​Overview – Kgalagadi TP

Philip Briggs
Expert
By Philip Briggs

Philip lives in South Africa and has authored many guidebooks to African destinations, including the Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa.

Philip lives in South Africa and has authored many Africa guidebooks, including the Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa.

Philip is the author of many Africa guidebooks, including the Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa.

Philip is author of the Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a merger of Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in South Africa and Gemsbok National Park in Botswana. Most tourism happens on the South Africa side, which has excellent facilities. The Botswana side only has very basic campsites. The red sand dunes in the inhospitable desert form a magnificent backdrop for wildlife viewing and photography.

 
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Best Time To Go March to May (The riverbeds attract animals)
High Season Never (The park never gets very crowded)
Size 35,284km² / 13,623mi²
Altitude 868-1,197m / 2,848-3,927ft
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Pros & Cons

  • Excellent wildlife viewing
  • Stunning desert scenery and great photographic opportunities
  • Great birding, especially raptors
  • Off-the-beaten-track destination with great wilderness appeal
  • Upmarket lodge and self-catering accommodation (South Africa)
  • Less variety of animals than in savannah reserves
  • Far away from South Africa's main tourist attractions
  • Very hot conditions

Kgalagadi TP Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding

Wildlife

The Kgalagadi is not a Big Five destination, as it has no elephant, rhino or buffalo. Animal numbers are lower than in more classic safari destinations, but the open terrain makes for very good viewing. Predators are the park’s biggest attraction. These include leopard, cheetah, spotted and brown hyena and smaller species such as bat-eared fox and Cape fox. Lions are numerous and males are known for their spectacular black manes.

Scenery

For many people, the scenery is as much an attraction of this park as the wildlife. The red sand dunes and endless vistas are quite unique. The dry riverbeds of the Nossob and Auob are lifelines in this harsh environment.

Weather & Climate

Forceful storms dump a large amount of water on the Kgalagadi during the park’s summer (October to April). This is when it can also get fiercely hot here, though thankfully the humidity doesn’t hit similar heights. You’ll often wake up to subzero temperatures during winter (May to September), which transform into crisp, sunny days.

Best Time To Visit

The period of transition from the Wet season (October to April) to the Dry season (May to September) is the best time for wildlife viewing. The worst of the heat will have passed, and there’ll be enough water in the rivers to draw lots of animals. Just remember to pack plenty of warm clothes to deal with plummeting temperatures in the evening, as well as the chilly morning air.

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Kgalagadi Safaris

Kgalagadi TP Safari Reviews

  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
Most Helpful Expert Review
Expert
Philip Briggs  –  
South Africa ZA

Philip is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many guidebooks, including the Bradt guides to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa.

Desert splendours
4/5

This is one of largest and most unusual national parks in southern Africa, and one of my favourites, despite being difficult to incorporate into most itineraries due to its remote location on the border with Botswana and Namibia. The two...

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Latest User Review
Alan  –  
South Africa ZA
Reviewed: Jul 14, 2021
5/5

Remote not as busy as Kruger. Large vistas in semi desert makes game views easier. Large herds of springbok and the ever present silhouetted Oryx catching the breeze on the summit of sand dunes. Kgalakadi is where less is more. The...

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