14 DAY BOTSWANA 4X4 SAFARI (Mabuasehube – Khutse – Central Kalahari) 04-17 APRIL 2026

Pre-tour accommodation in Upington or elsewhere can be booked and added to RATES on request

DAY 01         04 Apr          Arrival – Tshabong (Botswana)

Depart at 09:00 from Upington to Gemsbok/Bokspits Border Post. Exit South Africa and enter Botswana. Proceed to Tshabong. Refuel.

Continue to Camel Park near Tshabong.

Guests from other areas can travel on the most practical route to Tshabong.

Overnight:     Camping at Camel Park

Meals:          B, L & D (Full Board on all days) or Self-catering at own cost

Distance:       460 km

Travel time:   06 hrs

DAY 02         05 Apr          Tshabong – Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park / Mabuasehube Section

Continue on a 03-hour drive on gravel and sand trail through the Kalahari to the Mabuasehube Section in the far eastern part of the Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park.

The word Kalahari derives from the word Makgadigadi, meaning salt pans (salt lakes) in the language spoken by the Kgalagadipeople living in the Kgalagadi Region in south-western Botswana. The word Kgalagadi means salt pans too in their language. More than 1 000 pans are scattered throughout the park. The Kalahari is the largest area of sand in the world, covering 2.5 million square kilometres from the Orange River in South Africa in the south to slightly north of the equator.

The area referred to as the arid Kalahari covers some 900 000 square kilometres in the south and covers parts of South Africa and Namibia and most of Botswana. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is situated in the southern part of the arid Kalahari in South Africa and Botswana and is jointly managed by South Africa National Parks (Sanparks) and Botswana Wildlife.

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park covers 37 000 square km, which is one of the largest conservation areas in the world and one of the last truly unspoilt ecosystems.

Endemic game such as gemsbok, springbok, eland, giraffe, blue wildebeest and red hartebeest roam the sparsely vegetated red sand dunes and the dry river valleys of the Nossob and Auob where a variety of acacia species thrive. All species except giraffe are found in Mabuasehube.

The Park is well known for good sightings of lion, leopard and cheetah and spotted – and brown hyena are common residents. Because of an abundance of prey in the form of mice, whistling rats, birds and insects, smaller predators thrive in the park. The park is home to caracal, honey badger, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, cape fox, African wildcat, mongoose and the ever-popular suricate (meerkat). 

Kgalagadi is a bird watcher’s paradise with more than 300 species recorded including at least 20 larger raptor species. The world’s heaviest flying bird, the Kori bustard and the stately secretary bird patrol the riverbeds while the noisy northern black korhaan rule in the dunes.

Mabuasehube has higher annual rainfall and the landscape is bushier than the western side. The campsites are far apart and very private. Mabuasehube campsites are situated on the edge of big pans, some overlooking waterholes. Afternoon game drive if time allows.

Overnight:     Camping at Khiding 01 (Salt water, pit toilet & shower enclosure)

Distance:       130 km + game drive

Travel time:   04 hrs + game drive

DAY 03         06 Apr          Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park / Mabuasehube Section

Morning and afternoon game drives in Mabuasehube.

Overnight:     Camping at Khiding 01

Distance:       60 km variable

Travel time:   06 hrs variable

DAY 04         07 Apr          Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park / Mabuasehube Section

Morning and afternoon game drives in Mabuasehube.

Overnight:     Camping at Khiding 01

Distance:       60 km variable

Travel time:   06 hrs variable

DAY 05         08 Apr          Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park – Kang

Game drive to Mabuasehube Gate.  Exit the park. Depart north to via small town Hukuntsi to Kang. Refuel and replenish supplies.

Overnight:     Camping at Kang Ultra Stop (good ablution facilities)

Distance:       270 km

Travel time:   06 hrs

DAY 06         09 Apr          Kang – Khutse Game Reserve

Depart to Khutse Game Reserve. Khutse is sharing a boundary with the Central Kalahari Game Reserve to the north, but with no fences separating the two, the 2,500 sq km reserve combines most Kalahari habitat types – rolling grasslands, dry riverbeds, fossil dunes and grassed and bare pans.

