Kalahari Gemsbok National Park - South Africa
The Kalahari
Gemsbok National Park is located between the borders of Namibia
and Botswana. The
park covers an area of a little less than 10,000 square kilometers. The Kalahari
Gemsbok National Park and the adjacent Gemsbok National Park of Botswana together
occupy as much as 36,000 square kilometers. Since there is no barrier separating
the two parks, the animals move freely from park to park.
The Nossob and the
Auob - the two major rivers in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park - flow very rarely. Two of the
three roads open to the public form these rivers' courses. One can rent
huts with fully equipped kitchens (air conditioning is available only at
Twee Rivieren Rest Camp) and there are camping sites. Facilities in the
Kalahari Gemsbok National Park include
an extensive network of game viewing roads, picnic sites, shops selling
groceries (fresh meat and eggs are only available at Twee Rivieren), and a
swimming pool (at Twee Rivieren Rest Camp). Wildlife in this park, which
is open throughout the year, includes antelopes such as the eland,
gemsbok, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest and springbok. The park is also
home to the lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted and brown hyena, black-backed
jackal and about 215 bird species.
Mile upon mile of rolling rust-red sand dunes, solitary trees and scattered
grasses. For lovers of the ambience of untamed Africa, this hauntingly beautiful
region has a special appeal all of its own. The Kalahari Desert is a part of
the largest continuous area of sand in the world. Its sand plains cover nine
African countries: Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (in the north),
Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe
(in the centre), Botswana,
Namibia and
South Africa (in the south). The area covers approximately 2,5 million square
kilometres and the sand is sometimes well over 100 metres deep.
Today, the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park forms Africa's first transfrontier
park with the Gemsbok National Park in Botswana, facilitating the seasonal migration
of wildlife in search of water, and the movement of free-roaming predators.
The new 38000 km2 park, known as Kgalagadi
('land of thirst'), represents an increasingly rare phenomenon in the world:
a vast ecosystem relatively free of human influence.
The ultimate game viewing experience is to watch
thousands of antelope gallop as one across the sands. Roads skirt the dry
beds of the Nossob and Auob rivers and the relatively barren terrain
ensures superb opportunities for observation and photography.
The Kalahari Gemsbok National Park is also one of the finest areas in South
Africa for viewing birds of prey. In the heat of the day, black-maned
Kalahari lions shelter beneath shady bushes and leopards take refuge in
the branches of camelthorn trees, while visitors may cool off in the pool
at Twee Rivieren or enjoy a refreshing drink in the restaurant.
Getting to The Kalahari Gemsbok National Park
The park is situated 358 km from
Upington, in the Northern
Cape, and 904 km from Johannesburg.
Climate of the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park
Annual rainfall is 200mm mainly between January
and April. Summer daytime temperatures may exceed 40 degrees Celsius.
Winter days are sunny with night temperatures often below zero degrees
Celsius.
Accommodation in Kalahari Gemsbok National Park
- Amakhulu Central Reservations
Merl offers
a very friendly and professional service to book accommodation
in South Africa. She specializes in the Northern
Cape and Kalahari Gemsbok National Park. Try her she does have a few great
ideas.
- Accommodation at
Kalahari Gemsbok National Park
This website is the best I have yet come across for accommodation in South
Africa. You communicate directly with the accommodation establishment and
the entire booking is carried out online.
- Twee Rivieren
Restcamp
This main camp at the entrance to the park has a
landing strip for light aircraft as well as a car-hire service. Advance
booking is essential. Accommodation consists of chalets with sleeping
space for three to four people. Camp sites are also available. Enquire
- Mata Mata Restcamp
Mata Mata lies on the border of Namibia and the
road from the main camp at Twee Rivieren follows the dry Auob river where
most of the game can be found. Accommodation comprises six-bed cottages
and three-bed chalets with communal ablution facilities. Camp sites are
also available. Enquire
- Nossob Restcamp
This camp on the banks of the dry Nossob river,
lies on the border of Botswana to the north of the main camp at Twee
Rivieren. Accommodation consists of six-bed cottages and three-bed huts.
Camp sites are available. Enquire
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