Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park – Overview

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park was created in 2000 as a merger of already-existing national parks in South Africa’s Northern Cape province and Botswana. Almost twice as large as Kruger National Park, it protects a photogenic desert characterized by red dunes, dry riverbeds and plentiful wildlife including all three African big cats. South Africa’s side has superior facilities but Botswana’s feels wilder.

Best Time To Go

April to May and September to October (Least extreme temperatures)

High Season

Never (Rest camps are often full but it never feels crowded)

Size More info

35,284km² / 13,623mi²

Altitude More info

868-1,197m / 2,848-3,927ft

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Pros & Cons

• Excellent for carnivores including lion, leopard, cheetah and many smaller species
• Stunning desert scenery provides great photographic opportunities
• Great birding, with raptors and dry-country specials well represented
• Strong wilderness appeal
• Most wildlife-viewing roads on the South African side can be driven in any car
• Upmarket lodge and self-catering rest camps (South Africa)
• Malaria-free
• Less variety of animals than in savannah reserves
• Far away from South Africa’s main tourist attractions
• Days are very hot in summer and nights are freezing in winter

Wildlife

Kgalagadi is not a Big Five destination, since elephant, rhino and buffalo are absent. Animal densities are relatively low, but the open terrain allows for good viewing. Carnivores are the biggest attraction. Lions are numerous and it is not unusual to see leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena, brown hyena and smaller species such as bat-eared fox, black-backed jackal, yellow mongoose and meerkat. Other wildlife includes giraffe, gemsbok, impala and greater kudu.

Scenery

Many repeat visitors to Kgalagadi will say the park’s main attraction is not so much the wildlife as the haunting desert scenery and wilderness feel. The red dunes and endless vistas are quite unique and very photogenic. The main wildlife-viewing roads follow the acacia-lined Nossob and Auob Rivers, which often go years – even decades – without flowing but are dotted with borehole-fed waterholes that help sustain wildlife in this harsh environment.

Activities

Kgalagadi is ideal for self-drive game drives. Most roads on the South African side can be driven in any car, but a 4x4 vehicle is required to cover any of several 4x4 trails or to explore the Botswanan sector. Rest camps on the South African side also offer guided morning or sunset game drives, as well as guided bush walks when a qualified staff member is available.

Areas of Interest

• South Africa side: Formerly Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, Kgalagadi’s South African sector is more accessible than its Botswanan counterpart and has better facilities. These include several self-catering rest camps and campsites, one upmarket community-owned lodge, and dirt roads that don’t require a 4x4 vehicle. Wildlife viewing is usually good, and the roads along the Nossob and Auob riverbeds offer a high chance of seeing big cats and other carnivores.
• Botswana side: The more raw and remote Botswanan sector, previously called Gemsbok National Park, is suitable only to convoys of two or more 4x4 vehicles with suitably experienced drivers. Facilities are largely limited to a few basic unfenced campsites without electricity or running water. There are also a couple of small midrange lodges. Wildlife concentrations are highest in the vicinity of pans such as Mabuasehube, Bosobogolo and Polentswa.

Weather & Climate

Kgalagadi has a hot semi-arid climate with the average annual rainfall dropping as low as 150mm/6in in parts. Summer (October to April) can be fiercely hot by day, but humidity is low and it cools down pleasantly in the evening. Winter (May to September) is characterized by crisp, sunny days and subzero temperatures at night. Rain, when it does come, mainly comprises short but dramatic summer storms.

Best Time To Visit

Wildlife viewing in Kgalagadi is not strongly seasonal, so provided you don’t mind very hot days or very cold nights, you can visit at any time. Climatically, the cusp months of April to May or September to October tend to be most pleasant and least extreme. August and September are good for combining Kgalagadi with the famous spring wildflower displays elsewhere in the Northern Cape. Avoid South African school holidays.

Want To Visit Kgalagadi TP?

• Tour Operators for Kgalagadi