Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park was Africa’s first cross-border park, a combination of South Africa’s Kalahari Gemsbok National Park and Botswana’s Gemsbok National Park.

The park is part of the Kalahari desert, approximately 38,000 square kilometers in size and partly located in the North Cape province. The landscape consists of sand dunes that are scarcely covered with grass and plains with camel thorn trees. The sand dunes provide beautiful photos when the sun rises or sinks and the sand dunes change color from tan to orange to deep red.

The Auob river flowed for the last time in 1974 and the Nossob river in 1964. Water flows underground here and ensures that vegetation is possible. Wells have been dug to bring water to the surface and these wells attract large numbers of wild animals. You will find small game such as meerkats, ground squirrels and numerous reptiles. Larger wildlife that lives in the park include: wildebeest, gemsbok, springbok, ostrich, moose, red hartebeest, leopard, jackal, hyena and the Kalahari lion with its black moon hairs.

Kgalagadi offers first-class viewing pleasure, a lot of visibility through the little vegetation and the concentration of plants and animal life mainly takes place along the dry river beds of the Auob and Nossob and water places. It is very special if you spot the ratchet, the pangolin or the big-eyed fox.

Temperatures vary considerably here. Varying from -11 ° C on cold winter nights to 42 ° C in the shade on summer days. The ground surface then reaches the sizzling temperature of 70 ° C. Winter in the Kalahari is cool and light frost is normal, the dry season is from September to October which is followed by the warm wet season from November to April. In these months, a heavy thunderstorm may occasionally occur.

General information
– The park’s main camp is Two Rivers, where you can book game drives and walks, among other things. Office hours: 7:30 am to sunset.
– Please note that the roads in Kgalagadi National Park are not sedan friendly. A 4×4 vehicle is highly recommended. Distances in the park are large and there are speed limits. Keep this in mind when planning your trip, you must arrive at your camp before sunset or have left the park
-If you use a different entrance and exit from the park, you are obliged to stay 2 nights in the park. You must complete all (immigration) papers at Two Rivers.
– You will find gas stations at Mata Mata, Twee Rivieren and Nossob. In Mata Mata, Nossob and Twee Rivieren camp there is a shop for basic needs, only with Twee Rivieren is a credit card machine. Two Rivers also has a restaurant and public telephones. There are swimming pools at Two Rivers, Kalahari Tent Camps, Mata Mata and Nossob camp. There is a Hiding spot at the water place of Mata Mata and Nossob camp to be able to observe animals in peace. Bitterpan, Grootkolk, Kieliekrankie, Urikaruus, Gharagab and Kalahari Tented camp all have a water place for the animals.

– At the Camps there is water, but it is very mineral-rich and may have a different taste, at the Wilderness Camps you must provide your own drinking water. You are advised to have an emergency supply of water in your car of 10 liters.
– Especially on summer evenings it is important to wear shoes i.v.m. scorpions.

Conservation Fees: the South African National Park administration has set a daily entrance fee (entrance fee) for all individual SAN parks. If you are going to visit several SAN parks in South Africa then it may be useful to purchase a Wildcard.

Rent a car, camper or 4×4 on our site under Car rental

Accommodation: there are different types of Camps, all not fenced but guarded by Rangers! You can stay in chalets or in tents. Children under 12 are not allowed in the Wilderness Camps.

Two Rivers Rest camp
Mata-Mata Rest camp
Nossob Rest camp
Bitterpan Wilderness Camp (only accessible by 4×4)
Grootkolk Wilderness Camp
Gharagab Wilderness Camp (only accessible by 4×4)
Kieliekrankie Wilderness Camp
Urikaruus Wilderness Camp
Kalahari Tented Camp

All images/information on this page: © SANParks.org 2004-2016

A foretaste?

One of our customers documented his visit to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park in 2017: https://vimeo.com/246129502

Add to my travel plans