About !Xaus Lodge
!Xaus Lodge lies within a private reserve run by two San/Bushmen communities – the Mier and Khomani groups ...
... – who originally lived in this part of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Perched on a dune, overlooking a saltpan and a fresh waterhole, it is the only camp in this park where all meals, guided game drives and walks are included in your stay.
Unlike the Kgalagadi's other camps, the focus of !Xaus is not just on game-watching, it's also on the community which owns and runs the camp. So although it does organize game drives and walks; it's likely to be the interaction with the people here that you'll remember most. !Xaus is more costly than the park's other camps – if you're seeking insights into Bushman life it'll probably be worth it.
Our view
Unlike the Kgalagadi's other camps, the focus of !Xaus is not just on game-watching, it's also on the community which owns and runs the camp. So although it does organize game drives and walks; it's likely to be the interaction with the people here that you'll remember most. !Xaus is more costly than the park's other camps – if you're seeking insights into Bushman life it'll probably be worth it.
Accommodation
12 chalets
Children
Open
All year
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Guided walking safari
Night drive
Private activities
Traveller reviews of !Xaus Lodge
11 real, un-edited reviews from Expert Africa's travellers.
Arrived 9 Jul 2018, 3 nights
"Xaus shows what our future should be"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 16 Sep 2016, 2 nights
"!Xaus Lodge review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 11 Sep 2016, 3 nights
"!Xaus Lodge review"
Overall rating: Good
Arrived 13 Feb 2015, 3 nights
"One Meerkat Safari !!"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 30 Aug 2014, 2 nights
"!Xaus Lodge review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 26 Dec 2012, 1 nights
"Amazing Place Off The Beaten Path"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 18 Sep 2012, 2 nights
"!Xaus Lodge review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 3 Sep 2011, 2 nights
"!Xaus Lodge review"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 30 May 2010, 2 nights
"Very comfortable lodge in a superb location"
Overall rating: Excellent
Arrived 1 Dec 2009, 3 nights
"a very pleasant and mind expanding experience"
Overall rating: Excellent













Expert Africa's gallery
When we travel we take lots of photos ourselves to give you a real and un-edited view of the safaris. See our 15 pictures and 1 videos of !Xaus Lodge to get the candid view.
View gallery!Xaus Lodge: Our full report
!Xaus Lodge lies within a private reserve run by two San/Bushmen communities – the Mier and Khomani groups ...
... – who originally lived in this part of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Perched on a dune, overlooking a saltpan and a fresh waterhole, it is the only camp in this park where all meals, guided game drives and walks are included in your stay.
!Xaus Lodge has 12 thatched chalets, modestly furnished with twin beds, a free-standing wooden cupboard and a writing desk. There are ceiling fans and gas heaters, and a flask of purified drinking water is provided. As the camp's generator only runs for a few hours every day, we'd recommend all travellers here to bring a good torch.
En-suite bathrooms incorporate a shower, washbasin and separate toilet, with complimentary toiletries provided. A wooden sliding door leads from each chalet onto a private deck with beautiful views across the saltpan. The name !Xaus – meaning 'heart' in the Nama language – was inspired by the distinctive heart shape of the pan.
Walkways over the dunes connect the chalets to the hub of !Xaus Lodge, built on a wooden platform and open to the surrounding desert. There is a reception area with wall hangings made by ladies in Upington, a craft shop where you can buy local Bushman crafts, a cosy lounge with fireplace and a couple of leather sofas, and a small dining room with hand-made furniture adorned with images burned by Bushman artists. That said, meals are usually hosted in the boma where chairs are placed around a large round open fire pit – a very sociable experience!
On the deck in front of the dining room a telescope affords the opportunity for stargazing and further along the platform you'll find a swimming pool overlooking the pan.
Activities at !Xaus Lodge are all run by members of the local community, and they include game drives on open-topped 4WDs – usually operated with a tracker and a driver/guide. These operate on the tracks around the camps area – rather than the park's main roads. On the sundowner drive that we took during our visit, the game was fairly scarce and so the focus was more on plants than animals.
Walks are probably a bigger draw at !Xaus, and typically last a few hours in the early morning. Our guides were not armed, but they were highly knowledgeable; their English was basic but perfectly adequate – and they were very keen to answer questions.
There is a 'Bushman craft village' a short drive from the lodge, often visited after brunch, where members of the local community come to sell the crafts that they make to the camp's visitors. When we visited this was fairly small – and had just five crafts-people there.
Geographics
- Location
- Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa
- Ideal length of stay
- 2–3 nights
- Directions
- Self drivers heading for !Xaus rendezvous at Kamqua Picnic Site, within the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. Those with 4×4 vehicles, and the ability to drive over sand dunes (91 of them!), may drive to the lodge in convoy with lodge vehicles. Because the road is a single track, no guests may drive to the lodge unaccompanied.
Those who do not want to take their vehicles over the dunes leave them in a demarcated zone off the road and are transferred to the lodge in an open safari vehicle. - Accessible by
- Self-drive
Food & drink
- Usual board basis
- Full Board & Activities
- Food quality
- !Xaus Lodge offers good, home-cooked, traditional food.
Breakfast is a simple affair with yoghurt, fruit and cereals. A cooked option is available too.
For dinner on our recent visit in May 2011 we were treated to traditional potjiekos and roosterbrood – literally 'small pot food' a stew prepared outdoors in a traditional cast-iron, three-legged pot, accompanied by soft bread baked over an open fire. Dessert was a baked fruit tart with cream. - Dining style
- Individual Tables
- Dining locations
- Indoor and Outdoor Dining
- Further dining info, including room service
- No
- Drinks included
- Beverages are not included
Children
- Attitude towards children
- !Xaus Lodge welcomes children.
- Property’s age restrictions
- There are no age restrictions.
- Generally recommended for children
- Yes, but children should be supervised as the lodge and the swimming pool are not fenced. At the guide's discretion, children under 12 may participate in wilderness walks only within sight of the lodge and under parental supervision.
Our travellers’ wildlife sightings from !Xaus Lodge
Since mid-2018, many of our travellers who stayed at !Xaus Lodge 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.

