Red sand dunes, sparse vegetation and the dry riverbeds of the Nossob and Auob in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, show antelope and predator species off to spectacular advantage, and provide excellent photographic opportunities. The park (a.k.a Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park) is also a haven for birders, especially those interested in birds of prey.
Augrabies Waterfall
Few sights are as awesome or a sound as deafening as water thundering down the 56-m Augrabies Waterfall when the Orange River is in full flood. The Khoi people called it ‘Aukoerebis’, or place of Great Noise, as this powerful flow of water is unleashed from rocky desert surroundings characterized by the 18-km abyss of the Orange River Gorge.
The Itinerary
Day 1 – Departing Johannesburg we head westwards driving via Lichtenburg and Vryburg to arrive in Kuruman in time for a picnic lunch at the famous Kuruman “Eye”. After lunch explore the town of Kuruman including the mission church made famous by Robert Moffat and David Livingstone. This mission was where the first Bible was printed on the African continent. Overnight in a guest house in Kuruman.
Day 2 – After breakfast the tour heads into the Kalahari Desert. After a drive through some spectacular scenery we arrive at the gate to the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park. We settle in to the Twee Rivieren restcamp and after lunch go on a game drive. This park is home to the greatest concentration of raptors in South Africa and is also an excellent park to view lion and cheetah. We have a traditional “Braai” for dinner and overnight in the park restcamp.
Day 3 & 4 – The entire day is spent in the park game viewing and bird watching. We have a brunch en-route while on the game drive in the park at a picnic site and return to the restcamp in the late afternoon. Dinner in the restaurant and overnight in the restcamp. Nights 3 and 4 will be spent either in the Nossob Restcamp or Mata Mata Restcamp
Day 5 – After breakfast a spectacular drive through the Kalahari Sand Dunes takes the tour to the Augrabies Waterfall National Park. Here the Orange River plunges through a gorge in an awesome show of power. We overnight in the park restcamp.
Day 6 – We spend the day in the park, admiring the falls, going on short walks through some amazing rocky landscapes or taking short drives through the reserve.
Day 7 – A very early breakfast and then the tour departs for Upington, the route following the Orange River. Drop off at the airport for the flight back to Johannesburg, or continue to Johannesburg to arrive in the early evening.
PLEASE NOTE: We can arrange pick-up and drop-off in Upington if required.