Tour 59B: 8 Day Kalahari Lion & Other Predators Camping Tour

DAY 01 Upington – Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park (South Africa)

Time of departure will depend on clients’ travel schedule to Upington.Flight schedule to be finalised.(Flight not included)

Depart from Upingtonon a 03-hour drive through the Kalahari duneveld (“veld” means natural vegetation), passing various pans (dry lakes), to the Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park,

The word Kalahariderives from the word Makgadigadi, meaning salt pans (salt lakes) in the language spoken by the Kgalagadipeople living in theKgalagadi Regionin 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.

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.

Check in at accommodation at Twee Rivieren. Depart on an afternoon game drive.The Twee Rivieren area is known for lion, leopard, cheetah and meerkat sightings.

Optional 03 hr sunset drive and 02 hr night drive on open vehicle with Sanparks guide at own cost at all Sanparks Camps

Overnight: Camping at Twee Rivieren
Meals: B, L & D (Full Board on all days)

DAY 02 Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park

Game drive north along the Nossob River Valleyto Nossob Camp. Afternoon game drive in the Nossob area.The Nossob area is known for lion activities.

Nossob Camp has a hide overlooking an illuminated waterhole. Afternoon game drive

Overnight Camping at Nossob

Meals: B, L & D

DAY 03 Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park (Botswana)

Early morning game drive to Marie se Draai, a popular loop route with regular predator sightings.

Continue on a game drive along the Nossob River Valleyto Polentswa Camp Groundon the Botswana side of the Park, north of Nossob Camp.

Afternoon game drive in the area. Visit Polentswa Waterhole, known for regular visits by predators and raptors.

Polentswa has no protective fencing.  This remote campsite overlooks the vegetated Polentswa Pan and is known for beautiful sunsets. Lions, hyenas and brown hyenas are regular visitors to Polentswa at night.

Overnight Camping at Polentswa (Basic Facilities; A-frame, pit toilet & open air shower)

Meals: B, L & D

DAY 04 Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park (Botswana)

Morning and afternoon game drives in the northern part of the Park.

Overnight Camping at Polentswa
Meals: B. L & D

DAY 05 Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park

Game drive via Nossob Camp, Upper Dune Roadand the Auob River Valleyto Mata Mataon the Namibian Border. Mata Mata is situated on the banks of the Auob River Valley. This is cheetah territory and is one the best, if not the best, places in Southern Africa to see cheetah.

The Mata Mata area is also known for lion, brown and spotted hyena sightings.

Mata Mata Camp has a hide overlooking an illuminated waterhole.

Overnight Camping at at Mata Mata
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 06 KgalagadiTrans Frontier Park(Botswana)

Game drive along the Auob River Valleyand Nossob River Valleyto Rooiputs Camp Groundon the Botswana side. Pitch camp. Depart on an afternoon game drive.The Rooiputs area is known for lion, cheetah, spotted & brown hyena and meerkat sightings.

Experience the park, camping in the wild with no protective fencing. Enjoy dinner around the fire, while listening to the sounds of the night. Don’t be surprised if you hear lion, hyena, leopard and black backed jackal during the night.  Lions are regular visitors to Rooiputs at night.

Overnight: Camping at Rooiputs (Basic Facilities; A-frame, pit toilet & open air shower)
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 07 Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park (Botswana)

Morning and afternoon game drives in the southern Part of Kgalagadi.
Overnight Camping at Rooiputs
Meals: B, L & D

DAY 08 Kgalagadi – Upington

Game drive until noon. Duration of game drive will depend on clients’ travel schedule from Upington.

Depart to Upington. En route stop at the last indigenous San tribein South Africa, the Khomani. Today these earliest residents of the Kalahari, living here for 40 000 years, consist of only 400 people and are resident in an area between 40 and 70 km south of Twee Rivieren. Clients will have the opportunity to view and purchase their handcraft at one of the roadside stalls. The presence of the San at the roadside stalls can’t be guaranteed.

Continueto Upington to be in time for departing flight.Flight schedule to be finalised.  (Flight not included)

Meals:  L

It is expected from clients on camping tours to assist with pitching and packing up camp and with general camping duties on request

Accommodation can vary from the itinerary depending on availability.

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