Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Visiting the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park requires nothing more than a love for adventure and a desire to spend some time off from the fast pace of life. Access to the park is a two-hour drive from the nearest large town of Upington in the Northern Cape province; once there, you’ll have a vast area to explore – the park spans 38 000 square kilometers in a remote stretch of northwestern South Africa and southwestern Botswana.

The effort of getting there will be well-rewarded, because despite being situated squarely in the Kalahari Desert, there is an abundance of life to see – and the best place to start looking is in the shade of the camelthorn trees. These huge, umbrella-shaped icons of the area not only provide vantage points for raptors like Marshall eagle and red-necked falcon, but also much needed shade to those on the ground. Alongside antelope species such as springbok, gemsbok and Africa’s largest antelope, the eland, smaller wildlife like springhare, porcupine and warthog keep a wary eye out for predators, among them African wild dog, leopard, cheetah, brown hyena – and the rare black-maned Kalahari lion.

These big cats have roamed the Kalahari for eons, and the black mane is a special adaptation for the area’s extreme conditions – the dark hair helps with temperature regulation by trapping heat. Another adaptation is their tendency to choose safety in numbers by living in big family groups. This means that, despite their overall numbers being low, if you see one, you’re likely to find a whole pride nearby.

Discovering the Transfrontier park can be done via guided safari drive, which can be booked for mornings or evenings. Alternatively, a self-drive option in a suitable vehicle will also allow you to access six different 4×4 routes, ranging in length from 85 km to 257 km.

Accommodation in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park provides visitors with spectacular locations in which to relax, surrounded by the area’s vast and varying beauty. From saltpans, to scrubland, to imposing red dunes, your stay at the park will have you immersed in your surroundings. Options are tailored to suit budgets and group sizes, and include campsites, family chalets, cottages, and tented camps. Many of the rest camps are unfenced, with a ranger in attendance at all times.  

Please be aware that, due its remote location, amenities like restaurants, shops and card facilities are available in the park in a limited capacity – be sure to plan your trip around the need for these services within the rest camps and nearby towns.