Hot & Useful Links
Travellers' Tales
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
General Information
Important Visitor Information
The following information will be useful for your visit to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
- Shops in Mata Mata, Nossob and Twee Rivieren camps sell commodities that you will find in your local supermarket, including fresh meat, milk, cheese, eggs, wine, beer and spirits.
- Filling stations in Mata Mata, Nossob and Twee Rivieren camps sell premium and unleaded petrol and diesel.
- Twee Rivieren is the only camp with a restaurant and public telephones (card and coin).
- Guests traveling to Twee Rivieren via Upington/Van Zylsrus must not drive at high speed as the gravel sections on both routes are badly corrugated.
- Swimming pool in Twee Rivieren and Kalahari Tent camps.
- Power points at camping sites, in Twee Rivieren, Mata Mata and Nossob camps.
- Hide at waterhole in Mata Mata and Nossob camps.
- Waterhole at Bitterpan, Grootkolk, Kieliekrankie, Urikaruus, Gharagab and Kalahari Tent camps.
- Info centre at Twee Rivieren camp. Predator centre at Nossob camp.
- Bitterpan, Grootkolk, Kieliekrankie, Urikaruus, Gharagab and Kalahari Tent camps are not fenced.
- Guests staying at Bitterpan, Grootkolk, Kieliekrankie, Urikaruus, Gharagab and Kalahari Tent camps must take own wood and drinking water.
- Only guests staying at Bitterpan and Gharagab are allowed to make use of 4X4 road to Bitterpan and Gharagab. NO TRAILERS ALLOWED.
- Closest shop to Kalahari Tent camp is at Mata Mata camp (3 km away).
- Departure time for the Nossob 4 x 4 eco-trail from Twee Rivieren or Nossob camp is 09:00.
- For trails that start in Twee Rivieren, it is advisable to book the night after the trail, in Nossob camp.
- Distance from Upington – 260 km.
- NB: Visitors must allow for the following traveling time from Twee Rivieren entrance gate, to the other camps:
- Nossob - 3½ hours
- Grootkolk - 6 hours
- Gharagab - Not possible in one day
- Bitterpan - 6½ hours
- Kieliekrankie -1½ hours
- Urikaruus - 2 hours
- Kalahari Tent Camp - 2½ hours
- Mata Mata 2½ hours
Climate
TThe Kalahari is a semi-arid region with an average rainfall of 150mm in the southwest to 350mm in the northeast. The unreliable and irregular rains fall mostly during dramatic thunderstorms, often accompanied by strong winds and dust-storms, between November and April. The first rains transform the red dunes, covering them with the fresh yellow flowers of the dubbeltjie, Tribulus terrestris. Within two weeks fresh green grass begins to grow, but if the rains do not return, the vegetation will soon wither and the thirstland once again becomes apparent.
Temperatures vary greatly from -11°C on cold winter nights to 42°C in the shade on summer days when the ground surface temperature reaches a sizzling 70°C. During the winter months, when frost is common, the ground surface temperature can be 25°C lower that the temperature of the air. Winter in the Kalahari is a cool, dry season from September to October and then a hot, wet season from November to April.
Day travellers
There are communal ablution facilities at Twee Rivieren, Nossob and Mata Mata rest camps and picnic sites at Melkvlei, 50 km (north of Twee Rivieren), Dikbaardskolk, 56 km (South of Nossob) and at Kamqua between Twee Rivieren and Mata-Mata.
Contact Information
In case of emergency
South Africa: Contact our staff at reception or at staff houses.
Upington Medi-Clinic, tel. 054 3388900
Botswana: Maun, tel. 00267 6860444 or Gaborone tel. 00267 3901999
Medical Rescue: tel. 00267 3901601 or contact your nearest camp with radio communication.
For enquiries e-mail Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park or phone us on the following numbers:
Park Tel: + 27 (0) 54 561 2000
Fax: + 27 (0) 54 561 2005
Official hours
Office Hours - 07:30 to sundown
Gate Hours
| January to February | 06:00 – 19:30 |
| March | 06:30 – 19:00 |
| April | 07:00 – 18:30 |
| May | 07:00 – 18:00 |
| June and July | 07:30 – 18:00 |
| August | 07:00 – 18:30 |
| September | 06:30 – 18:30 |
| October | 06:00 – 19:00 |
| November and December | 05:30 – 19:30 |
Take note
- Pets are not allowed in a National Park.
- Firearms must be declared at the gate where they will be sealed. The seal will be broken upon departure.
- Shoes are essential on summer evenings for protection against the possibility of scorpion stings.
- Keep an emergency supply of 10 litres water in your vehicle.
- In the event of a breakdown, remain in your vehicle – it is the safest place.
- This is a low risk malaria area. Consult your chemist.
- Roads in the park have gravel surfaces.
- Light aircraft may land on a tarred runway at Twee Rivieren. Prior permission must be obtained from the Park.
- Hired cars may be collected at Twee Rivieren provided that an advance booking was made.
- The travelling time from the entrance gate at Twee Rivieren to Nossob Rest Camp is 3.5 hours and to Mata Mata is 2.5 hours. When driving from one rest camp to the other, travellers should depart with travelling times in mind to ensure arrival before sunset as no travelling is allowed in the park after dark.
Visitors to Botswana
Camping is available at Polentswa, Rooiputs,
Two Rivers and in Mabuasehube. A 4x4 vehicle is
necessary to access the Botswana side of the Park
Have a question? Why not ask at the forums?