Khutse Game Reserve is part of an ancient river system that once flowed northeast to fill the prehistoric Lake Makgadikgadi. Khutse’s Pans and dry river valleys are remnants of this river system. The reserve also includes a series of picturesque pans – Motailane, Moreswa and Molose pans – where wildlife congregates particularly following good rains. These locations provide good game viewing opportunities for visitors. Water is also sometimes pumped to artificial waterholes at Moreswa and Molose to improve game-viewing throughout the year.

Khutse has more than 800 elephants who has moved south the last few years. Molose Waterhole is a popular spot for elephants. Other animals commonly sighted include springbok, gemsbok, giraffe, wildebeest, hartebeest, kudu, black-backed jackal, steenbok, duiker, and the accompanying predators, such as lion, leopard, cheetah, smaller cats, and the endangered brown hyena.

Afternoon game drive

Overnight:     Camping at Mahurushele Pan (No water, pit toilet & shower enclosure)

DAY 07         10 Apr          Khutse Game Reserve

Morning and afternoon game drives.

Overnight:     Camping at Mahurushele Pan

DAY 08         11 Apr          Khutse Game Reserve

Morning and afternoon game drives. Visit Molose Pan where elephants like to drink over noon.

Overnight:     Camping at Mahurushele Pan

DAY 09         12 Apr          Khutse Game Reserve – Central Kalahari Game reserve

Enter Central Kalahari Game Reserve, which covers 51 800 square km.

The Central Kalahari is a place where you find your soul, where the modern world recedes and you get in touch with the earth, the sky and the space. Herbivores to be seen are Giraffe, Gemsbok, Kudu, Wildebeest, Springbok, Tsessebe and Steenbok.

Elephants have lately been crossing from the north into Central Kalahari during the rainy season due to high densities of elephant in the north.

The most common predators are Lion, Brown Hyena, Cheetah, Leopard, Wild dog and African Wild Cat. Many bird species can be seen, including bird of prey.

Continue on a long drive on the excess trail to Xaka, a wilderness campsite with no facilities.

Overnight:     Camping at Xaka Campsite. (No facilities. No water)

Distance:         200 km game drive (all sand)

Travel time:     07 hrs

DAY 10         13 Apr          Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Depart to Xade. Visit Xade Waterhole where elephant come to drink.

Refill containers with salt water.

Continue to Piper Pan. Lion are often seen at Piper Pan Waterhole

Overnight:     Camping at Piper Pan (No water, pit toilet & shower enclosure)

Distance:         125 km game drive (all sand)

Travel time:     06 hrs game drive

DAY 11         14 Apr          Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Continue to Deception Valley. Visit Letihahau Waterhole, the only waterhole in a very large area. Continue along Deception Valley and Deception Pan to campground.

Overnight:     Camping at Deception Valley (No water, pit toilet & shower enclosure)

Distance:         100 km game drive (all sand)

Travel time:     04 hrs game drive

DAY 12         15 Apr          Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Game drive to Sunday Pan Waterhole. Afternoon game drive in Deception Valley.

Overnight:     Camping at Deception Valley

Distance:         100 km game drive (all sand)

Travel time:     06 hrs game drives

DAY 13         16 Apr          Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Morning and afternoon game drives

Overnight:     Camping at Deception Valley

Distance:         100 km game drive (all sand)

Travel time:     06 hrs game drive

DAY 14         17 Apr          Departure

Depart via Matswere Gate to Rakops. Depart home or continue to Maun.

Distance:         To Maun: 220 km (150km tar; 70km sand & dirt)

Travel time:     05 hrs

Post-tour accommodation in Maun or other destination can be booked and added to RATES on request

TOUR PRICE:

Please contact us for Tour Price at
Office:            dantes@kalahari-tours.co.za
Direct:             liebenbergdantes@gmail.com
Whatsapp:       +27 82 579 3344 (Dantes) / +27 68 851 2458 (Dennis) / +27 82 493 5041 (Elize)

Please specify if you are a SADEC Citizen or International visitor. Different rates apply at National Parks & Game Reserves.

