Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

The border that runs through the park can be crossed by visitors without any border formalities in both directions. However, the park may only be left towards the land from which you entered the park. However, there are both South African and Botswana border checkpoints at Camp Twee Territories, so you can do the border formalities there if you want to leave the park in the other country. A two-day stay in the park is the prerequisite.

The park is not fenced, allowing the game to follow the ancient trails that are vital for survival in the desert. The border between South Africa and Botswana follows the dry riverbed of the Nossob River. There are three main areas: the low valley bed of the Nossob River, the Wilderness Trails and the former Mabuasehube Wildlife Sanctuary.

In order to protect the sensitive flora and fauna, Botswana and South Africa have issued strict regulations. They relate to the number of vehicles, the number of visitors and the number of nights visitors can spend in a campsite. An early booking is therefore necessary.

The landscape of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is dominated by ancient dry riverbeds and colourful sand dunes. The vegetation is sparse and consists of few trees and shrubs, as well as grassland. Despite the harsh living conditions, there are numerous game that often collects at the waterholes on the otherwise dry riverbeds. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is the habitat for several antelope species such as springbok and oryx antelope, hartebeest and eland antelope. Also to be found are wildebeests, lions, jackals and hyenas. There are also spoon-dogs, the cape-fox and the earth-wolf, which one only with good luck gets to see. The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park also has a lot to offer birdwatchers, as over 170 species of birds have been detected.

The landscape in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is partly determined by exceptionally large pans. Three of them are along the main route: Bosobogolo, Mpayathutlwa and Mabuasehube, while others, such as Leshologago, Khiding and Monamodi, are connected by sand tracks to the larger pans. Each pan has its own character. The bottom of the Mabuasehube pan is made of bare clay, which is rich in salt and so attracts numerous animals that meet their need for minerals. The Bosobogolo pan is covered in short, shrubby grass that feeds antelopes, which in turn attract lions and other predators.

Dune grasses and acacia grow on the dry sandy soil. The camel thorn acacia provides shade to animals and food with its leaves and fruits. Acacia roots are very deep and can reach deep water veins. The shepherd's tree, also called Stinkbusch, attracts insects with its faeces-smelling flowers. The Gemsbok cucumbers are a variety of melons and are used among other giraffe and antelope as food.

The Kalahari is a semi-arid region with an average rainfall of 150 mm in the southwest to 350 mm in the northeast. The rains usually fall during dramatic thunderstorms, and the rains between November and April are often accompanied by high winds and dust storms. During the winter months, the soil temperature can be 25 ° C lower than the temperature of the air. Also ground frost is possible.