Home to an abundance of wildlife and surprisingly few tourists, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is the ideal destination of choice for seasoned safari-goers and nature lovers.
The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is an enormous wildlife reserve straddling the border between South Africa and Botswana. It is an impressive joining of forces between two governments, to protect wildlife on both sides of the border – an historic agreement which created Southern Africa’s first Peace Park. The park covers an area of 38, 000 square kilometres and gets very few visitors, making it ideal for serious game-viewers.
The boundary between the parks in Botswana and South Africa have no physical border, meaning wildlife can move freely and ancient migratory patterns are not disturbed. The park is home to a surprisingly abundant array of wildlife and is quickly becoming a hot spot for safari-goers looking for an authentic experience of the Kalahari.
Within the park, there are only a handful of safari lodges, and most people opt to rough-it in the wilderness camps which only provide basic shelter and water for self-drive visitors. The few safari camps which have been built, are all set in scenic locations within the reserve and offer en-suite accommodation and guided game viewing.
In terms of wildlife, the park is home migratory herds of wildebeest, springbok, eland and hartebeest, which provide sustenance for the impressive population of predators in the area. These include cheetah, leopard, brown hyena and desert-adapted Kalahari lion. More than 200 bird species can also be seen in the park, and highlights include vultures, raptors and secretary birds. Meerkats also add to the entertainment in the desert.
The weather in the Kalahari is extreme, as you might expect, and picking the right time of year to go can make or break your desert safari. Extreme daytime temperatures should be avoided from November to February and exceptionally cold nights from June to August. A more comfortable climate can be enjoyed in the shoulder months of March/April and September/October.
For more information regarding a Kgalagadi safari, get in touch with our South Africa travel experts at Kiboko Adventures.
Once again I saw how beautiful Southern Africa is! From the red sand dunes to the…
