live it" was our cheesy attitude and off we went on our 3-day/2-night camping trip to Khutse…and we lived to tell the tale!

After our last rain-soaked trip to Kasane in northern Botswana, we decided to give it another go, but this time before the heavy summer rains started.  The Independence Day long weekend (end of September - beginning of October) gave us the ideal opportunity, so we invited my dad along, packed up a few items and made the 940km drive up from Gaborone to Senyati Safari Camp, about 17km before Kasane itself.

When the email from the Limpopo River Lodge Reservations office says "We have everything you need, just bring your food and drink", that's literally what it meant. Fully-equipped chalets and rondavels on the banks of the Limpopo River are what you can expect if you take a trip to this small but quaint and almost desolate area of the Tuli Block in Eastern Botswana.

The Mokolodi Nature Reserve, located a metaphorical stone’s throw away from Gaborone not only has game drives, a quaint restaurant and picnic spots in the bush, it also has a couple of accommodation options including chalets and camping.  We spent a couple of nights at a camp site and it truly is a great, "beginner" (if I can call it that) camping experience near the city.

In January of 2016 we had gone to the small town of Palapye for a friend's wedding. We stayed the night at a small but quaint Cresta Hotel and the following morning made our way to the nearby Khama Rhino Sanctuary for a quick day trip. After enjoying that day-visit and not realising the full potential of the place, we agreed to come back another time for a few days and really appreciate what the Sanctuary has to offer. And a few months later, we were on our way, about four hours away from Gaborone, to spend two nights in a chalet at the Khama Rhino Sanctuary.