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Kalahari Tented Camp
Kalahari Tented Camp

Kalahari Tented Camp: Our full report

Kalahari Tented Camp, on the western border of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, is an excellent camp in ...

... a good location within the national park. Similar to both Bitterpan Wilderness Camp and Grootkolk Wilderness Camp, Kalahari Tented Camp offers a more typical safari experience.

The first of the wilderness camps within the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, it was so popular that the park authorities commissioned five further camps, all in a similar mould. However, Kalahari Tented Camp remains just a little bit more luxurious than the other camps, with the rooms having ceiling fans and also with a small pool on site.

With 10 two-bed desert tents, the accommodation is basic, but comfortable. There is no restaurant but if you come well prepared, the self-catering can be a lot of fun. Each tents has it's own small kitchen which is well stocked with standard cooking utensils, crockery and cutlery as well as barbeque facilities outside. The chalets come with bedding and towels, but bring some of your own linen too; especially if you're travelling with younger children. You also need to arrive with water and firewood, although there is a shop for essentials at Twee Rivieren, beside the park's entrance.

It is important to note that the camp is completely open to the wilderness, with the animals drawn towards the watering hole and through the camp. There is a 'tourism assistant' on duty at all times at the camp, but often no other staff.

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park have some superb wildlife and the Kalahari Tented Camp is a great base from which to explore it. The national park can offer visitors who put energy and time into their game-viewing superb opportunities for viewing cheetah and also meerkats. With an abundance of all types of flora and fauna, you're also highly likely to see numbers of gemsbok, wildebeest and springbok here. Black-maned male lions rule the plains, and there's also the occasional leopard sighted within the park.

(The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park was originally two separate parks on either side of the border: the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park was one of South Africa's national parks, while the Gemsbok National Park, a somewhat larger and more isolated section of the Kalahari was in Botswana. However, combining the two has not only opened up the park to more people, but has helped in the conservation with a unified park authority, allowing the park to flourish).

Kalahari Tented Camp is located fairly centrally within the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park; see our Map of the Kgalagadi.


Geographics

Location
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa
Ideal length of stay
To be fully appreciated, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park needs at least a 4 night stay. 5-7 nights, is more sufficient, incorporating a variety of the camps, such as Kalahari Tented Camp, Bitterpan Camp and Grootkolk. Perhaps even one of the restcamps: Mata Mata, Nossob or
Twee Rivieren.
Accessible by
Self-drive

Food & drink

Usual board basis
Room Only
Further dining info, including room service
No

Special interests

Family holidays
For economic family safari holidays on a self-catering and self-driving basis, consider Kalahari Tented Camp in South Africa. It has four family desert tents and bunk beds available. Based in a great game park, you can enjoy excellent views over a waterhole here.
See ideas for Family holidays in South Africa

Children

Attitude towards children
Children are very welcome
Generally recommended for children
Yes

Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from Kalahari Tented Camp

Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at Kalahari Tented Camp have kindly recorded their wildlife sightings and shared them with us. The results are below. Click an animal to see more, and here to see more on our methodology.

Lion

100% success

Oryx

100% success

Wildebeest

100% success

Giraffe

67% success

Cheetah

33% success

Eland

33% success

Leopard

33% success

Aardvark

0% success

Brown Hyena

0% success

Meerkat

0% success

Pangolin

0% success

Spotted Hyena

0% success

Wild dog

0% success

Health & safety

Dangerous animals
High Risk
Fire safety

Activities

  • 4WD Safari

    4WD Safari

Extras

Disabled access
On Request
Laundry facilities
No Laundry Facilities

Other lodges in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Alternative places to stay in this same area.


Twee Rivieren Rest Camp

Twee Rivieren

The Kgalagadi's largest restcamp, Twee Rivieren is the centre for the park's administration, and an obvious stop for food and fuel for self-driving visitors.


80% (37 reviews)
Ta Shebube Rooiputs

Ta Shebube Rooiputs

One of just three private lodges in the Kgalagadi, Ta Shebube Rooiputs offers a well-appointed base from where you can explore this delightful National Park.


88% (15 reviews)
Mata Mata Rest Camp

Mata Mata Rest Camp

On the western border of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Mata Mata Restcamp offers camping and simple self-catering chalets, great for adventurous travellers on self-drive explorations of this park.


83% (15 reviews)
Nossob Rest Camp

Nossob Rest Camp

A basic but very well positioned rest camp within the heart of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Simple self-catering accommodation is available as well as camping options


81% (15 reviews)
Gharagab Wilderness Camp

Gharagab Camp

Gharagab Wilderness Camp is located in a remote corner of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, which is wonderful if you like wilderness areas. However, access takes time - so it's not the best base for exploring the park.


89% (14 reviews)
Bitterpan Wilderness Camp

Bitterpan Camp

Bitterpan is a basic self-catering camp in the Kgalagadi's central dune-field; it suits experienced self-drivers comfortable with remote travel.


82% (11 reviews)
Grootkolk Wilderness Camp

Grootkolk Camp

Grootkolk Wilderness Camp has quirky sand-bag self-catering accommodation and simple amenities, offering a comfortable place to stay while exploring the north western Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.


91% (11 reviews)
!Xaus Lodge

!Xaus Lodge

!Xaus Lodge mixes guided wildlife safaris with very good community interactions, suiting those who prefer not to drive and cater for themselves.


98% (11 reviews)
Ta Shebube Polentswa

Ta Shebube Polentswa

Although accessed via South Africa, Ta Shebube Polentswa is situated just across the border, in a private concession on the Botswana side of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park


94% (10 reviews)
Urikaruus Wilderness Camp

Urikaruus Camp

Urikaruus is one of the most popular wilderness camps in the Kgalagadi National Park with lovely riverside cabins set high up on stilts overlooking the Auob riverbed.


96% (10 reviews)
Kielie Krankie Wilderness Camp

Kielie Krankie Camp

Perched high atop a huge red sand dune, the small Kielie Krankie wilderness camp it is well positioned for accessing both east and west sides of the Kgalagadi National Park.


91% (9 reviews)
Molopo Kalahari Lodge

Molopo Lodge

Less than an hours' drive from the Kgalagadi, this makes a good base near to the park if you're arriving late in the afternoon.


60% (3 reviews)
The Motse at Tswalu

The Motse at Tswalu

Tswalu Motse is a smart lodge located in the Tswalu Game Reserve, the largest private reserve in South Africa.


100% (2 reviews)

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