Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Vital Information

Important Visitor Information

The following information will be useful for your visit to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

Shops in Mata Mata, Nossob and Twee Rivieren camps sell basic commodities.
There are no credit/debit card facilities at any of the shops, except for Twee Rivieren.
Only legitimate petrol cards and cash are accepted as a form of payment for fuel. No debit cards are accepted.
Twee Rivieren is the only camp with a restaurant and public telephones (card and coin).
The main camps do have drinking water albeit very mineralised. The Wilderness camps do not have potable water and one should provide their own drinking water.
Guests travelling to Twee Rivieren via Upington (Askham) must note that the tarring of the road has been completed. The road via Van Zylsrus must not be driven at a high speed as the gravel section on this route is badly corrugated.
Kindly note that the roads in the Kgalagadi are not sedan friendly, although management intervenes to maintain on a monthly basis.
Swimming pools at Twee Rivieren, Kalahari Tent camps, Mata Mata and Nossob camps.
Power points at camping sites, in Twee Rivieren, Mata Mata and Nossob camps.
Hide at waterhole in Mata Mata and Nossob camps.
Waterhole at Bitterpan, Grootkolk, Kieliekrankie, Urikaruus, Gharagab and Kalahari Tent camps.
Info centre at Twee Rivieren camp. Predator centre at Nossob camp.
Bitterpan, Grootkolk, Kieliekrankie, Urikaruus, Gharagab and Kalahari Tent camps are not fenced.
Guests staying at Bitterpan, Grootkolk, Kieliekrankie, Urikaruus, Gharagab and Kalahari Tent camps must take own wood and drinking water.
Only guests staying at Bitterpan and Gharagab are allowed to make use of 4X4 road to Bitterpan and Gharagab. NO TRAILERS ALLOWED.
Closest shop to Kalahari Tent camp is at Mata Mata camp (3 km away).
Departure time for the Nossob 4 x 4 eco-trail from Twee Rivieren or Nossob camp is 09:00.
For trails that start in Twee Rivieren, it is advisable to book the night after the trail, in Nossob camp.
Distance from Upington – 260 km.
NB: Visitors must allow for the following travelling time from Twee Rivieren entrance gate, to the other camps:
- Nossob - 4½ hours
- Grootkolk - 7½ hours
- Gharagab - Not possible in one day
- Bitterpan - 6½ hours
- Kieliekrankie -1½ hours
- Urikaruus - 2½ hours
- Kalahari Tent Camp - 3½ hours
- Mata Mata - 3½ hours
Please note:
- Tourists wanting to exit the park other than the point of entry must kindly note that all immigration controls must be done at Twee Rivieren / Two Rivers, and that a 2 night stay in the park is compulsory.
- Tourists crossing into Namibia: Kindly note that the standard black and white’ ZA’ vehicle sticker is required. A road levy of R120 per trailer and R240 per vehicle is payable at Namibian immigration when entering Namibia.
Tourists travelling from and to Namibia please acquaint yourself with the summer and winter time differences between South Africa and Namibia in order to plan accordingly.
Winter changes - 1hr.the first Sunday in April until the first Sunday in September

Climate

The Kalahari is a semi-arid region with an average rainfall of 150mm in the southwest to 350mm in the northeast. The unreliable and irregular rains fall mostly during dramatic thunderstorms, often accompanied by strong winds and dust-storms, between November and April. The first rains transform the red dunes, covering them with the fresh yellow flowers of the dubbeltjie, Tribulus terrestris. Within two weeks fresh green grass begins to grow, but if the rains do not return, the vegetation will soon wither and the thirstland once again becomes apparent.

Temperatures vary greatly from -11°C on cold winter nights to 42°C in the shade on summer days when the ground surface temperature reaches a sizzling 70°C. During the winter months, when frost is common, the ground surface temperature can be 25°C lower that the temperature of the air. Winter in the Kalahari is a cool, dry season from September to October and then a hot, wet season from November to April.

Day travellers

There are communal ablution facilities at Twee Rivieren, Nossob and Mata Mata rest camps and picnic sites at Melkvlei, 50 km (north of Twee Rivieren), Dikbaardskolk, 56 km (South of Nossob) and at Kamqua between Twee Rivieren and Mata-Mata.

Official hours

Office Hours: 07:30 to sundown

Park Regulations

To ensure a safe and joyful trip through our parks, kindly adhere to the Rules and Regulations as stipulated by South African National Parks.

Tips & Hints

Pets are not allowed in a National Park.
Kindly note that no firearms will be allowed to cross borders either via Mata Mata, Kaa or Mabuasehube nor allowed in the park. Tourists with firearms are advised to use Rietfontein or Boksputs borderposts into Namibia and Botswana.
Shoes are essential on summer evenings for protection against the possibility of scorpion stings.
Keep an emergency supply of 10 litres water in your vehicle.
In the event of a breakdown, remain in your vehicle – it is the safest place.
This is a low risk malaria area. Consult your chemist.
Roads in the park have gravel surfaces.
Light aircraft may land on a tarred runway at Twee Rivieren. Prior permission must be obtained from the Park.
Hired cars may be collected at Twee Rivieren provided that an advance booking was made.
The travelling time from the entrance gate at Twee Rivieren to Nossob Rest Camp is 3.5 hours and to Mata Mata is 2.5 hours. When driving from one rest camp to the other, travellers should depart with travelling times in mind to ensure arrival before sunset as no travelling is allowed in the park after dark.