In assocciation with Kalahari Wildlife Tours

Tour 29: 20 Days 03 Countries Kalahari Extreme 4×4 Tour

MALARIA FREE AREA!

18 Days
17 Nights

DAY 01 Mier Area, Kalahari (South Africa)
DAY 02 Mier Area, Kalahari
DAY 03 Kalahari (Namibia)
DAY 04 Kalahari
DAY 05 Bushmanland
DAY 06 Khaudum National Park
DAY 07 Khaudum National Park
DAY 08 Okavango River (Botswana)
DAY 09 Central Kalahari Game Reserve
DAY 10 Central Kalahari Game Reserve

DAY 11 Central Kalahari Game Reserve
DAY 12 Central Kalahari Game Reserve
DAY 13 Khutse Game Reserve
DAY 14 Khutse Game Reserve
DAY 15 Kang
DAY 16 Kaa Kalahari Concession
DAY 17 Kaa Kalahari Concession
DAY 18 Kgalagadi T/F Park Mabuasehube
DAY 19 Kgalagadi T/F Park Mabuasehube
DAY 20 Departure

DETAILED ITINERARY

This extreme 4×4 route goes through areas less travelled and include some real wilderness areas. The route varies from sandy tracks to dirt roads and runs through some of the most remote areas of the Kalahari in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. A variety of Kalahari landscapes, varying from the Southern Kalahari Duneveld, sub-tropical Okavango Region, Savanah of the Central Kalahari to the Acacia Savannah of Southern Botswana, await the visitor on this tour. Wild camping at many places in wilderness areas contributes to the ‘unknown’, with predators around.

DAY 01 Upington – Cammspannen Private Reserve (Mier Area)
Depart from Upington at 09:00 on the R360 north on a 02-hour drive through the Kalahari Duneveld (“veld” means natural vegetation), passing various pans (dry lakes), to the small village Askham.

Clients travelling from the northern parts of South Africa via the R31 Vanzylsrus road or who are in the vicinity of Askham can meet the guide at 11:00 at Diamond-T Coffee Shop in Askham.

The word Kalahari derives from the word Makgadigadi, meaning salt pans (salt lakes) in the language spoken by the Kgalagadi people 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, covering 3.7 million ha (37 000 square km), 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.

Continue through the Mier Area on the R360 direction Twee Rivieren .The Mier Area is 11 400 square km in size (larger than the Free State Province) with 8 000 inhabitants. It is diverse semi-desert landscape with barren black rocky hills and huge pans in the south to red sand dunes in the north.

Turn-off opposite Struizendam Village (Botswana) on the De Stoele 4×4 Trail. Continue through the Mier Area in Kalahari and past beautiful red sand dunes at De Stoele Farm and later on dirt road to Cammspannen Private Reserve. Continue to the Bush Camp near the entrance gate.

Cammspannen Private Reserve is uninhabited and is situated in the Mier area in the most remote part of South Africa and it covers 12 800 ha of typical Kalahari duneveld in the Arid Savannah biome of South Africa. It’s northern border is one km south of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park’s southern border and in the west it borders on Namibia

Antelope species include gemsbok, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, springbok, grey duiker and steenbok. Carnivores include leopard, brown hyena, caracal, aardwolf, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, Cape fox, African wild cat, meerkat, yellow – & slender mongoose. Other species include aardvark, pangolin, porcupine & ground squirrels

Ostrich, Kori bustard, northern black korhaan and secretary bird are common sightings. Bird of prey species include martial eagle, black-chested snake eagle, pale chanting goshawk, pygmy falcon, black-shouldered kite and greater kestrel. Owl species include spotted eagle owl, barn owl and white-faced scops-owl. Burchell – & Namaqua sandgrouse, chats, weavers, quails and various lark species are common.

Clients get a feel of the driving conditions in the Kalahari sand at the “Oefenduin” (Practise Dune).

Take on the first leg of the Cammspannen Kalahari 4×4 Trail. Experience the real Kalahari on this circular trail by crossing some challenging dunes and watching Kalahari wildlife in their natural habitat.

