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Ghanzi Botswana
Ghanzi - also known as "The capital of the Kalahari" must be one of Botswana's most intriguing towns - situated in the middle of nowhere and separated from the rest of the world by hundreds of kilometres of road. The first and probably major impression you will have of the interminable journey from Gaborone to Ghanzi is the sheer monotony of the landscape. For the most part the terrain is flat and featureless, with some scrub bushes, thorn trees and grasslands. In the summer the heat is sweltering, in winter the drive is made more tolerable by cooler temperatures. The road is excellent tarmac. There is a strange fascination to it all - and subtle, unexpected variations in terrain. There is also beauty to be found in the eerie sunsets and in the desert night's overwhelming canopy of stars. Once, parts of this vast region were populated only by Bushmen (Basarwa) who had perfected survival strategies for living in this inhospitable land. Later the Bakgalagadi arrived and today live in Kalahari villages such as Ncojane, Matsheng and Kang. |
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After the Bushmen, the Ghanzi area was settled by Hottentots,
who it is believed, tended large herds of cattle.The first white
settlers arrived in 1874, led by Hendrik van Zyl, a flamboyant character
whose legend still persists in Ghanzi, as does the remains of his
once palatial house. Today there are over 200 cattle farms, holding approximately 6 per cent of the national herd. Most are prospering, owing to the fine grazing, abundant supply of groundwater and improved ranching techniques. Some experts call this the best cattle country in the world. |
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Ghanzi community is a conglomeration of ethnic groups - Bushmen, Bakgalagadi,
Baherero, Batawana, and Afrikaaners who own many of the farms. Afrikaans
is widely spoken - you might feel as if you are in a tiny South African
place in the northern Cape.
Depending on which activity you wish to partake in, it is best to go game
viewing during the dry season(May to October). If you have a special interest
in plants or wish to do cultural activities with the San, the wet season
is the best(December to April).However, at whichever time you chose to
visit, Ghanzi is the perfect place to stock up on fuel, food and water
as it has a variety of shops,filling stations and vehicle repair shops.
There is also meat and fresh produce available. Remember to get fresh
water as the water of the Kalahari is too salty for human consumption.
There are a variety of lodges to pick and choose from. Surprisingly, there
are a whole lot of them within 5km radius of Ghanzi.
The oldest hotel in Ghanzi(and long ago also the only one!) is the Kalahari
Arms Hotel. It has recently been renovated and offers good value for money.
Khawa Lodge is new and offers luxury accommodation with all the amenities
of a hotel.
Tautona Lodge also offers beautiful thatched chalets as well as camping,it
is situate on a game farm and there is a water hole adjacent to the camp
where the animals come to drink.
Thakadu Lodge (which is also situated on a game farm)provides luxury tents
for camping,and boasts a swimming pool.
And if you simply need a place to sleep for the night, head down to Ghanzi
Guest House which is very comfortable and is situated in town.
Have you visited this area? If so please share your experience and photographs
with us, we would love to include them on this webpage to help future
visitors to this area.
Email
: bookbotswana@madbookings.com
