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It seems to me you have at the moment 3 nights at Nossob and 4 in the Mata Mata area. If you drop one night it would be 2 at Nossob and 5 in the Mata area.
So.
The Nossob side is more open and to some extent not the best place for serious up close wildlife viewing/ photography. Although it is of course also possible.
The Mata Mata area is better for close up wildlife viewing as the river is narrower and game is often closer to your vehicle.
Both areas are still fairly dry but will be more green by the time you get there.
The Nossob area is better for big skies, storms etc... and in my opinion is better for a true feeling of nature/ wilderness/ vastness than the Mata Mata area.
Perhaps some would not agree with me here

Ahh,you are correct about the number of nights peter
But you have made some good points

You are not helping me peeps with all this good,but conflicting info

From Nossob, you have a choice to go either north or south on your day drives. Also the is Maries, which often delivers. At KTC you are restricted to one road only. I would stay at nossob for the night and give that area a chance. It is all about being at the right place at the right time.

Nossob area ...other than Grootkolk has not been the best area for us. However, the TRs are showing good sightings and there are those who swear by Nossob. You currently have a reasonable balance between the 2 rivers.

KTC is a nicer camp.

Not that it is going to make a huge difference but we try to pack/unpack as little as possible. Where to take the break? Nossob or KTC? I would stay just because you aren't spending exploring time around Nossob. But only 51 vs 49 votes. SO would change.

Perhaps I'm being a bit too spontaneous, but last night I booked a flight from San Francisco to JNB with the goal of exploring KTP. Arriving JNB the morning of Feb. 13 and departing the evening of Feb. 26. I've surveyed availability over this time and its a bit hit and miss. I don't mind camping, which might be needed at some camps on some dates. and it would save a bit of money. But hauling the gear from California would be a hassle. I'd like to get to some of the wilderness camps, but with one exception (Kalahari) only "4x4" camps are available during this time.

Here are my preliminary questions related to planning.

1. Are there reasonable "off-airport" 4x4 rentals near JNB? The rental agencies place a significant premium on these rentals. I'd like the flexibility and expanded opportunities that a 4x4 would provide, but not at the high costs that I've found so far.

2. Is there a reputable location to rent camping gear?

3. Any comments on the following very tentative itinerary? It is largely dictated by availability rather than the most rational route. If I have a sedan rather than 4x4, I'll have to substitute another camp for Bitterpan, but availability is slim

Feb. 13 Uppington
Feb. 14 Twee Rivieren
Feb. 15 Nossob
Feb. 16 Nossob
Feb. 17 Nossob
Feb. 18 Kalahari
Feb. 19 Kalahari
Feb. 20 Bitterpan (if 4x4)
Feb. 21 Bitterpan (if 4x4)
Feb. 22 Mata Mata
Feb. 23 Mata Mata
Feb. 24 Mata Mata
Feb. 25 Uppington (or closer to JNB)

Thanks in advance.

Marc

Hi,

We are planning our first trip to Kgalagadi for December 2013. We have traveled extensively around southern Africa but haven't managed to get to Kgalagadi yet! It will be just myself and my husband. We prefer wilderness camps.

We have 7 nights available in KTP. We will be spending a night in Upington and can start from Upington early in the morning. We were thinking about -

2 nights - Kieliekrankie
2 nights - Grootkolk or Gharagab
2 nights - Nossob
1 night - TR

We thought not to rush to KTC on this trip and possibly try to visit that area while staying at Kieliekrankie.

Any thoughts on this itinerary?
Any suggestions on whether to go for Grootkolk or Gharagab? What are the pluses and minuses of both?
Any suggestions on specific units at these camps? How can I request specific units?

Thanks!

@kavita,

Firstly welcome to the forum and hope you will have a great time here.

Regarding your questions you posted:

1. Obviously 7 days are a bit short to experience all the Kgalagadi has to offer, but if that was the only available accommodation it must do. Your itinerary is 100% I wouldn’t change it except maybe see if you could get an extra 2 nights at Tented camp to be able to see the Aoub river side of the park as well.

