Self-Drive South Africa: Magic of the Kalahari - 9 Days

Travel distance: Approximately 125kms, main roads and good gravel roads

After arriving at Upington Airport, pick up your vehicle and head west along the Orange River to the stunning Augrabies Falls National Park. Few sights are as awesome or sound as deafening as the mighty Orange River cascading 56 metres down over the Augrabies Falls. Called the ‘place of great noise’ by the Khoi people this powerful river has, over time, created an 18 kilometre long gorge which you can enjoy from a range lookouts which provide spectacular ‘moonscape’ views. Ensure that you visit the falls at night, especially during full moon.

Stay at:
Dundi Augrabies Falls Lodge or similar (bed & breakfast)

Travel distance: Approximately 300kms on good main roads.

Head east back to Upington to stock up on supplies before heading north. Spend a night along the ‘Red Dune’ route discovering the heart of the Kalahari region. Be welcomed by the #Khomani San, custodians of this special place. Three activities will be arranged for you as you spend time with a #Khomani San Bushman owned guiding enterprise which showcases the unique cultural and natural treasures of the Kalahari. Learn how to hunt with a bow & arrow, enjoy a demonstration of local craft making and join the #Khomani San in a celebration of their culture through song and dance. In the evening enjoy a traditional Kalahari dinner prepared over the fire by a community elder. The following morning join a #Khomani San guide for an early morning walk through the dunes and discover the myriad of animals, plants, reptiles and insects that make this arid region their home.

Stay at:  
Kameelboomkoelte Guesthouse or similar (dinner, bed & breakfast)

Spend the next 5 full days exploring the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, a park for the twenty first century managed cooperatively across the South African and Botswana borders. Characterised by its spectacular red sand dunes, large salt pans and two main riverbeds, Auob and Nossob, the park supports a large number of springbok, wildebeest and majestic gemsbok (oryx). Being an arid area the herbivores congregate around waterholes where predators such as black-maned lion, leopard and cheetah wait in ambush. Smaller predators such as African wildcat, caracal, bat-earred foxes and Cape foxes can be found along with a magnificent array of birds of prey including the pygmy falcon.

Your itinerary within the park includes one night Twee Rivieren Rest Camp in the south, and one night at Nossob Rest Camp, along the Nossob river north of Twee Rivieren. Each camp offers a small shop, fuel and guided night drives, however only Twee Rivieren has a restaurant.  

Additionally you have two nights at Grootkolk Wilderness Camp in the north of the park. Grootkolk provides an exclusive, unique, remote safari experience - read our  blog Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Wilderness Camps, exclusive yet affordable - to learn more.

Your first 4 days in the park will be spent on early morning and afternoon self-drive game drives, choosing your route based on what has been seen in the area. Alternatively park at one of the many waterholes along the Nossob and Auob dry river beds and see what comes along … check out our blog on a lucky encounter we had with a Kalahari leopard and her cubs and an amazing cheetah mum.

For your last two nights you will  stay at !Xaus Lodge,  perched on the red dunes of the Kalahari overlooking the heart-shaped !Xaus Pan. This community-owned private safari lodge is Fairtrade Certified and your stay includes a wide range of activities, including game drives and  cultural activities with the #Khomani San, as well as star-gazing in this area which has been designated an International Dark Sky Sanctuary. Read our blog Responsible tourism at its best - !Xaus Lodge to get a sense of what a stay at this fantastic lodge entails.

Stay at:  
Twee Rivieren Rest Camp, Self-Catering Chalet or similar (room only) for 1 night
Nossob Rest Camp, Self-Catering Riverfront Chalet or similar (room only) for 1 night
Grootkolk Wilderness Camp, Self-Catering Dune Cabin or similar (room only) for 2 nights
!Xaus Lodge or similar (includes full board meals and all game and cultural activities) for 2 nights

Travel distance: Approximately 325kms, good sand roads and main roads.

After a morning activity at the lodge leave the Kgalagadi and return to Upington via a slow game drive along the Auob River. Return your vehicle to Upington Airport for your onward journey.

Alternatively spending a night in Upington, the green heart of the Northern Cape, can be very rewarding.  The town and surrounding area has some lovely boutique guesthouse options dotted along the Orange River and there is plenty to do in the area including spending time exploring the region's excellent wineries or enjoying activities along or indeed on the mighty Orange River.