Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park South Africa

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Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

The name, 'Kgalagadi' comes from the SAN language and means "Place of thirst"

The Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in South Africa was formed 1931 mainly to protect the migrating game, especially the gemsbok. Together with the adjacent Gemsbok National Park in Botswana, they are both known as the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. this park comprises an area of over 3,6 million hectares, covering an area about twice the size of Kruger and is one of very few conservation areas of this magnitude left in the world. Mostly semi-desert, The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park amaizingly vaied and beautiful. The Red sand dunes, sparse vegetation and the dry riverbeds of the Nossob and Auob allow easy spotting of antelope and predator species oand thus provide excellent photographic opportunities. It also has large populations of birds, reptiles, rodents and small mammals.

What about the wildlife?
Game to look out for includes the emblem of the park, the large striking desert antelope the Gemsbok. Suricate (Meerkat) made so famous by the TV show Meerkat manor. There are also the Black-maned Kalahari Lions, the kings of the Kalahari desert. As well as honeybadgers, african painted wild dogs, giraffe, cheetah, caracal, eland, spotted hyena, pangolin and the bat eared fox to name a few!

On the birding side:
The Kalagadi Transfrontier Park has a list of approximately 280 species of which only about 92 are resident. There are sociable weavers, their huge communal nests are unmistakable, pygmy falcons, the smallest falcon in Africa and is often seen around Sociable Weaver colonies preying on the birds. The reserve is famous for it's birds of prey, the commonest being Tawny and Black-breasted (chested) Snake Eagle, Bateleur, White-backed and Lappet-faced Vulture, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Gabar Goshawk, Pygmy Falcon and Greater Kestrel, Martial Eagle and Red-necked Falcon. Barn, Spotted and Verreaux’s (Giant) Eagle Owl, Pearl-spotted Owlet (The smallest owl in Africa), White-faced and African Scops-Owl may also be seen.

Where to stay

The Kalahari Gemsbok National Park has six different camps of varying size and vary in facilities and cost. Three traditional camps that have a basic shopping facility and fuel are situated on the South African side of the Park. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park also provides accommodation in three wilderness camps that have no fences and so invite the Kalahari right into your room! The camps are:

Traditional Rest Camps
* Nossob
* Twee Rivieren
* Mata Mata

Wilderness Camps
* Grootkolk
* Bitterpan
* Kalahari Tented Camp

Camping: Camping at the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is available at the following places:

* Rooiputs (unfenced)
* Kaa (unfenced)
* Polentswa (unfenced)
* Two Rivers
* Mabuasehube section has unfenced camping sites at: Mabuasehube, Khiding, Entrance Gate, Mpaathutlwa, Bosobogolo, Monamodi.

A good time to visit is June and July when the days are coolest and the animals have been drawn to the bores along the dry river beds.

For enquiries e-mail Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on jank@sanparks.org or phone: Park Tel: + 27 (0) 54 561 2000

All bookings for the Botswana side still has to be done through their office at:
Telephone: + 267 318 0774
Fax: +267 318 0775
Email: dwnp@gov.bw