2. Grootkolk or Gharagab.....there is think the mites could assist as people had different experiences in both the camps.

3. Unfortunately we cannot pre book units due to logistical reasons.

Hope you have a great time

KG

Thanks for your reply.

I just spoke to the reservations. They said they have been advised not to take a booking to Grootkolk or Gharagab straight after KK due to long drive and bad roads.
So we are thinking of -
2 nights KK
1 night Nossob
2 nights grrotkolk
1 night Nossob

Any thoughts on this? We were thinking of driving to KTC from KK, so that we don't change accommodation everyday. We will return for another trip, I am sure

nice suggestion, looks fine for a week

my first first visit to the park I could only get 3 , 1x2R and 2 Nossob
since then I've been back every year
some times just 1 week to fit in with work and once I had 2 weeks and did 8 days KTP, started in Karoo through Mokala, and we always end with at least one night in Augrabies

2 nights - Kieliekrankie
2 nights - Grootkolk or Gharagab
2 nights - Nossob
1 night - TR

Hi kavita
your itinerary is

KK is very central in that you get to travel the Auob River north and south. Both sides are productive for game. The waterholes on the dune road are also very good for predators and you will be the first at the waterholes if you leave camp early in the morning. So you could get to see the some animals that are too nervous to hang around.
The lanscape of KK ia also simply awesome especially the sunsets and sunrises.All the cabins overlook the waterhole so it doesn't matter which cabin you get.

The choice between Grootkolk or Gharagab
My choice would be Grootkolk since you have the option to drive to Union's End or south to Lijersdraai or Polentswa waterholes. Both drives are very productive as far as animals and birds are concerned. Here too you have a good view of the waterhole from all the cabins. Or you could just stay at camp and watch animals come to the waterhole. We have seen honey badgers, brown hyenas, leopards and lions come drink early in the morning.

Gharagab is in the dunes and is stunning landscape. We have not seen much game come to the waterhole and there is only one short drive to Dankbaar waterhole. So Gharagab is great to chill and unwind if you don't want to drive around much.

All the cabins have a good view of the waterhole at all the Wilderness Camps. It really doesn't matter which cabin you get.

Nossob is amazing for game on both sides as well, north and south. Lots of lions around Nossob

Hope this helps

Oops, just saw your change in booking

That looks good too

@kavita,

The changes you have made is good. When I look at the animal sightings currently Twee Rivieren does have plenty of predator activity and along the Auob River.

Welcome to the forum MarcSF

Why not fly from Joburg to Upington and hire a 4x4 camper there.
You can get an equipped 4x4 with a rooftop tent and use it when required.
The suppliers provide sleeping bags and utensils as far as I know.

I considered Upington, but the roundtrip flight would cost nearly 5,000 Rand. The timing and frequency are such that I would save only a few hours each way (and one day's vehicle rental). It doesn't seem to pencil out. Am I missing something?

Any advice on whether a Daihatsu Terios 4x4 would be adequate to reach Bitterpan, Gharagab or the camps on the Botswana side?

Marc

I'm hoping to get some comments on my draft itinerary. It isn't ideal as I will need to traverse the park several times as I chase availability. Here's the latest:

Feb. 13 Uppington
Feb. 14 Twee Rivieren
Feb. 15 Nossob
Feb. 16 Nossob
Feb. 17 Bitterpan
Feb. 18 Mata Mata
Feb. 19 Kalahari
Feb. 20 Kalahari
Feb. 21 Nossob
Feb. 22 Gharagab
Feb. 23 Nossob
Feb. 24 ???
Feb. 25 Uppington (or closer to JNB)

If I could get a chalet at Nossob on the 24th, I might consider changing the 23rd to a wilderness camp. But things are pretty tight.

I understand that getting in and out of Bitterpan can be the most challenging. How about Gharagab and Grootkolk? Serious 4x4, sedan, or something in between?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Marc

I think you saw Gharagab and Bitterpan are "one way" and only 4x4
so you will have to drive almost each time a lot of km/hours
km are nothing... without interesting sightings
and Nossob to Upington seems (to me) enough for the day

but looks like a nice itinerary