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Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a merger of Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in South Africa and Gemsbok National Park in Botswana. Most tourism happens on the South African side, which has excellent facilities. The Botswana side only has very basic campsites. The red sand dunes in the inhospitable desert form a magnificent backdrop for wildlife viewing and photography.
Best Time to Visit
Wildlife viewing is always good in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park but at its best at the end of the rains (March to May) when animals gather around the riverbeds, the lifelines of the park. However, Kgalagadi gets extremely hot during summer – the cooler winter months (May to September) are the most pleasant.
May to September –Dry Season – Winter
October to April –Wet Season – Summer
Scenery
For many people, the scenery is as much an attraction of this park as the wildlife. The red sand dunes and endless vistas are quite unique. The dry riverbeds of the Nossob and Auob are lifelines in this harsh environment.
From: $204 to $1,223 pp/day
From: March to May (The riverbeds attract animals)
From: Never (The park never gets very crowded)
From: 35,284km² / 13,623mi²
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a favorite with repeat visitors. The stark desert environment and great predator sightings make for outstanding photographic opportunities. It might, however, not be the best destination for a first-time safari. It only has two of the Big Five: leopard and lion. The desert-adapted springbok and gemsbok are the main antelope species.
Wildlife Highlights
Kgalagadi is famous for its big, black-maned Kalahari lions. Cute ground squirrels pop in and out of their burrows in the rest camps, and the nocturnal springhare is another animal that thrives in the sandy environment. The big cats are quite easily seen. Bat-eared foxes and brown hyenas are two of the smaller predators you might see, and very lucky visitors might come across the elusive pangolin.
Best Time for Wildlife Viewing
The best time for wildlife viewing in Kgalagadi is toward the end of the Wet season, roughly from March to May, when animals gather in the riverbeds. However, many might prefer the cooler winter months of May to September and, as a rule, wildlife viewing is good throughout the year. The summer months from October to April are very hot.
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park lies in a semi-arid region with an average rainfall of 150mm/5.9in in the southwest to 350mm/13.8in in the northeast. It has its winter and summer at opposite times than in Europe and North America. The park lies in a summer rainfall area, and sporadic rain occurs from October to April. There is a strong contrast in day and night temperatures.
Dry Season –May to September – Winter
The winter season has no rain. The nights tend to be very cold, and frost is common. Daytime is pleasant.
Wet Season –October to April – Summer
Typical daytime temperatures range from a steady 33°C/91°F to a peak of 45°C/113°F or more. Occasional rain breaks the heat and usually comes in the form of dramatic storms, often followed by dust storms.
The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is mostly a self-drive destination. It spans two countries: South Africa and Botswana. Except for some basic campsites, there are no facilities on the Botswana side, and most visitors go to the South Africa side of the park.
South Africa Side
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg is where most visitors will arrive when visiting South Africa. Kgalagadi is located approximately 904km/584mi from Johannesburg. It is possible to rent a car in Johannesburg and drive from there, or you could take a connecting flight to Upington Airport (UTN). The distance from Upington to Kgalagadi is 250km/124mi and the drive takes about 2½ hours*.
There are two entrance gates on the South Africa side. The first is the Twee Rivieren Gate in the south, which acts as a border post with the Two Rivers Gate on the Botswana side. The second is the Mata-Mata Gate, which can be entered from Namibia. Airstrips for charter flights are available at Twee Rivieren and Nossob Camp and hire cars can be collected at Twee Rivieren if prior arrangements are made with a car rental company.
Most of the roads in the South African part of the park are accessible with an ordinary car, but high clearance (SUV or pickup type vehicle) is preferred. Even then, it is possible to get stuck on the sandy roads, so some people might choose to play it safe and hire a 4x4.
!Xaus Lodge does all-inclusive packages with game drives and they can organize a return transfer from Upington.
*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.
Botswana Side
Adventurous 4x4 drivers visiting the Botswana side of the park still mostly come from the South Africa side. The Botswana side is accessible by 4x4 only. Visiting here should only be attempted as part of an organized tour or by someone who has a great deal of experience with totally self-sufficient safaris. To enter the Botswana side, a convoy of at least two vehicles is required. Campsites and routes must be booked in advance. There is no visa required if you return through the same gate that you came from.
If you are entering Kgalagadi from Botswana, you can fly to Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (GBE), just outside the capital city of Gaborone. From Gaborone, you can drive to the Mabuasehube Gate using a 4x4 vehicle. The drive is about 530km/329mi and takes at least 12 hours*. Another option is to arrange a charter flight to Tshabong and drive from there (115km/71mi).
If your Botswana safari starts by visiting the more popular northern parks, you will most likely have a stopover at O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, South Africa. From there you can fly to Maun Airport (MUB) or Kasane Airport (BBK), depending on which park you will visit first. When coming from the north, you can enter Kgalagadi through the Kaa Gate, which is 376km/234mi from Ghanzi and 797km/495mi from Maun. A 4x4 vehicle is required. There is also an option to fly from Maun or Kasane to the airstrip near Ghanzi or Tshabong by small charter aircraft and drive from there.
Airlines & Ticket Prices
Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to South Africa or Botswana, and what tickets would cost.
Domestic Flights
Domestic flights (charter or regular) will usually be booked by your tour operator as part of your package. Scheduled flights can also be booked directly with the following carriers:
Passport, Visa & Other Entry Requirements
Please check our Getting There – South Africa and Botswana pages to learn more about passport, visa, COVID-19, and other entry requirements.
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