Sundowners on the “Oefenduin”

Please note that NO OFF-ROAD driving and NO DRIVING ON PANS is allowed!
Overnight: Cammspannen Bush Camp (igloo tents or own camping equipment if preferred)
Meals: B, L & D (Full Board on all days)
Distance: 360 km 320 km + 40 km 4×4 trail
Travel time: 07 hrs 04 hrs + 03 hrs 4×4 trail

DAY 02 Cammspannen – Kalahari Info & Tented Camp
Depart on the second leg of the Cammspannen Kalahari 4×4 Trail. Part of this circular trail includes crossing some challenging dunes against the Namibian border fence.

Afternoon departure to Rietfontein, administrative centre of the Mier Area. Mier is wedge in between three borders: Namibia in the west, Botswana in the east and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the north.

Where does the name Mier come from? In 1867 some very exhausted and despondent scouts of the Pioneer Dirk Vilander, noted where they off saddled, that ants were bringing wet mud to the surface of the ground. Curiously they started digging and found water. To honour the ant they named the settlement, “Mier”, the Afrikaans for ant.

Rietfontein is also the place where the exploring scouts of Dirk Vilander found the bushman Khys and his family at a fountain surrounded by reeds, from where the name Rietfontein. Mier captive the history of the two very prominent pioneers, Dirk Vilander and Regopstaan Kruiper. Most of their descendants still live in Mier.

Late afternoon visit to the 14 000ha Hakskeen Pan. Hakskeenpan will be the venue of the attempt in by Wing Commander Andy Green of the Bloodhound Project to set a new land speed record of 1606 km/h (1 000 mph).
Overnight: Camping at Kalahari Info & Tented Camp
Meals: B, L & D
Distance: 130 km 90 km + 40 km 4×4 trail
Travel time: 04 hrs 1.5 hrs + 2.5 hrs 4×4 trail
Chalets and Permanent Tents available at additional cost
Acknowledgement to Kalahari Info & Tented Camp for some text used from their website

DAY 03 Kalahari Info & Tented Camp – Nossob River (Namibia)
Enter Namibia at Rietfontein Border Post. Continue to Aroab.

Proceed north on dirt road and 4×4 sand track through the Namibian Kalahari to the Auob River east of Mata Mata.

Continue north on 4×4 sand track and dirt road to the Nossob River east of Unions End.
Overnight: Camping on private farm
Meals: B, L & D
Distance: 360 km
Travel time: 07 hrs

DAY 04 Nossob River – Buitepos
Continue north on dirt road to Buitepos/Mamuno Border Post
Overnight: Camping at East Gate Rest Camp
Meals: B, L & D
Distance: 360 km
Travel time: 07 hrs
Chalets available at additional cost

DAY 05 Buitepos – Tsumkwe (Bushmanland)
Early departure on a long drive through the Bushmanland in north-east Namibia to the remote town Tsumkwe.
Overnight: Camping at Tsumkwe Country Lodge
Meals: B, L & D
Distance: 415 km
Travel time: 08 hrs
Chalets available at additional cost

DAY 06 Tsumkwe – Kaudum National Park
Depart to Kaudum National Park. Kaudum is a wild and undeveloped park, covering 384 000ha and was established with conservation in mind.
Khaudum operates an open-park system and game numbers may vary considerably. Only the border with Botswana and a 55km section of the western border of the park are fenced. This enables animals to follow their natural migration routes to and from the water-rich Okavango River and floodplains. Three dry rivers, Nhoma, Cwiba and Khaudum run through the park.

The park is home to various antelope species including roan, huge herds of elephant, zebras, African wild dog, lions, leopards as well as 320 bird species.

Some roads are very sandy and is a challenge, especially when towing a trailer.

