SANParks.org Forums

What an interesting thread! We are planning our first visit to Kgalagadi, we will be there from 3 to 15 March this year. After a lot of thinking and reading, the following itenerary is what we are trying to book:

KTC
KTC
KTC
NOSSOB
NOSSOB
GROOTKOLK
GROOTKOLK
GROOTKOLK
NOSSOB
NOSSOB
URIKARUUS
URIKARUUS

What do the experts think about our itenerary? Additional camps we don´t want to visit.

Our plane from CPT arrives at Upington 17.35 which is too late to get into the park the same day The return flight to Cape Town leaves 08.15 which means we have to spend two nights in Upington or wherever but not inside the park!

Is there enough time to reach KTC if we enter the park say at around 11.00?

You've got a great itinerary. It gives you a good impression of the park. Don't forget to visit Unions End when you're in Grootkolk.

btw. I'm quite green

Your Itin looks great bbk, just give yourself enough time to get to KTC, and then from Urik to your next stop.

You got a spare seat?

What a frustrating day!!! I had completed my reservation, filled in the credit card details, pressed the send button.

The next thing I read was "The SANParks online booking facility is currently unavailable."

Can´t believe it! It´s still unavailable!!! Then I tried to make a reservation by email and fax. Their reply:

"please be informed that i did do my utmost best to find accommodation for you, but i m afraid i was unsuccessfull in my search. I can to find the whole of the Kgalagadi National Park. Please check with our Call Centre (012)4289111
Website-wwww.sanpark.org. Thank You"

What´s going on there?

Hi Bontebok

I plan my itinerary by checking the online availability which is almost 100% of the time up to date. I then make a telephonic booking by phoning the folowing local numbers

021-552 0008 or 021 551 0209.

Try that......I always get very good service

Hi Caracal, in my experience the online avalilability is not accurate, at least not today. I checked KTC and only one day was available, then I went to the online reservation form and I could book all three days. Now I had a look again at online availability, still only that single day.

I guess the telephone nos. belong to that office in Burgh Street? The best would be to go there instead of phoning.

No, the numbers are that of a satellite office in Canal Walk.. I think!
I think the online bookings have had a few problems today because I was unable to get in earliwer as well. Normally that is not the case though. I tend to sit with the online bookings open in front of me on my pc when I make the call and if it is available online then it is available for me to book....this always seems to work for me

I quickly phoned them and I must say, I´m very surprised and disappointed: the park is full in March! I could only get accomodation in two camps. It´s not my day today.

TR
KTC
KTC
KTC
KTC
KTC
KTC
KTC
TR
TR
?
?

For the last two nights we didn´t get something at all, have to wait for cancellations... The best would have been to cancel the entire tour but we couldn´t for various reasons.

Hi again

KTP is very popular and because most unfenced camps only sleep 8 people it tends to fill up very quickly. Ideally to get what you really want you should try to book well in advance. All is not lost yet..watch the online bookings every morning. You will be surprised at how many cancellations pop up....but you have to be quick...because the cancellations get taken up very quickly !

Yes it is very popular. We had thesame problem. Now we are going at the end of our holiday 4 nights in april.
Have you tried a shared place on a campsite?

We don´t have tents and we are not interested in camping either. But maybe there are cancellations, if not we w´ll make the best out of it. There a bigger problems in life than seven days at KTC.

Just for the record. We booked our first KTP trip a year in advance. This way, you are reasonably assured of getting bookings at the restcamps of your choice. But as a novice KTP'er, I would highly reccommend that you book some time at any of the Wilderness (unfenced camps) for a truly African experience. We only stayed at Urikaruus on our first trip for one night, but what an experience. I would highly recommend Urikaruus, but also, after driving through KTC, would opt to stay there as well. Enjoy your stay, wherever it may be in the Park.

We planned our trip this year one year in advance because KTP is so popular in these days and booked it as soon as possible.

In 2003 on our first trip we drove to Twee Rivieren without any bookings and booked our stay completely on the fly.

The first three wilderness camps were just opened.

IMO, neither a 4x4 nor a high clearance vehicle is "essential" for a KTP visit. Since I travel solo, the costs for such are prohibitive and I have made both my KTP visits in a sedan, in 1992 a Toyota Corolla and in 2007 a VW Polo.

Since 2000, I have used the consolidator AutoEurope for RSA car hire as they have had the best rates. In Upington in 2007 they used Avis. Alternatively you might call Avis at the Upington airport directly. The manager is a lady named Elmarie and she is extremely helpful.

HTH. Have a great trip!

Just my 5c to add! We just went on our first KTP trip and stayed at TR, Nossob, Urikaruus, Mata Mata and back to TR. To be honest, both SO and I agreed that after having seen Kalahari Tented Camp, next time - we would opt to rather stay at KTC instead of Mata Mata. Just thought I would throw that into the mix! Also, re Urikaruus - I loved every single minute that we spent there, and sadly we only booked for 1 night - should have booked at least 2 nights.
Whatever you decide - I just know, you will enjoy!!!