Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Trip Report
Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2021 11:20 am
IN THE BEGINNING…
Early in 2020, myself and two mates, decided that we need to go on a guys-only tour. This was supposed to be a trip that was a 40th birthday prezzie from my wife, our 20 year friendship anniversary and well as a farewell to one of my mates who would be immigrating to Aus later that year.
We looked at doing the Lebombo trail in the Kruger, but in the end decided to book a trip to Kgalagadi, since none of us have ever been there and it would a good opportunity to focus on photography as we would not have the families in tow.
We initially booked to visit the park at the end of August 2020... but then Covid. We kept a close eye on the closed borders and a few weeks before we were due to go, decided to move the booking to mid March 2021; just for the provincial borders to be opened a few days after we moved the booking…
With the dates now finalized, we started our research of the park, best camera setting etc. I even acquired the following two books:
• Visitor’s Guide to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park by MapStudio
• Kgalagadi Self-Drive : Routes, Road and Ratings by Powell, van den Berg
The plan is to camp at Mata-Mata for three nights, and then camp at Twee Rivieren for 3 nights, and then head home. But before we go to Kgalagadi, we would detour to Augrabies falls for a few pictures.
The Travel Plans:
Day 0: We would be travelling in my trusty (but still injured) Ford Everest with the Wilderness 310 in tow. Leaving Centurion and picking up Muis, then on to Potchefstroom to pick up LigBlou and then from there via the N12/N14 to Kathu, then detour past our old farm new Deben, on to Olifantshoek where we would overnight.
Day 1 : Leave Olifanthoek the next morning at 04:00, drive to Augrabies and spend 90 minutes there, drive back to Upington to fill up, drive to Twee Rivieren to check in, drive to Mata-Mata and set up camp.
Day 2 : Look at the sightings board and decide on a route to drive around Mata-Mata
Day 3 : Look at the sightings board and decide on a route to drive around Mata-Mata
Day 4 : Get up ealrly, break camp. Drive down to Twee Rivieren, set up camp. Maybe do a short afternoon drive.
Day 5 : Look at the sightings board and decide on a route to drive around Twee Rivieren
Day 6 : Look at the sightings board and decide on a route to drive around Twee Rivieren. After game drive, break camp and fold the trailer tent. Sleep under the stars to get up early and leave for home the next morning.
Day 7 : Pack away sleeping gear, and leave for home as soon as the gates open. Drive to Potchefstroom to drop off “LigBlou”, then to Centurion to drop off Muis, and then the final straight home…
... To be continued ...
Early in 2020, myself and two mates, decided that we need to go on a guys-only tour. This was supposed to be a trip that was a 40th birthday prezzie from my wife, our 20 year friendship anniversary and well as a farewell to one of my mates who would be immigrating to Aus later that year.
We looked at doing the Lebombo trail in the Kruger, but in the end decided to book a trip to Kgalagadi, since none of us have ever been there and it would a good opportunity to focus on photography as we would not have the families in tow.
We initially booked to visit the park at the end of August 2020... but then Covid. We kept a close eye on the closed borders and a few weeks before we were due to go, decided to move the booking to mid March 2021; just for the provincial borders to be opened a few days after we moved the booking…
With the dates now finalized, we started our research of the park, best camera setting etc. I even acquired the following two books:
• Visitor’s Guide to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park by MapStudio
• Kgalagadi Self-Drive : Routes, Road and Ratings by Powell, van den Berg
The plan is to camp at Mata-Mata for three nights, and then camp at Twee Rivieren for 3 nights, and then head home. But before we go to Kgalagadi, we would detour to Augrabies falls for a few pictures.
The Travel Plans:
Day 0: We would be travelling in my trusty (but still injured) Ford Everest with the Wilderness 310 in tow. Leaving Centurion and picking up Muis, then on to Potchefstroom to pick up LigBlou and then from there via the N12/N14 to Kathu, then detour past our old farm new Deben, on to Olifantshoek where we would overnight.
Day 1 : Leave Olifanthoek the next morning at 04:00, drive to Augrabies and spend 90 minutes there, drive back to Upington to fill up, drive to Twee Rivieren to check in, drive to Mata-Mata and set up camp.
Day 2 : Look at the sightings board and decide on a route to drive around Mata-Mata
Day 3 : Look at the sightings board and decide on a route to drive around Mata-Mata
Day 4 : Get up ealrly, break camp. Drive down to Twee Rivieren, set up camp. Maybe do a short afternoon drive.
Day 5 : Look at the sightings board and decide on a route to drive around Twee Rivieren
Day 6 : Look at the sightings board and decide on a route to drive around Twee Rivieren. After game drive, break camp and fold the trailer tent. Sleep under the stars to get up early and leave for home the next morning.
Day 7 : Pack away sleeping gear, and leave for home as soon as the gates open. Drive to Potchefstroom to drop off “LigBlou”, then to Centurion to drop off Muis, and then the final straight home…
... To be continued ...