Enter Kaudum at Sikeretti Gate in the south. Continue on a game drive north. Most of the waterholes on the route has hides where good wildlife sightings are possible. Continue to Kaudum Camp.
Overnight: Camping at Kaudum Camp (No protective fencing, Good facilities.)
Meals: B, L & D
Distance: 150 km
Travel time: 06 hrs
Safari Tents available at additional cost

DAY 07 Kaudum National Park
Rest day. Game drives can be done. Relax.
Overnight: Camping at Kaudum Camp (No protective fencing, Good facilities.)
Meals: B, L & D
Distance: Variable
Travel time: Variable

DAY 08 Kaudum National Park – Shakawe (Botswana)
Early departure north to the B8 on deep sand 4×4 track, while sand is still cool and firm. Continue on B8 to Divundu.

Proceed south to Bwabwata National Park (Mahango Core Area). The small but picturesque Mahango Game Park is situated in the north-east of Namibia on the Botswana border. Mahango covers an area of about 30,000 hectares and is bordering on the Okavango River floodplain.

Wildlife includes elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, hippo, red lechwe, sitatunga, buffalo, sable, and roan and other antelopes. Mahango is known for its rich bird life and it is one of the best places to see the endangered wattled crane. Huge baobab trees are to be seen in the park.

Do a game drive through the park to Mohembo Border Post just south of the park. Enter Botswana and continue to Shakawe. Replenish supplies.

Continue to Drotsky’s Lodge on the banks of the Okavango River.

Optional afternoon boat trip on the Okavango if time allows. Tigerfishing is an option too.
Overnight: Camping at Drotsky’s (Good facilities.)
Meals: B, L & D
Distance: 180 km
Travel time: 07 hrs
Chalets available at additional cost

DAY 09 Drotsky’s – Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Continue along the Panhandle Road, running parallel with the Okavango River, to Sehitwa. Continue south to Kuke Gate. Cross the animal disease gate and continue along the Kuke fence to Tau Entrance Gate to 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. Animals to be seen are Gemsbok, Wildebeest, Giraffe, Springbok, Tsesebe and Steenbok. Lately elephants flattened the fence and cross in to Central Kalahari during the rain season.

The most common predators are Lion, Brown Hyena, Cheetah, Leopard and African Wild Cat. Many bird species can be seen, including bird of prey.
Overnight: Camping at Tau Gate. (No protective fencing, Good facilities)
Meals: B, L & D
Distance: 395 km
Travel time: 06 hrs

DAY 10 Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Continue along the fence. Turn south and continue via Motopi and Passarge Valley to Deception Valley.

Afternoon game drive in Deception Valley.
Overnight: Camping at Kori Campsite. (No protective fencing, pit toilet & open air shower)
Meals: B, L & D
Distance: 180 km
Travel time: 06 hrs

DAY 11 Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Depart south on game drive along Deception Valley, Deception Pan and Letiahau Waterhole to Piper Pan. Piper Pan has a waterhole and good wildlife sightings are common, including predator sightings

Afternoon game drive on Piper Pan
Overnight: Camping at Piper Pan. (No protective fencing, pit toilet & open air shower)
Meals: B, L & D
Distance: 90 km
Travel time: 04 hrs

DAY 12 Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Continue south on 4×4 track via Xade to Xaxa. Xaxa has a waterhole and good wildlife sightings are possible.

Afternoon at leisure .
Overnight: Camping at Xaxa. (No protective fencing, no facilities)
Meals: B, L & D
Distance: 155 km
Travel time: 05 hrs

DAY 13 Central Kalahari Game Reserve – Khutse Game Reserve
Continue south on 4×4 track to Khutse Game Reserve, covering 2,590 square km. Khutse Game Reserve (KGR) is situated in an extra ordinary part of the Kalahari and spectacularly different to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. KGR is part of an ancient river that once flowed north-east-wards to fill Lake Makgadikgadi. The only relics of this river system are the dry river valley and a series of pans. Today, the game viewing area is centred on these pans. The name Khutse means “place” where you can kneel down to drink.

The pans usually fill up with water during the rains, but there are also two artificial water points at Molose and Moreswe which attract game throughout the year. The chances of seeing lions in Khutse are usually good.

