Unpredictable, Unique, Infinitely Rewarding

Every time you visit the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, you’ll enjoy a distinct experience. This massive wilderness sprawls for 3.6 million hectares across the South Africa-Botswana border, alongside Namibia, and close to Upington.

This extraordinary, arid place boasts sparse Kalahari grasslands, scrub, and shifting sands, and offers abundant enjoyments for true nature lovers. These are our favorite parts.

Excellent Game Viewing Opportunities

Sparse low-lying vegetation and few water resources mean you don’t need to wait for the winter safari season to visit the Kgalagadi, it’s always easy to spot game in this environment.

Due to the semi-arid environment, there aren’t huge quantities of game in the area, but you can still look forward to seeing leopard, cheetah, giraffe, gemsbok, eland, brown and spotted hyena, and many less-famous species. The chance to spot a magnificent black-maned lion striding through the waving grass is enough to justify a visit here on its own.

These unique creatures are just like ordinary African lions apart from their longer, leaner legs, large feet, and manes ranging from blonde to pitch black. The females are built for speed, endurance, and stealth, with strong, lean, low-slung physiques.

The Kalahari lions must cover great distances with little respite from the sun to feed their prides which accounts for these adaptations.

They’ve also developed a low need for water, coupled with an internal cooling mechanism that helps them endure the fierce heat of their environment.

Pangolins, honey badgers, and bat-eared foxes are other starring species during sunrise and sunset game drives.

Brilliant Bird Watching

Despite its arid environment, the Kgalagadi attracts plenty of migrant birds between November and April. The usual population of 102 species swells to over 300 at this time.

Forty-six raptor species rule the skies in this part of the world including bateleurs, martial eagles, black-chested snake eagles, and white-backed as well as lappet-faced vultures.

Other interesting species include secretary birds, fairy flycatchers, pink-billed larks, and numerous owls.

Unique Photo Opportunities

Apart from incredible wildlife shots, visitors can also add stunning landscape panoramas to their photo galleries when they visit the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

This immense scrub desert boasts faraway horizons, high dunes, and endless sandy swathes guaranteed to have you reaching for your camera as the sun bids good morning or good night.

This uncluttered backdrop is the perfect canvas for recording animal interactions or the stark beauty of this unique place.

Ever-Moving Animals

Sparse resources mean the inhabitants of the park must keep moving in order to survive. The result is a never-ending tide of migrating herbivores, like wildebeest, springbok, and red hartebeest.

As a result, you won’t need to spend hours looking under bushes for reclining beasts. Every creature is almost always on the move in the Kgalagadi.

Impressive Campsites

The Park offers abundant accommodation options to suit every taste, including some unfenced campsites. Whether you opt for a rustic camping adventure or a more luxurious stay, the views, ambiance, and game viewing at any of the camps won’t disappoint you.

Four of the camps also offer swimming pools and there’s a restaurant at Twee Rivieren. This main camp also puts on regular slide shows, holiday programs, and informative lectures during peak seasons.

The Predator Centre at Nossob offers insights into the survival tactics of the fittest and fastest denizens of this unforgiving environment.

Raw Adventure

The roads in the Kgalagadi might offer bone-jarring discomfort at times, but they’re never boring. Due to this, it’s always best to arrive in a 4×4 for your visit.

This also gives you access to some out of the way eco-trails for true immersion in nature. These include the:

• 4-day Nossob Eco Trail
• Leeuwdril 4×4 Loop
• 2-day !Xerry Wilderness Trail

You can also maximize your self-drive safaris in a high-clearance vehicle. Otherwise, the park offers guided drives and wilderness walks.

Hides overlook waterholes where you can watch animals and birds in search of respite from the searing heat, and picnic sites offer relief during long drives.

Time to Reflect

With the intense heat, comes the opportunity to rest up during the hottest hours in between game drives. These moments, stolen from the hubbub of daily life offer a chance to catch up on sleep, reading, reflection, and reconnecting with your kin.

These remote spaces are perfect for clearing your mind far from the nagging irritations and interruptions of daily chores, work, and technology.

Plan Your Escape to Africa Today

If you read the last paragraph with an intense sense of longing for time to take a breath, you need an African safari soon.

Browse some more of our travel guide articles for ideas, check out our maps to help you plan your trip, and give yourself something to look forward to, soon.

Disclaimer
Please Note: The details shared herein were correct at the time of publishing. However, with time some of this information may change. We recommend confirming information with suppliers prior to making final travel arrangements. If you do happen to find an issue with any information we’ve shared here, please feel free to contact us so that we can make the relevant changes.