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Hi all

We travel to KNP every year and decided to try Kgalagadi this year.
So I have a few questions I hope the regulars can help me with, so here goes.

1. Travel from Vereeniging to 2Rivieren. Is it wise to sleep over in Upington and do the final 200km or so the next morning?

2. Is the picnic spots the same as KNP or is it just a spot, and you have to take your own gas braai etc?

3. Should you take your meat, milk etc from home, or is it available in the shops?

4. The 4x4 only roads. Are they all pre booking only or can you drive them whenever. If you need to book, what is the prices for them.

5. Do you have cellphone/internet reception in the camps?

6. Can you recharge your cellphone at your accomodtion.

7. I notice no electricity between certain hours of the night. Does this mean no electricity at all, or will your accommodation still have lights, and power for the fridge etc.

We will be staying in Kalahari Tented Camp, Nossob and 2 Rivieren for 3 nights each, and we are really looking forward to it. We will be going beginning of Dec, so we expect some very hot days.

Anything else that you might think is worth knowing of beforehand will be appreciated.

Thank you in advance

Hi Jaco, let me start by saying Kgalagadi rocks

I will try to answer some of your question. Tweerivieren, electicity and cell pnone signal 24 hrs, Nossob electicity (generator) early morning until late at night, Kalahari TC no electricity. Both N & KTC gas for fridge / freezer or geyser. Picnic spots very basic no gasbraais as in Kruger. Do have braai to make fire and basic toilet facilities.

I have an inverter for charging batteries phone etc but you would be able to do so in all your camps except KTC. Inverter not expensive and good investment

Shops are basic so take everything although 2R shop better than others, rather approach shops as emergency. Take own drinking water as that in park tastes bad (can buy at shops, pricy)

4x4 route open for everyone ( prebook on the day) is only from Leeudril to 2R Mata Mata road, other you have to have reservation in the bushcamp to use 4x4 access road.

I live in Pretoria and leave early morning (3:00) and will be there at 15:00 some rest in between. Take numerous stop and go into consideration ( might loose quite some time here)

Enjoy your stay, yes it will be warm but a dry heat and worth it!

Kgalagadi rocks (yes I know I have said so)

Hi JakoVenter

Just to answer some of your questions:

1. I am from Bloemfontein, so I cannot really answer your question but we usually drive via Kimberley, Griekwastad and Groblershoop. However, there are also a few stop-and-go on that road.

2. No, the picnic spots are not the same. Much smaller with just toilets and seating facilities (about 5-8 per picnic spot. But like somebody mentioned on a different blog - you may the only one using the facilities at a certain time. There are also the usual SANPARK braai facilities (wood/charcoal type - the same that you will find in any camp). You need to take your own gas braai though.

3. Yes, it is better to take your own stuff but their are small shops in Nossob & Mata Mata but some times they do run out of stock.

4. All the 4x4 roads must be pre-booked with the related stay-over in the wilderness camp (Bitterpan & Garagab). You cannot just use the roads as a day-trip. The only 4x4 road that you can use as a day trip is the Leeudril 4x4. You can book a trip at the reception at Twee Riverien gate (about R185.00).

5. Only at Twee Rivieren and if your are lucky at Kieliekrankie. Just a few kilometers outside Twee Rivieren, you will lose your cellphone signal. Hippie!!!

6. Yes except for Kalahari tented camp -they do use 12v power/electricity for the lights and gas for the water, cooking and fridge. You won't be able to charge anything. However, Mata Mata is just 3km away. I do use my convertor in my Fortuner to charge my laptop and camera batteries. KTC is one of my favorite camps in the park with lots of sightings up to the 13th bore-hole.

7. Yes, in Mata Mata and Nossob you won't have any electricity for a certain period of the night. Please take a torch or three with you. It is quite dark in the middle of the night.

I hope it helps you - after my first visit to Kgalagadi in 2010, I was hooked (visited the park about 10 already after that). I would love to hear your opinion after you've returned form the park.

You can have a look at my trip reports on the Kgalagadi on my blog or elsewhere on this website.

Enjoy!!!

and more, picnic spots are unfenced... so have a very "wild" open eye

no signal... that is a plus... only concentrate with the park

enjoy... enjoy your first time in the Kgalagadi