Enter Khutse and do a game drive to Molose Pan. .
Overnight: Camping at Molose Pan. (No protective fencing, pit toilet & open air shower)
Meals: B, L & D
Distance: 210 km
Travel time: 07 hrs

DAY 14 Khutse Game Reserve
Rest day. Game drives can be done. Relax. .
Overnight: Camping at Molose Pan. (No protective fencing, pit toilet & open air shower)
Meals: B, L & D
Distance: Variable
Travel time: Variable

DAY 15 Khutse Game Reserve – Kang
Game drives to Khutse South Gate. Exit the park and continue via Lethlakeng to Kang on the Trans-Kalahari Highway.

Replenish supplies. .
Overnight: Camping at Kang. (Good facilities)
Meals: B, L & D
Distance: 420 km
Travel time: 07 hrs

DAY 16 Kang – Name Pan (Kaa Kalahari Concession)
Depart to Hukuntsi. Continue via Zutshwa to the remote Name Pan in the Kaa Kalahari Concession.

The Kaa Kalahari Concession lies in the southwest of Botswana and borders on the north of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and is one of the last great unfenced wilderness areas in Southern Africa covering 1,3 million ha. Roughly 800 people live in a few small villages. There are two major ethnic groups; the Bakgalagadi and Basarwa or San. The latter lives here for 3 000 years.

Vast herds of game can still be seen in typical Kalahari veld with rolling grass plains and Acacia woodland. The area is dotted with pans (dry lakes) which fill up with water after good rains in summer and attract large herds of eland, gemsbok, springbok, red hartebeest, some predators and many birds. Over 50 species of raptors have been recorded here. Kaa Concession is of ecological importance as it is the migratory corridor between the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

Afternoon at leisure. Short drives.
Overnight: Camping at Name Pan (No protective fencing; no facilities)
Meals: B, L & D
Distance: 180 km
Travel time: 04 hrs

DAY 17 Name Pan – Peach Pan (Kaa Kalahari Concession)
Continue on the Kaa Wilderness 4×4 Trail, passing various pans. Good wildlife sightings are possible at the pans. At Peach Pan there is a small waterhole near the high dune on the southern side of the pan.

Afternoon at leisure
Overnight: Camping at Peach Pan or other (No protective fencing; no facilities)
Meals: B, L & D
Distance: 40 km
Travel time: 03 hrs

DAY 18 Kaa Kalahari Concession – Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park / Mabuasehube Section
Continue on a 4×4 trail and the sandy 4×4 cutline track on the northern border of the Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park to the Mabuasehube Section.

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. Predators are regular visitors to pans and campsites.

Afternoon game drive if time allows.
Overnight: One of the camps camping (No protective fencing; basic facilities)
Meals: B, L & D
Distance: 130 km
Travel time: 05 hrs

DAY 19 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park / Mabuasehube Section
Morning and afternoon game drives in Mabuasehube. Relax.
Overnight: One of the camps camping (No protective fencing; basic facilities)
Meals: B, L & D
Distance: 60 km variable
Travel time: 06 hrs variable

DAY 20 Mabuasehube – Upington
Exit the park. Depart to Tshabong.

Self-drive clients from northern parts of South Africa can travel via the Trans-Kalahari Highway and enter South Africa at Pioneer Gate Border Post.

Depart to McCarthy’s Rest Border Post. Enter South Africa. Continue to Upington via the Manganese mining towns Black Rock and Hotazel and the iron ore mining town Kathu and Olifantshoek.

Alternative route: Depart to Bokspits Border Post. Enter South Africa. Continue to Upington via Askham Drop-off at Upington Airport for afternoon flight or at accommodation (not included)
Distance: 600 km
Travel time: 08 hrs

Rates on request:
E-mail: dantes@kalahari-tours.co.za or click on CONTACT US.

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KALAHARI SAFARI
TOURS & TRAVEL
Upington 8801

TEL/FAX: + 27 (0) 54 3380375
CELL: + 27 (0) 82 4935041