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Hi all

We visited the Kgalagadi in February last year and plan to revisit the park in June. We have previously stayed at Nossob and the Kalahari Tented Camp and would love to get your opinions on your favourite camp (Traditional and Wilderness camps) within the Kgalagadi and your reasons why.

We had fantastic sightings around both camps. From Nossob we saw lion (including lion on a kill), 2 sighting of cheetah (at one of them they walked right next to the car), jackals, foxes, brown hyena and many fantastic bird sightings. From the Kalahari Tented Camp we saw lots of lion, giraffe, large herds of springbok, spotted hyena, jackals, foxes and had an excellent leopard sighting.

Of the two camps we stayed at our favourite was the Kalahari Tented Camp because of it fantastic views and sunsets, the feeling of really being out in the wilderness with the unfenced camp and finally because of the well appreciated swimming pool and deck to relax in and on after a 'hard' morning/evening drive.

Your advice would be appreciated.

Regards
A&C

A & C,

This is a VERY difficult question, the reason for me saying so is that it depends for what reasons do come to the park. would it be Predators (Large), Predators (Small),Raptors, General game or just to have a beautiful scenery.

Animals tend to concentrate in different parts of the park, the habitat that suites them the best. So i will be giving you my reasons for each camp, why i love them.

Twee Rivieren

Due to the two rivers coming together you have greater chance to see Leopard, Cheetah and Lion (All you prey species concentrate in the riverbeds), your smaller predators are also plentiful in the area.

Nossob

Very good lion sightings, and now and then cheetah (Not really leopard country).

Mata - Mata

Good Cheetah and leopard country with fair lion sightings, large herds of general game.

Kalahari Tented Camp

Has its own swimming pool, and the fact that lions and hyenas do come into camp on a frequent basis.

Urikaruus

Stunning predator sightings at night, the water at Urikaruus is very sweet and therefore the concentration of predators. In front of the guide's house there is a waterhole and the lions and leopards come and drink there almost every second night.

Bitterpan

Cant comment, haven't been there yet.

Grootkolk

Peace and quite, in the middle of the "Desert". Some very good leopard sightings at the waterhole.

Gharagab

Same as Grootkolk.

Kieliekrankie

Fantastic view of the sunset and sunrise (maybe the best in the park), there have been very good lion and brown hyena sightings in and around the camp.

I have unfortunately not been to any of the Wilderness Camps yet, but will definitely vote for Nossob as my favourite Traditional Rest Camp.

I love its remoteness and enjoy the hide tremendously!

Agreed, but I would like Urikaruus if I could afford it. A friend confirms the leopard drinking out of the ranger's bird bath at night.

I have only been to Nossob and Twee Rivieren so I can only choose between those two! And than the choice is simple: NOSSOB! Just like LL I just love the remoteness. Feels a bit like being in the last human settlement before an endless desert begins (one of the reasons Grootkolk is high on my list). And the gameviewing around the camp was also very good (lion, cheetah, brown hyaena,...) but I must say last time we were there gameviewing was good all over the park.

This is a very difficult one. Especially the wilderness camps – each has its own unique appeal.

But, if I really have to choose I will go with Gharagab:
- On the 4x4 routes to and from the camp you truly feel as though you are alone in the world
- Saw our first porcupine on this route
- Also saw eland and meerkat
- The units in the camp are great and the remoteness of this camp give you an experience that is very rare in the world we live in – maybe not everybody’s cup of tea, but it was heaven to us.

Not sure yet - can you hold the poll open until July 2007?

If I read Jannies comments, I would have expexted Twee Rivieren to have a higher rating. What is "wrong" with it for not being more popular?

The only thing wrong with the camp is that you're right at the edge of the park. You can see the gate, the fence and the Botswana border post so you don't really get the feeling of being in a national park. It's also the busiest camp in the Kgalagadi which also doesn't help. In the rest of the park it feels like you're in the middle of nowhere because you hardly see any cars and don't see anything that even vaguely resembles civilization. It's a special feeling that you don't get in Kruger (at least I don't). The Kgalagadi is by far my most favourite destination.

furthermore, the bungalows in TR could do with a little refurbishment. For me that is not a deciding factor but for others it might be. I remember the bungalows of Nossob being more "welcoming" than those of TR. As for the rest I couldn't agree more with Madach!

Absolutely nothing wrong with it, christo! I'm sure you'll find people who prefer Twee Rivieren to any other camp in the KTP.

It's the Admin centre of the Park, so you can say it's the Skukuza of the KTP, but obviously not nearly as busy.

In my opinion, it also lacks the character and atmosphere of Nossob for example. The deciding factor is the pure remoteness of a camp like Nossob.

I couldn't remember the insdide looking of the bungalows. I know it was simple and easy, and all was very clean. And as we stayed in TR in the last bungalow to the campingsite and were only in the late evening at home, it was very quiet.

TR with the Master of the braai


Nossob

As the Park accomodation has expanded over the past few years by the introduction of Wilderness Camps, so have our park preferences changed.
In 1999 we spent 3 days in TR, 3 at Nossob, and 1 at Mata Mata. We felt that it was not long enough in Mata Mata, so in 2001 spent 2 at TR, 3 Nossob and 2 at Mata Mata.
We just love everything about the Kgalagadi, so in 2003 increased our stay and tried an even split with Nossob and Mata Mata 3 nights each and 1 night on either side at TW.
The next time in 2005 we decided to try some wilderness Camps Wow, that changed things!! Spent 3 nights Nossob, 1 Grootkolk, 2 at KTC and 1 TW. What a wonderful experience we had trying these camps.
Sept this year consists of 3 Nossob, 1 Grootkolk, 2 KTC and 2 at Urikaruus.TW we will give a miss due to no extra time. Not being able to get a booking there also a factor.

From all this, you can see that for us, the remote camps are just 'the best' for the same reasons as others have given.
As far as a vote, I find it would not be fair as the Wilderness Camps are in a league of their own Not everyone is able to get a booking when wanted. I would go as far as saying that any first time visitor needs to try all 3 Traditional camps, THEN, when they plan their return trip which is inevitable because it is such an awesome place, they should definately try the Wilderness Camps.
Of the Traditional Camps, Nossob gets our first vote

Thanks for all the replies. I can also see myself loving the more "remote" camps the most.

Have been 3 times in the past year, for photography I am finding KTP hard to beat. Of the traditional camps it is Mata Mata for me as the Auob bed is narrower, therefore closer sightings. There are a few loop roads so if you see something in the distance you can drive around to get a closer look.
Of the wilderness camps, I have only stayed in two being KTC and KK, both have there own special traits. KK is awesome for the endless expanse of desert and the fact that at most there are only 3 other couples to share it with you. KTC is a lot larger but you do get a lovely waterhole in the distance with large herds and the supply shop at Mata Mata only 3km's away.
The facilities at all, are great and we are very lucky to have a parks board that puts so much into the maintanance of all camps at very affordable prices. This was most evident after a trip to Etosha in April where the prices were high and the accommodation of serious need of upgrade.
Lee