Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

'Famous for its large antelope herds, Kgalagadi (formerly Kalahari Gemsbok Park) is the largest conservation area in Southern Africa and represents an increasingly rare phenomenon: a large ecosystem relatively free from human interference'

Size & Location: 36 000km² in the south Kalahari Desert within Botswana and north South Africa
When to visit: April - September (cooler winter months - preferred)
Climate: Fluctuation is extreme. Day: may exceed 40°C. Night: may drop below -14°C
Rainfall: 200mm per annum varying
Altitude: 900m - 1100mm above sea level

KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER INFORMATION:

Famous for its large antelope herds, Kgalagadi (formerly Kalahari Gemsbok) is the largest conservation area in Southern Africa and represents an increasingly rare phenomenon: a large ecosystem relatively free from human interference. A landscape of red sand dunes, sparse vegetation, semi-desert savannah, denuded grasslands whose crests are covered with grey Camelthorn bushes and Kalahari couch grass to the dry riverbeds of the Nossob and Auob Rivers, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a famous and well protected conservation area in the southern Kalahari Desert.

The dry riverbeds of the Nossob and Auob Rivers cut through the Kgalagadi Transfrontier, which is ground covered by an attractive yellow flower during summer, the devil's thorn. This plant invades a denuded area and, as such, is a sign of previous over utilisation of an area. Moisture, for survival of the wildlife, comes from the tsamma melon and gemsbok cucumber. Few other conservation areas have attracted so many research projects. This research has revealed a widely fluctuating environment, driven by rainfall events which vary widely in time and space, which produce a system that is difficult to predict and understand without long-term study.

Visitors to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park may view large herds of migrating springbok, oryx and blue wildebeest, the desert adapted gemsbok and the huge, black-maned Kalahari Lion. Kudu, grey duiker, red hartebeest, steenbok and the rare eland and impala. The oblong fruit of the Camelthorn tree is a welcome and vitamin-rich variation in the diet of many animals and in the midday heat the animals love to rest in the cooling shade of these deep rooted giants. Other predators found in this area include cheetah, leopard, brown and spotted hyena and wild dog. Smaller animals, like the cape and bat eared fox, yellow, slender and banded mongoose, honey badger, aardwolf, polecat, pangolin and genet also occur. More than 260 species of bird are found in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier including a large number of raptors.

KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER MAIN ATTRACTIONS:
» Fascinating Kalahari ecosystem
» Large herds of antelope, 280 bird species (raptors paradise)
» Protected Conservation area

ACCOMMODATION AND SAFARIS THAT INCORPORATES KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER
GAME AND SAFARI LODGES	SAFARIS AND TOURS