8-Day Kalahari Self-Drive Budget Camping Tour

• A transfer from the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrival in Upington and Drive to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

You either collect your vehicle when you fly to Upington for the start of your tour or you drive on your own to Upington if you already have a vehicle.

You'll drive to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. As you drive northwards, the Kalahari will start to reveal herself to you. She will welcome you with views of red dunes and salt pans next to the road.

The Kalahari Desert is a large, semi-arid sandy savannah in Southern Africa, extending for 900,000 sq. km. It covers much of Botswana, as well as parts of Namibia and South Africa.

A 4x4 vehicle is best suited for the road and trail conditions you will experience on this tour.

Please note: Refer to our company profile for a summary of the benefits of driving your vehicle. A quotation for the rental of your vehicle will be provided separately.

Main Destination:

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Best Time To Visit March to May (The riverbeds attract animals)

High Season Never (The park never gets very crowded)

Best Weather May to Seotember (Less hot during the day)

Wildlife in Kgalagadi TP

LionCommon

CheetahCommon

WildebeestCommon

HyenaCommon

LeopardOccasional

GiraffeRare

Show more

Wild DogRare

ElephantNone

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

BuffaloNone

ZebraNone

HippoNone

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Just outside Kgalagadi TP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Explore the Kgalagadi around the Twee Rivieren Camp

You'll join an early morning drive on an open game-viewing vehicle. The professional field guide will provide information about the animals, birds, and vegetation during the drive.

After the morning drive, you'll explore the Kgalagadi to the north of the Twee Rivieren Camp. You'll learn about the Nossob and Auob Rivers and how often they are in flood.

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park lies in the large sand-filled basin in the west of the Southern African subcontinent, known as the Kalahari. It covers almost one-third of the area and forms what may be the largest sandveld area in the world.

In 1999, Botswana and South Africa signed a historic bilateral agreement whereby both countries undertook to manage their adjacent national parks, the Gemsbok National Park and the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park as a single ecological unit. In 2000, Southern Africa’s first peace park, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, was formally launched by presidents Mogae (Botswana) and Mbeki (South Africa).

Main Destination:

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Just outside Kgalagadi TP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Drive to the Mata Mata Camp and Back

You'll follow the Auob River to the Mata Mata Camp. This is a slow drive visiting the waterholes along the river. Each waterhole will offer its own surprise. The Kalahari will reveal more of herself as you drive, who knows what animals and birds you will see on the dunes next to the river!

After stretching your legs at the Mata Mata Camp, you follow the Auob River back to the Twee Rivieren Camp. The Kalahari will surprise you along the way.

Main Destination:

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Just outside Kgalagadi TP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Explore the Kgalagadi around the Twee Rivieren Camp

You'll explore the Kgalagadi to the north of the Twee Rivieren Camp. The Leeudril 4x4 loop is on the menu for today. This is an interesting 4x4 trail crossing the dunes. Along this trail, you will experience more of the remoteness of the Kalahari.

You'll join a sunset drive on an open game-viewing vehicle. The professional field guide will provide information about the animals, birds, vegetation, and more during the drive. This is also an opportunity to spot some of the nocturnal animals.

Main Destination:

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Just outside Kgalagadi TP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Drive from the Kgalagadi TFP to the Augrabies Falls National Park

You'll say goodbye to the Kgalagadi TFP and drive to the Augrabies Falls National Park via Upington.

Augrabies is derived from the Nama word as the Khoi people would refer to “Aukoerebis” meaning the "place of great noise." This refers to the Orange River water thundering its way down the 56m spectacular main waterfall.

The ancestors of modern history have inhabited the area surrounding the Orange River since the Early Stone Age. During this time, there is evidence that early man had developed weapons for hunting animals like hippopotamus. They knew to establish themselves near good water sources like the Orange River. During the Middle Stone Age, man had created more formal work tools and began to utilize fire. The Late Stone Age, which dates back 22,000 years, is characterized by tools that are smaller than the previous periods.

Main Destination:

Augrabies Falls National Park

Best Time To Visit April to September (Not too hot)

High Season Never ( Only busy during school holidays)

Best Weather May to September (Less hot during the day)

Wildlife in Augrabies Falls NP

GiraffeCommon

ZebraOccasional

HyenaOccasional

LeopardVery Rare

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

Show more

ElephantNone

LionNone

CheetahNone

BuffaloNone

WildebeestNone

HippoNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Augrabies Falls NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Explore the Augrabies Falls National Park

You will join a day drive in an open game-viewing vehicle. The professional field guide will provide information about the animals, birds, vegetation, etc. during the drive.

You'll stand next to the waterfall and "feel" the mighty Orange River being forced into and thundering down the 56m waterfall.

You will use the rest of the day to explore more of the national park.

Main Destination:

Augrabies Falls National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Augrabies Falls NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Visit Riemvasmaak Hot Springs

Today you will drive to the Riemvasmaak Hot Springs. The road winds through the most amazing rock formations of all shapes, sizes, and colors. The hot springs are one of the must-visit hot springs in South Africa. They were formed from volcanic eruptions that occurred centuries ago.

Riemvasmaak (pronounced "rim fus maack") means "tighten the strap" or "tied with straps". Riemvasmaak is 75,000 ha of sheer mountain desert wilderness located between the Orange and the dry Molopo Rivers. It is a wilderness born from violent volcanic activity millions of years ago, but it is a land of beauty that takes on spiritual proportions. Here, you can relax in the hot springs dwarfed by 80m-high granite cliffs or simply set your soul free to soar with the black eagles through the lunar landscape.

Main Destination:

Augrabies Falls National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Augrabies Falls NP

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

Upington and Departure

Today you will drive back to Upington. This is your last day in the Kalahari region of South Africa. Next to the road, you will see the grape and related farming that is thriving in this harsh environment.

You will hand back your 4x4 vehicle to the rental company. You will continue your journey to your next destination on your own, whenever you feel ready to leave. We hope that you will cherish the unforgettable memories you have made during your time with us and that you will have plenty of beautiful photos to share with your loved ones and friends.

Main Destination:

Upington (Town)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• A transfer back to the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.