The Kgalagadi National Park comprises an area of over 2.5 million square kilometers and is the first transfrontier national park to be formed in Africa.  Previously known at the Gemsbok National Park , it is located in the South Western part of Botswana, spilling into South Africa.  The Kgalagadi National Park is the result of merging the Kalahari Gemsbok Parks in Botswana and South Africa. The Mabuasehube has been incorporated into the Eastern Botswana side of the park. The word Kgalagadi means ‘land of thirst’ and is characterized by huge, desert landscapes with dry riverbeds and sparse vegetation.  Part of the Kalahari Desert is in the Kgalagadi.  The Kalahari Desert is the largest continuous area of sand in the world.

Access to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park : Access to the park from Botswana is not that easy, the only access being through the former Mabuasehube National Park. Access from the South African side is from the Southern Gate at Twee Rivieren.  In order to access the park, you will need to drive in 4×4 vehicles.

The park is approximately 860 kilometers from Gaberone and will take approximately 7 hours to drive to Mabuasehube.  On the South African side, access is 250 kilometers from Upington.

If coming from Tshane or Tsabong in Botswana, access is gained in the North via Kaa gate or in the North East at Mabuesehube gate.

If you want to stay in the Mabuasehube area of the park, you can enter Botswana at any one of the 4 border posts (Gemsbok, Middlputs, McCarthy’s Rest or Bray) along the Southern boundary.  You must then travel via Tsabong and then 110km North from Tsabong to Mabuasehube.  If you are not coming from the South and are traveling from the North, then this area can be accessed via Hukuntsi.  Please note that a 4×4 vehicle is required for this road.

Please make sure you have enough fuel with you, as there are no filling stations within the park.  There are also no shops, so make sure you have enough food and water with you as well.  It is advisable to travel in a group of 2 or more vehicles.  Please make sure you have spare parts, tools, a sufficient medical aid kit, mosquito repellant and drinking water.

Seasons:

The rainy season is during our summer months, and in this part of Botswana the rain falls between December/January to April.  However, day time temperatures can be extremely hot and can on certain days exceed 40 degrees Celsius.  The last 4 months of the year are hot, dry and dusty.  Dark clouds start build up at the end of December and the wildebeest begin to calve in anticipation of the heaviest rainfall between January and April.  In the Mabuesehube, after heavy rains, large herds of eland, in their hundreds can be seen.  Following  a large thunderstorm, which may sometimes contain hail, the dry rivers begin to flow briefly.

The winter months, May to September are dry, and the night time temperatures can plunge to below freezing.  Visitors should expect extreme heat during the day and extreme cold at night.

Wildlife:

The Kalagadi Transfrontier Park is renowned for predator watching and is home to the black maned Kalahari lion.  The lions within the park have to survive in very harsh conditions and therefore have to adopt tactics in order to survive.  This includes feeding on smaller than usual prey. Other predators such as leopard, cheetah, brown and spotted hyena, wild dog and black backed jackals can be seen.  Plains game of gemsbok, blue wildebeest, eland, springbok, red hartebeest, duiker and steenbok are also resident.

The birdlife varies according rainfall in this area.  Around 260 bird species have been recorded and the birds of prey are of particular interest.  After the sudden transformation of the park after a thunderstorm, there are a wide selection of water birds.  More than 50% of birds are vagrants or irregular visitors.  After good rains temporary birds may include large flocks of storks, flamingo, ducks, flufftails, and sandpipers.

Accommodation:

There are no lodges within in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.  However, there are many camp sites within the park.

Camp Sites within the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park :

Two Rivers Camping Ground: situated near entrance gate and has 3 undeveloped camp sites

Rooiputs Camping Ground: situated 25 km up the Nossob River Valley from the entrance gate,  6 undeveloped camp sites.

Poletscua Camping Ground: situated in the Northern section of the Nossob Valley -  3 undeveloped camp sites

Mabuasehube Area: situated in the East of the National Park.  Has a few individual camp sites overlooking the pan.

Mabuasehube Pan: 4 Camp Sites with pit latrines and small waterhole.

Mpaathuthva Pan: 2 Camp Sites with pit latrines and small waterhole.

Khiding Pan: 2 Camp Sites with pit latrines.

Lesholoago Pan: 1 Camp Site with pit latrine and 1 Camp site without and small waterhole.

*Please note that reservations for public camping sites must be made with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.
Their contact details are as follows:
Maun office:
Tel:              (+267) 6861 265
Fax:  (+267) 6861 264

Gaborone office:
Tel:              (+267) 318 0774
Fax:  (+267) 318 0775

Notes:

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When camping, please make sure you burn all litter that can be burnt.
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Litter that cannot be burnt, please take with you and deposit at the Wildlife Camp upon your exit.
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When having made a fire, please bury the ashes.
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When driving in a national park, please drive only on the tracks.
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Do not go off road.
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No night drives are permitted within a national park.
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Please camp only at designated campsites.
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Consideration for other peoples as well as for the environment should be of paramount concern.