kalahari (the living desert)
The Northern Cape, which is bordered by Namibia and Botswana, is the largest of South Africa’s nine provinces (it takes up about a third of the entire country) and is very sparsely populated. In some areas it is possible to drive for hours without coming across any people.
Its sparse desert landscape and spectacular open spaces are especially appreciated at night – with no light pollution, the night sky is ideal for astronomy enthusiasts. The lure of the Northern Cape is definitely its natural attractions, which include the annual Namaqualand wildflower display in spring (late August/September), the spectacular Augrabies Falls, and the winding oasis that is the Green Kalahari.
Its rugged terrain also makes it ideal for 4x4 adventurers, while the Gariep (Orange) River is ideal for river-rafting enthusiasts.
It is also home to the Richtersveld World Heritage Site, home to the Nama, a semi-nomadic group of people who have followed the same seasonal migratory pattern for thousands of years.
The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park lies in a large sand-filled basin in the west of the southern African subcontinent, known as the Kalahari Desert. The Kalahari is a living desert!
It straddles both South Africa and Botswana to create an enormous conservation area of over 3,6 million hectares and one of the very few of this magnitude in the world.
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is characterised by vast arid landscapes with dunes, sparse vegetation and camel thorn trees. Animals tend to gather in the dry river beds and waterholes. Herds of Gemsbok, Springbok, Eland and Blue Wildebeest follow the seasons, closely watched by prides of Black-Mane Lion. Other predators include Leopard, Cheetah, Brown and Spotted Hyena and birds of prey.
This place is well renowned for it's predators, especially the biggest of the African Lions, the Black Mane Lions of the Kalahari!
Please enquire about our Tours and Rates.
Come walk in the footsteps of the ancient San people.
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This is one of my favourite places in the wild!
Kalahari Desert : Guided Safari (14 days)
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park : South Africa (14 days)
Day 1 : Leave Cape Town for Calvinia. Drive along the West Coast of South Africa and cross over to the Namaqualand region before we reach the town of Calvinia in the Hantam Mountains
Day 2 : The next day we leave for the Molopo area. This area is part of the green Kalahari desert region and is just outside the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Day 3,4 : We enter the game reserve at Twee Rivieren and will stay in this camp for two days. We will explore the southern part of the Kalahari desert park in search of the Black Mane Kalahari Desert Lion – the biggest of the African Lions.
Day 5,6,7 : We leave Twee Rivieren and will drive through some dunes on our way to the Nossob river. This dry river bed is the lifeline of the Kalahari wildlife and is home to a wide variety of antelope and predators.
We will spend 3 days in the Nossob camp and do daily game drives to the north and south of this camp. We will stop at some picnic sites on our game drives to refresh, stretch some legs and do light picnic lunches.
The Nossob camp has a hide at a waterhole that can be visited at night. The area is well known for it’s bird of prey and lions and heynas are often heard at night all around the campsite.
Night game drives can be arranged with the local game rangers and proves to very popular with foreign- and local visitors.
Day 8,9,10 : We will leave Nossob and move to Mata-Mata camp in the north – west part of the game reserve. This camp borders the Namibia border and serves as a border post as well.
Mata – Mata is well known for the predators that frequent the nearby water holes as well.
Here you will see the most awesome stars at night.
Day 11 : We leave Mata- Mata in the north – west and meander back to the south and exit at Twee Rivieren to the Molopo area for our next sleep over.
Day 12 : We leave for the Augrabies Waterfall. We will spend one night here under the clear skies of the “place of big noises”.
Augrabies Falls National Park was established in 1966.
The waterfall is about 60 metres high and the gorge below the falls averages about 240 m deep and runs for 18 kilometres.
There are many deposits of alluvial diamonds along the Orange River and legend has it that the biggest cache of diamonds in the world lies in the swirl-hole eroded into the granite at the foot of the waterfall by the thundering waters.
Day 13 : We leave for Lamberts Bay a small fisherman’s town on the west coast of South Africa – well known for it’s crayfish in this region.
Day 14 : After a visit to the Lamberts Bay Bird Island and a good breakfast at Issabella’s we will leave for Cape Town.
Some information of this trip :
Total days : 14
Total (estimated) Km’s : 4500
Vehicle Type : 4x4 (with airconditioning &fully equipped for safari’s)
Driver and Guide : Jan Engelbrecht
Total Cost : € 4 300-00 for 2 people sharing. (Single Supplement of € 4 100-00 for 3rd person.)
Min : 2 people
Max : 6 people
What does it include?
Accomodation (Bed and Breakfast).
Park entrance fees.
Game drives – other than night drives (which will be extra).
Soft drinks and snacks for Game drives.
Vehicle rental, running costs, vehicle insurance, fuel.
Guide fees.
What does it not include?
Medical and personal Insurance.
Cross Border/Immigration fees.
Alcohol Beverages.
Lunches and dinners.
Any other activities that you might choose on the trip.
NB! Bookings need to be done 6 months in advance for Low Season (September to April) and 12 months in advance for High Season.(May to August)
November to February is very hot.
Orange River : Rafting and River Trails!
We at Sanveld Tours and Safari's do collaborate with another reputable operator that specialises in river rafting on the Orange River.
They cater for families and students alike, at their well equipped camp on the banks of the Orange River.
They have well trained river guides that will look after you and your family/friends safety, while having a good time!
Do not miss this experience!
Please enquire about their packages and rates!
CONTACT US FOR MORE INFO ON OTHER TOURS AND RATES PACKAGES FOR THE KALAHARI OR RIVER RAFTING AT : jan@sanveldsafari.co.za
+27(0)825703364