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| Botswana: What to see | |||
| Gcwihaba or Drotsky's Caverns | |||
>see photographs Overview Gcwihaba Caverns takes it name from the ancient river that ran through the caves and means "the hyena's lair" in !Kung. These caves are also called Drotsky's Caverns after the San showed them to Martinus Drotsky in 1932. Situated 50 km south east of the Aha Hills near Botswana's western border with Namibia, one would be forgiven for passing these unspectacular ridges of sand coloured rock without a second glance. They are, however, the entrance to an enchanting system of magnificent caves. Impressive stalagmites, stalactites and subtly coloured flowstones adorn these caves amongst a maze of passages. Towards the centre of the caves is a large cavern, which is home to a wide variety of harmless but noisy bats. Wildlife Although not found in the high concentrations as elsewhere in Botswana, game is prevalent. As the area is fairly arid, gemsbok, eland, duiker, and kudu are the most common antelope and are preyed upon by leopard, wild dog, lion and cheetah. Smaller animals include thousands of bullfrogs congregating around water depressions after the rain, the smaller Kalahari tent tortoise and little barking geckos whose incessant yapping and rapid clicks break the desert's evening stillness. This is a commendable area for seeing a variety of bird species, particularly in summer when migrants, waders and waterfowl are attracted to rain-filled pans. Along with the bats, barn owls are a permanent feature of the caverns. Vegetation Vegetation in this area is predominantly tree and scrub savannah covering the sandy dunes of the Kalahari. Above the caves are mopane aloes and Namaqua fig trees, unrecorded anywhere else in Botswana. When to go As with Tsodilo Hills, it is worth visiting Drotsky's Caverns at any time of the year. Activities Exploring the Drotsky Caverns. Game viewing and birding. Accommodation One must be prepared to camp and, as there are no designated camping sites, be fully self sufficient. There is no close accommodation. Several Maun safari companies organize trips that include Gcwihaba Caverns, for enquiries please contact us. How to get there By road From Maun, take the main tar road to Shakawe and Namibia, turn west 2 km after Tsau. Travel to the 144 km point and turn left up the Nxainxaidum fossil valley for another 27 km to the caverns. Drivers need 4WD, high clearance and long range tanks. |
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