TOUR
6
Gourmet Kalahari - Beauty
What exactly do you expect from a tour to the Kalahari?? The opportunity
to enjoy a shower every day, electricity for charging batteries,
comfortable beds and a fence around the camps, allowing you to move
freely inside the camps?? No problem!!! ALL THIS can be found in
Tour program 1 and then you do not need to waste time by reading
this program any further!
This is the ULTIMATE Kalahari Experience! This program is ONLY and
SPECIFICALLY compiled for enthusiasts who want an exceptional nature
experience – those who are not afraid of hearing a lion roar around
the camp and then maybe having a sleepless night, sweating in their
tents, very much aware of surrounding sounds from the wild. If you
enjoy the simple way of life in the wilderness and the voices of
nature are “symphonies in your ears”, then, and ONLY THEN this program
will suite you like a glove!!! Go on a walk with the real children
of the Kalahari, the San Bushmen. They will bring you in direct
contact with their everyday life. Away from the usual and boring
tread-out footpaths, here we show you the extreme beauty of the
Kalahari in all its different facets. This tour realizes all your
wildest dreams and we are sure that after this experience you'll
become a life-long friend and supporter of the unique Kalahari environment.
TOUR PROGRAM
Day 1:
We leave Upington early in the morning and drive via Twee Rivieren
- the entrance gate of the Kgalagadi National Park - up to Rooiputs
on the Botswana side of the Park. We will camp close to a waterhole
in the middle of nowhere.
Overnight stay: Camping
at Rooiputs.
(NO WATER)
Meals:
Full board
Day 2:
On our safari drive through the Kalahari National Park via Nossob
Camp (possibility for enjoying a shower), while on our way to Polentswa,
you will observe a wide variety of game, such as oryx, springbok,
maybe the black maned Kalahari lion and many more.
Overnight stay:
Camping Polentswa
(NO WATER)
Meals:
Full board
Day 3:
After breakfast we drive a little further north, then turn eastward
and drive on 4x4 trails through the whole Botswana part of the Park
up to “Kaa” where we can enjoy a shower, before we drive into the
“Kaa Game Viewing Trail” until we reach Thupapedi in the middle
of nowhere where we’ll set up our camp for the next 2 nights. (NO
FACILITIES AVAILABLE) What we can observe today? Maybe meercats,
the real symbol of the Kalahari desert. We teach you the secrets
of the healing plants of the Bushmen during our drive through the
bush.
Overnight stay:
Camping Thupapedi
(Kaa Game Viewing Trail) (NO WATER)
Meals:
Full board
Day 4:
After breakfast we continue on the Kaa Game Viewing Trail via Gnus
Gnus up to Swartpan where we have a break for lunch. We continue
on the trail on an alternative route back to Thupapedi. Enjoy a
cold beer during preparing a good dinner!!
Overnight stay:
Camping Thupapedi
(Kaa Game Viewing Trail) (NO WATER)
Meals:
Full board
Day 5:
After breakfast drive back to
Kaa. What a luxury!! Here water is available and imagine how we
will sing like Pavarotti under the shower!!! After this pleasure
we’ll leave the National Park and drive into the “Kaa Concession
Area”. There is NO fence between the National Park and the concession
area. The “owners” of this area are the local “San Bushmen” people
living in 2 small settlements since nearly
3 000 years ago. They have pursued a hunting and gathering lifestyle
until very recently. We must ask them personally for permission
to set up our camp at Masetleng Pan for the next 2 nights. It is
NOT possible to make a reservation in advance, as in this area civilisation
facilities like telephones or Internet, are nearly unknown.
Overnight stay:
Camping Masetleng Pan
(Kaa Concession Area)
(NO WATER)
Meals: Full
board
Day 6:
We will stay at Masetleng Pan. It is worth spending at least 2 nights
in this area as it is one of the last unfenced areas in Southern
Africa and of great ecological importance as it represents the migration
corridor between the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and the Central
Kalahari Game Reserve. Walking on pans is permitted, but venturing
far from the vehicle could be dangerous!! You may come across a
lion because huge herds of eland, gemsbok, springbok and red hartebeest
attract many predators.
