Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is larger than many countries and one of the largest National Parks in the world. Where the red dunes and scrub fade into infinity and herds of gemsbok, springbok, eland and blue wildebeest follow the seasons, where imposing camel thorn trees provide shade for huge black-mane lions and vantage points for leopard and many raptors… this is the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
The area also incorporates salt pans which play an important role in the grazing and life patterns of the game. The large mammals, especially the predators, are always a major draw-card at Kgalagadi, the powerful black maned Kalahari lions, solitary leopard, sleek cheetah, majestic gemsbok, massive herds of wildebeest, graceful giraffe, hyaena, foxes, springbok and many others. To this glorious collection of large mammals, one can add the smaller animals, such as the mischievous suricates, ground squirrels (shading themselves with their tails), whistling rats, luminous blue headed ground agama and barking geckos. And, one can’t forget the thousands of sociable weavers with colossal thatched ‘apartments’, lappetfaced and whitebacked vultures, the acrobatic bateleur, the tiny pygmy falcon and the large swooping martial eagle. Put all of these wonderful creatures in amongst endless waves of red dunes and dry riverbeds with majestic camelthorn and shepherd trees and you have the magic that is the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
An indispensable travel guide of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is available at the Park Reception. This A4 publication has over 160 full colour photographs and covers the history of the Park and surrounding areas, climate, geology, rivers and resource management. But most importantly for the tourist, it includes illustrated descriptions of all the main plant-life, birds, small sand creatures, mammals, reptiles, antelopes and predators. To help you get around it includes a detailed map with times and distances between camps, waterholes and attractions.
On 12 May 2000, President Festus Mogae of Botswana and President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa formally launched Southern Africa’s first peace park, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Estimated large predator numbers
Lions 450
Leopards 150
Cheetahs 200
Brown hyaenas 600
Spotted hyaenas 375
Birding
264 bird species have been recorded in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. However only a mere 78 species are resident, while 16 are seasonal and 18 are nomadic.
Entry into the Park Access to the Park can be gained through five gates in three different countries! From South Africa access is through the Twee Rivieren gate, from Namibia through the Mata-Mata gate and from Botswana through the Two Rivers, Mabuasehube and Kaa gates. Passports are not required for entry, unless departure is planned through a different gate into another country.
Accommodation On South African side of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Traditional Camps
The traditional camps, being Twee Rivieren, Mata-Mata and Nossob, are where most of the facilities can be found including shops, fuel, swimming pools, information centres and rangers. Twee Rivieren is the administrative centre and the only passport control office.
Wilderness Camps
These exclusive unfenced camps have no other facilities other than the uniquely designed self-catering accommodation. The camps are Grootkolk, Gharagab, Kalahari Tented Camp, Kielie Krankie, Urikaruus and Bitterpan.
!Xaus Community Lodge
A 24-bed private concessionaire run lodge on the tribal lands of the Mier and Khomani San.
Distances to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Upington to Twee Rivieren 265 km
Kuruman to Twee Rivieren 383 km
Kimberley to Twee Rivieren 621 km
Cape Town to Twee Rivieren 1076 km
Johannesburg to Twee Rivieren 1090 km
Durban to Twee Rivieren 1463 km
Mata-Mata to Keetmanshoop 280 km
Kaa gate to Maun 797 km
Mabuasehube gate to Gaborone 533 km
Mabuasehube gate to Maun 787 km
Mabuasehube gate to Tsabong 115 km
Two Rivers to Gaborone 810 km
Two Rivers to Tsabong 310 km
Central Reservations
Email: Public requests: reservations@sanparks.org
Telephone: (Pretoria): +27 (0)12 428 9111 or mobile: +27 (0)82 233 9111
Visit the Northern cape tourism page
