National park
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Cross-border Kalahari park of red dunes and dry riverbeds; the Botswana side is remote 4x4 camping at Mabuasehube and along the Nossob.
35,544 km² · 2 gates · 20 campsites · Run by Jointly managed by Botswana's Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) and South African National Parks (SANParks)
About the park
The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park joins South Africa's Kalahari Gemsbok park with Botswana's Gemsbok and Mabuasehube areas; about three-quarters of its roughly 37,000 km² lies in Botswana. The landscape is red dunes, grassland and two fossil riverbeds, the Nossob and Auob, lined with camel thorn trees, with large salt pans in the Mabuasehube section that draw game to their mineral licks. It is the place for black-maned lion, cheetah and raptors, along with gemsbok, springbok, red hartebeest and eland. On the Botswana side visits are self-drive camping in basic, unfenced sites, either along the Nossob, around the Mabuasehube pans or on wilderness trails that cross the dunes. It suits experienced desert travellers who want the park without the South African rest-camp crowds. The catch is the rules: well-equipped 4x4s only, self-drive campers travelling in a convoy of at least two vehicles, and bookings made well ahead because camper numbers are capped.
Highlights
- The Mabuasehube pans, where game comes to lick the salty clay pan floor
- Driving the dry Nossob riverbed along the border
- The Botswana-side wilderness trails, with capped vehicle numbers and camps far from anyone
- Raptor-watching: the park is one of the best in the region for birds of prey
- Entering from one country and leaving through the other
Good to know
- About 37,000 km² across Botswana and South Africa; jointly managed, launched in 2000
- Botswana side: Nossob valley, Mabuasehube pans and the wilderness trails; main gate Two Rivers/Twee Rivieren
- Rough, sandy tracks: well-equipped 4x4 only
- Self-drive campers in remote areas must travel in a convoy of at least two vehicles
- Basic unfenced campsites with no electricity or running water; usually one night per site
Wildlife you may see
- Black-maned Kalahari lion
- Gemsbok
- Cheetah
- Springbok
- Red hartebeest
- Eland
- Leopard
- Brown hyena
- Spotted hyena
- Bat-eared fox
- Meerkat
- Raptors (around 30 species)
Sightings are never guaranteed.
When to go
Open: Gate and camp times by month, same on both sides (including Mabuasehube): Jan–Feb 06:00–19:30, Mar 06:30–19:00, Apr 07:00–18:30, May 07:00–18:00, Jun–Jul 07:30–18:00, Aug 07:00–18:30, Sep 06:30–18:30, Oct 06:00–19:00, Nov–Dec 05:30–19:30. Be at your campsite by closing time.
Best time: April to May and September to October, when temperatures are least extreme
Gates
- Mabuasehube GateOpen: Jan–Feb 06:00–19:30, Mar 06:30–19:00, Apr 07:00–18:30, May 07:00–18:00, Jun–Jul 07:30–18:00, Aug 07:00–18:30, Sep 06:30–18:30, Oct 06:00–19:00, Nov–Dec 05:30–19:30Botswana park entry and vehicle fees are paid in pula, at the gate or in advance at a wildlife department office, on showing a paid campsite booking. All Botswana-side campsites are run by the wildlife department. Card machines are unreliable, so carry cash.4x4 is needed inside the Botswana side. From Tsabong a two-wheel drive can manage the gravel road when dry, but not after rain; the route from Hukuntsi needs 4x4. Times apply to leaving and returning to your campsite too. If you arrive after closing, find a ranger at the staff camp. Book ahead: offices shut Saturday afternoons and Sundays.
- Two Rivers GateOpen: Jan–Feb 06:00–19:30, Mar 06:30–19:00, Apr 07:00–18:30, May 07:00–18:00, Jun–Jul 07:30–18:00, Aug 07:00–18:30, Sep 06:30–18:30, Oct 06:00–19:00, Nov–Dec 05:30–19:30Botswana-side entry and camping are paid to the wildlife department in pula; you need a paid booking for a Botswana-side campsite. If you leave the park into another country you must clear customs and immigration here and stay at least two nights in the park.Botswana's gate and border post, sharing the Twee Rivieren complex with South Africa. Twee Rivieren camp has fuel, a shop and an ATM. Gate times are strict and there is no driving after dark. 4x4 is needed on the Botswana side.
Gate times change with the seasons: check with Jointly managed by Botswana's Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) and South African National Parks (SANParks) before you travel.
Campsites
- Bosobogolo CampsiteBush camp4.3P40 pp/night
- Gnus Gnus (KT-GNU-01)Bush camp4.2
- Kaa Entrance Gate CampsiteBush camp3.9
- Khiding CampsiteBush camp4.3P30 pp/night
- Lang RambukaBush camp4.2P200 pp/night
- LefikaBush camp4.6
- Lesholoago CampsiteBush camp4.3P30 pp/night
- Mabuasehube CampsiteBush camp4.6P180 pp/night
- Mabuasehube Entrance Gate CampsiteBush camp3.0P30 pp/night
- Matopi CampsiteBush camp3.9
- Monamodi CampsiteBush camp3.9P30 pp/night
- Mosomane Campsite (KTMOS01)Bush camp3.9
- Mpayathutlwa CampsiteCampsite
- Polentswa CampsiteCampsite4.6P30 pp/night
- Rooiputs CampsiteCampsite4.3P30 pp/night
- SesatsweBush camp4.3
- Sizatswe (KT-SIZ-01)Bush camp4.3
- Swartpan CampsiteBush camp4.3
- Thupapedi (KT-TH-01)Bush camp4.3
- Two Rivers Campsite (Botswana)Campsite4.1P30 pp/night
Park fees
| citizen | P20 per person day |
| resident | R134 per person day |
| resident (child) | R67 per person day |
| regional | R283 per person day |
| regional (child) | R141 per person day |
| international | R662 per person day |
| international (child) | R331 per person day |
Per person per day. Botswana side in pula to the wildlife department, plus vehicle fee and camping. South African side: SANParks rand fee (resident = South Africans and Botswana nationals; regional = other SADC; child 2–11); Wild Card holders exempt.
Places to see
- Auchterlonie picnic site and museumpicnic spotPicnic site at an old farmstead on the Auob road, with a small open-air museum.
- Dikbaardskolk picnic sitepicnic spotPicnic stop beside Dikbaardskolk waterhole on the Nossob road between Twee Rivieren and Nossob.
- Kamqua picnic sitepicnic spotPicnic stop by Kamqua waterhole on the upper Auob road towards Mata-Mata.
- Lijersdraai picnic sitepicnic spotRemote picnic stop on the Union's End road north of Nossob, one of the few places to get out on that long drive.
- Melkvlei picnic sitepicnic spotPicnic stop beside Melkvlei waterhole in the lower Nossob riverbed, an easy drive from Twee Rivieren.
- Union's End picnic sitepicnic spotPicnic site at the park's northern tip, near the point where South Africa, Botswana and Namibia meet.