Overnight stay: Camping Masetleng
Pan
(Kaa Concession Area) (NO WATER)
Meals:
Full board
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Day
7: Today we drive northwards
to Ghanzi, the main town of the district. Close by we find the Kalahari
Trail Blazer Camp where we spend the next 2 nights with the San
Bushmen. A small lake, something not to be expected in the Kalahari,
is found here. This will give us the opportunity to enjoy a refreshing
swim.
Overnight stay: Camping Kalahari
Trail Blazer Camp
Meals:
Full board
Day 8:
Before breakfast (early morning) you will have the privilege of
going on a walking safari with the “real children” of the Kalahari,
the Bushmen. This will be an exceptional experience as you will
discover a lot about the daily way of life of the original inhabitants
of this region from the masters themselves. In the afternoon we
drive to Ghanzi for shopping.
Overnight stay: Camping Kalahari
Trail Blazer Camp
Meals: Full
board
Day 9:
Today we drive via Hukuntsi to the Mabuasehube Game Reserve where
we’ll set up our camp for another 2 unforgettable days.
Overnight stay:
Camping at Mabuasehube Game Reserve. (WATER AVAILABLE)
Meals:
Full board
Day 10:
While enjoying breakfast, we’ll have a good view of the nearby water
whole where animals will be coming and going. After breakfast we
will undertake a safari drive to one of the nearby salt pans. Break
in the afternoon. Game drive in the evening. Enjoy supper around
the fire under the magnificent African stars while listening to
the sounds of the wild around us.
Overnight stay:
Camping at Mabuasehube Game Reserve. (WATER AVAILABLE)
Meals:
Full board
Day 11:
After breakfast our expedition continues. We leave Mabuasehube Game
Reserve and drive back on heavy terrain with our 4x4 vehicles into
the huge Botswana part of the Kalahari Park to Matopi. It is deep
into the Kalahari and in the middle of nowhere we’ll set up camp
in the shade. During our trip we will see many interesting things.
Overnight stay:Camping
Matopi (NO WATER)
Meals:
Full board
Day 12:
After breakfast we tackle the second half of the heavy 4x4 route
until we reach civilisation in the afternoon. Nossob Camp on the
South African side of the park is fully equipped and also has a
filling station. The first one in 10 days! Optional:
Participate in a night game drive with spotlight, organised by
the Park Authority.
Overnight
stay: Camping at Nossob
Meals: Full
board
Day 13:
Maybe we would have heard the roaring of the “king of the Kalahari”
all through the night as Nossob is lion territory. Today we may
be fortunate to have a closer look at these “noisy guys”. After
breakfast you’ll have the last opportunity to see something special
as we head back to Twee Rivieren. Maybe we’ll also spot a cheetah?
We leave the Park and drive back to Upington where we will arrive
in the late afternoon.
Overnight stay:
Double room in Upington
Meals: Full
board
Day 14:
After breakfast you will be taken to Upington Airport for your
flight.
Participants: minimum 2 people
Further notes: Staying in
the Botswana wilderness is only possible if we are fully self-contained
and independent. We have to compromise on the comfort. Limited
water consumption.
Luggage: We
must take along plenty of important items with us to survive on
this 2 week tour, like diesel, water, food and drinks. Therefore
ONLY the absolute necessary clothes can be taken and must be packed
in a soft travel bag. All other luggage will be stored safely
in Upington.
Equipment: Our
vehicles are in a top condition and equipped with GPS, radio and
compressor. Our camping equipment is also only the best. The drivers
are specially trained.
Additional Program:
4x4 Training
 We
offer you a basic training in driving a 4x4 (with diploma) during
this tour. We will tell you more about the secrets of handling
a 4x4 vehicle in desert conditions. What is possible? What are
the limits? You will be very proud, when you master your first
dune under the guidance of an expert.
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