Gharagab Wilderness Camp is a small and exceedingly remote, self-catering camp that lies in the extreme north of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park – quite close to Union's End. It's perched on a dune, above a floodlit waterhole, in what feels like the middle of nowhere.
Gharagab stands close to a 'own-way' (one lane!) track in the sand, which they jovially refer to as their 'access road'; you enter the camp from the north, by turning south at Union's End, and you leave the camp by heading south and then east.
Both the entry and exit tracks are long, winding and quite challenging to drive, with some sharp bends and steep sandy inclines. You'll need a good 4WD. Visitors coming here should check in at Nossob Rest Camp, where you should also fill up with petrol and supplies, including drinking water and firewood. Water at the camp is salinated, so cannot be used for drinking. There are no shops or fuel available beyond Nossob, and it is not possible to drive from Twee Rivieren Rest Camp to Gharagab in one day.
Gharagab Wilderness Camp has just four simple cabins, each constructed of wood and canvas and raised on a wooden deck overlooking camelthorn veld and a floodlit waterhole. Inside, two single beds are flanked by small cupboards for hanging clothes. A wooden door leads to the back, where the toilet and washbasin are separated by a canvas 'wall' from the shower. Towels are provided.
Each cabin at Gharagab also has a small, fully equipped kitchen with twin gas burners and a gas fridge/freezer. A wooden sliding door leads from the kitchen onto a private deck with BBQ facilities. This deck area is fenced off and a little gate affords extra security. Although electricity is provided by solar power (and hot water from a gas heater), on our visit in May 2011 we found the units quite dark – and the floors very creaky! In conclusion Gharagab Wilderness Camp is a haven of peace and quiet where you can sit back and watch the game come and go from the waterhole. That said, its long access road, combined with the relatively lack of waterholes in its vicinity, means that whilst it may be a destination in its own right, to sit and relax, it's not a convenient base for exploration of the park.
Lodge overview
Lodge type: Safari
No. of bedrooms: 4 cabins
Season: Open Year Round
Ideal length of stay: To fully appreciate Gharagab, and given the distance involved in getting there, 2–3 nights are recommended.
Central facilities: There are no central facilities at Gharagab Wilderness Camp.
Gharagab - Well Worth the visit
While preparing the trip, one just reads about the difficult drive to Gharagab, which for people not so well experienced on 4W driving as ourselves, can be frightening. The road itself although challe...
Beautiful remote location
A very small camp with just 4 elevated chalets. As with all the others it was simply but very effectively furnished, with its own kitchen and braai area overlooking a floodlit waterhole. Disappointing...
Gharagab Wilderness Camp review
Nice camp didnt get on with guide! (strange lad) and beware on exit route 4x4 only Its a bastard! toughest trail encountered unless you have a bit of 4x4 experiance gve this one a miss! if you have th...
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Gharagab Wilderness Camp This link will take you directly to the official South Africa National parks website, where you can find further information.