CLIENTS HAVE THE FOLLOWING 02 OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM WHEN BOOKING A TOU

1. Guided 4×4 Tour: Clients travel with a driver/guide in a 4×4 vehicle as part of a small convoy. 

1. Guided Self-Drive 4×4 Tour: Clients drive their own/rented 4×4 in a convoy lead by a guide vehicle.

Rented Vehicles: Kalahari Tours and Travel is a rental agent for Europcar. Double Cab 4×4 vehicles for Guided Self-drive Tours can be rented at very competitive rates. Contact us for Rates, Terms & Conditions and Ancillary Charges.

Fully equipped 4×4 campers have to be rented directly by clients from rental companies at point of departure. Contact Kalahari Tours and Travel for contact details.

INCLUDED:

4×4 Guide & assistant, guide vehicle including fuel
Local guide where applicable
Accommodation as per itinerary
Camping equipment for clients on Guided 4×4 Camping Tours (See CAMPING EQUIPMENT below)
All entrance fees to National Parks and Nature Reserves (Conservation Fees to Sanparks)
Meals as per itinerary (Full board on MEALS INCLUDED OPTION, See MEALS below)
Bottled water & soft drinks
Activities as per itinerary (All scheduled game drives are in the tour vehicle & clients’ vehicles)
4×4 trail fees for clients’ vehicles & guide vehicle
Cross-border fees where applicable for guide vehicle only
Guidebooks about flora, fauna, geology, area etc. & maps in guide vehicle
Recovery equipment & basic tool kit
Two-way radios
Satellite phone for emergency calls only
12V/220V inverter for charging camera batteries etc in areas without electricity
15% VAT         

EXCLUDED:

Flights or bus pre & post tour
Client’s vehicle & fuel for this vehicle
Vehicle equipment for client’s vehicle (See VEHICLE EQUIPMENT FOR CLIENT’S VEHICLE below)
Cross-border fees for clients’ vehicles where applicable
Camping equipment, sleeping bags & pillows, eating utensils for self-drive clients.
Accommodation pre/post tour in Upington if needed.
Alcoholic and after hours private drinks
Travel insurance (Suggested to be obtained in country of residence)
Any activities not included in tour itinerary
Meals on SELF-CATERING option
Optional activities in red

CAMPING EQUIPMENT PROVIDED FOR CLIENTS ON CAMPING TOURS (RENTED VEHICLES)

2.5m x 2.5m x 1.9m Ground pitched canvass igloo tents
Camping beds
40mm fold-up mattresses
Sheets, pillows, sleeping bags
Bedside table
Chairs & tables
All eating utensils 

VEHICLE EQUIPMENT FOR CLIENT’S VEHICLE ON GUIDED 4X4 SELF-DRIVE TOURS

Jack, wheel spanner & spare wheel rod
Tow strap & jumper cables
Spare keys
Extra V-belts & fuses
Basic tool kit
12 V pump & tyre repair kit
Tyre pressure gauge
Extra fuel containers and fuel pipe (if needed)
Extra water container(s)
Radiator net (if needed)
Spade
12V/220V inverter for charging camera batteries etc in areas without electricity
Vehicle registration documents for border crossings if applicable
Emergency phone number of vehicle dealership in case of breakdown
Insurance for tow-in in RSA & neighbouring countries
Valid passport if applicable (Check expiry date)

Equipment for Rented Vehicles will be provided and shared by the guide vehicle. Guide will contact client(s) before the tour to finalise equipment list

MEALS

Meals are provided in restaurants where available or prepared by the guide or crew member. Coffee/tea and a light breakfast are provided before early morning departures on game drives, followed by a brunch at a picnic area.  On a normal schedule breakfast and light lunches are provided in restaurants or by guide/crew member. Dinners are in restaurants or catered for by guide/crew member and on some occasions it will be a typical South African Braai (BBQ). Coffee/tea, juice, soft drinks & bottled water are included with all meals. 

It is important to inform Kalahari Tours and Travel in advance of any special dietary requirements! 

CLIENTS NEED:

Binoculars, sun block, hat, closed shoes or boots for evenings (scorpions), insect repellent, torch light or head light, passports when crossing international borders & malaria prophylaxis where applicable

INFORMATION NEEDED:

State of health and any dietary requirements (vegetarians, vegans etc.)

Please contact us if you need more information.

Kalahari Tours & Travel
Dantes Liebenberg