Introduction
The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park lies in a large sand-filled basin in the west of the southern African subcontinent, known as the Kalahari Desert. It straddles both South Africa and Botswana to create an enormous conservation area of over 3,6 million hectares and one of the very few of this magnitude in the world.
The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is an amalgamation of the former Kalahari Gemsbok National Park of South Africa, which was proclaimed in 1931 mainly to protect migratory game such as Gemsbok, and the adjacent Gemsbok National Park in Botswana.
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is characterized by vast arid landscapes with red dunes, sparse vegetation and camel thorn trees. Animals tend to gather in the dry river beds and waterholes. Herds of Gemsbok, Springbok, Eland and Blue Wildebeest follow the seasons, closely watched by prides of Black-Mane Lion. Other predators include Leopard, Cheetah, Brown and Spotted Hyena and birds of prey.
There are five gates through which one can enter the Park. These are located in three different countries. The only access from South Africa is at the Twee Rivieren gate. Botswana has three access gates at Kaa, Mabuasehube and Two Rivers, and from Namibia one can enter at Mata-Mata. From the South African side no passports are necessary.
There is a speed limit of 50km/h in the Park, and in the rest camps one is limited to 20 km/h. Many animals get run over by speeding vehicles as they tend to sometimes blend in with the environment. Further more, by driving slowly the dust factor is also greatly reduced.
Feeding of wild animals is prohibited throughout the park. Inside camping areas, beware of Jackals who are known to go as far as grabbing food from your fireplace.
Most facilities like shops, swimming pools, rangers, information centres and fuel are to be found at the more traditional camps like Mata-Mata, Nossob and Twee Rivieren. The latter is the administrative centre and the only passport control office.
Visitors to the Park are kindly requested not to collect firewood in the park, but rather bring along enough of your own or buy from one of the shops. Dry tree trunks and dead wood often harbours a myriad of small animals like rodents or reptiles, not to mention a variety of seedlings and insects. The dead wood is nature’s way of providing shelter for these animals and organisms, so by removing it the ecology is disturbed every time. In years to come the dead wood will decompose and return natural nutrients and minerals back into the soil to feed new life again.
There are many organisms living in the dunes and riverbeds, and off-road driving in these areas has a marked impact on this sensitive ecosystem, biologically as well as from a aesthetic point of view. Vehicle tracks left on the dunes and in the river beds remain there for a very long time and spoils the natural beauty of the environment.
The arid landscapes with red dunes and blue skies in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park together with various African wildlife is ideal for game viewing and photographic safaris
Main Camps:
Twee Rivieren, Mata Mata & Nossob
Wilderness Camps:
Grootkolk Wilderness Camp, Urikaruus Wilderness Camp, Kielie Krankie Wilderness Camp, Bitterpan Wilderness Camp, Gharagab Wilderness Camp, Kalahari Tented Camp and ! Xaus Lodge run by San/Bushmen communities
Botswana Luxury Camps:
Ta Shebube Lodge, Polentswa Lodge
+267 316 1696 or +267 71 578 568 info@tashebube.co.bw
Game drives, hiking, 4x4 trails, Eco trail, Swimming
Fantastic birding, predator sightings and scenic 4x4 trails
Border crossing from South Africa into Namibia:
Travellers wanting to exit the park other than the point of entry must kindly note that all immigration controls must be done at Twee Rivieren, and that a minimum 2 night stay is required inside the Park.
Border crossing from Namibia into South Africa:
Border crossing at Mata Mata from Namibia into South Africa requires that you have 2 nights confirmed booking in the Park.
Driving in the park is not permitted after dark - guests must arrive at their camps in good time and gate times are strictly adhered to. Not all roads within the park are sedan friendly, even though the roads are maintained on a monthly basis, sedan vehicles may find it difficult to cope with the conditions.