100% success

100% success

100% success

0% success

0% success

0% success

0% success

0% success

0% success

0% success

0% success

0% success

0% success
Communications
- Communications
- There is no regular communication at !Xaus Lodge, but there is a satellite telephone and internet connection for use in an emergency.
Sustainability

Tourism embedded in the local culture
The lodge’s name '!Xaus' charmingly symbolises its history, as it means healing of relationships and restoration of dignity for the Khomani San and Mier communities. These people originally lived in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park many years ago, and have returned as proud owners of the land, the lodge and all its furnishings. Apart from mitigating the effects of unemployment by sourcing almost all employees from the local communities, Khomani San and Mier Community Trust now owns 10% equity stake in the lodge management company. Therefore, any donations and grants are managed by the community representatives and go straight towards funding community-based programmes.
The local community also runs all of the activities at !Xaus Lodge, out of which the outing to the village represents a key initiative aimed at educating guests about the local culture. Apart from observing Bushman crafters in their environment, tourists get a chance to see the !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park that encircles the lodge. This is known as one of the darkest places in the world due to its innate lack of pollution, hence offering a memorable stargazing experience. This way, visitors are taught about the significance that the stars have to local people, who will guide tourists a journey through the sky's spiritual realm using their indigenous knowledge.
The community-owned lodge has been internationally recognized for its sustainable efforts. Most notably, !Xaus Lodge has received a Gold Award in the Best for Poverty Reduction category at the African Responsible Tourism Awards 2016, impressing the judges with the scale of the contribution to the economically poor and marginalized communities of Khomani San and Mier.
See more great sustainability projects in South Africa
Health & safety
- Malarial protection recommended
- No
- Medical care
- The closest doctor or hospital is in the town of Upington. In the event of medical evacuation, light aircraft can fly in to Twee Rivieren and helicopters can fly directly to the lodge.
- Dangerous animals
- High Risk
- Fire safety
- There are fire extinguishers in each chalet as well as in all public areas.
Activities
4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Cultural excursion
Guided walking safari
Night drive
Private activities
Extras
- Disabled access
- Not Possible
- Laundry facilities
- Laundry is not included.
- Money
- There are no safes in the rooms and the lodge does not have any facilities for currency exchange.
- Accepted payment on location
- Cash payments in South African rand are accepted, as are Visa and MasterCard.
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!Xaus Lodge's location
Look closer at the environment and surroundings of !Xaus Lodge.
Other lodges in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Alternative places to stay in this same area.

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.

Kalahari Tented Camp
Kalahari Tented Camp, with self-catering accommodation, is an unusual and well positioned base for exploration of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

The Motse at Tswalu
Tswalu Motse is a smart lodge located in the Tswalu Game Reserve, the largest private reserve in South Africa.
When to go to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Our month by month guide: What it's like to visit !Xaus Lodge in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
South Africa in January
January is considered one of the best months to travel. In Cape Town the weather is hot and generally dry. The Garden Route is also excellent at this time of the year but has a more temperate climate, with slightly lower temperatures and rain can fall at any time of the year. In the Kgalagadi temperatures often top 40°C and short, sharp thunderstorms are also fairly frequent. Wildlife tends to disperse, although birding is excellent.
As this is the high season in the Cape there are numerous events, festivals and outdoor activities to attract visitors. Accommodation books up quickly and it may be necessary to book at least a year in advance. Reservations will often be needed for restaurants and visitor attractions too.
- Hot, largely dry days with clear skies – except on Garden Route
- Wildlife disperses in the Kalahari but birding excellent
- Events, festivals and outdoor activities staged for the high season
- The high season in the Cape, accommodation can cost up to 50% more
- Pre-booking of activities & attractions is essential
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in January
South Africa in February
In February conditions are largely the same as in January, although temperatures can be slightly higher, especially in the interior. The wind in Cape Town starts to ease off. Although the Garden Route can experience some rain, the days are pleasantly warm and largely dry.
The Kgalagadi remains very hot, but the birding is still excellent. Wildlife viewing can be tricky especially if there has been some rain, as the resulting long grass can obscure the animals.
For visitors it’s still the high season, but with the local school holidays over and residents back at work, it is less busy than December and January. Accommodation costs remain high and it’s still advisable to pre-book certain activities and restaurants.
- Hot, largely dry days with little cloud
- Wind starts easing in Cape Town
- Slightly less busy than December & January
- Accommodation costs remain high, activities still best pre-booked
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in February
South Africa in March
March is still a very good time to visit. Conditions remain dry and very warm in Cape Town, although temperatures start dropping off towards the end of the month. The wind has usually died right down.
The Kalahari remains very hot and in years of good rains vegetation is at its most lush – making wildlife viewing tricky.
Typically, the crowds dwindle, but it can get very busy if Easter falls in March. It is also worth bearing in mind that during major events in March, including the Cape Town Cycle Tour, Cape Epic Mountain Bike Tour, The Cape Town Carnival and the International Jazz Festival, accommodation can get very full.
Attractions remain busy but booking is less essential.
- Temperatures start falling towards the end of the month
- Cape Town hosts a number of world class sport and cultural events
- Wildlife in the Kgalagadi disperses, game viewing more challenging
- Crowds diminish as the high season comes to an end
- Accommodation can get busy during major events
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in March
South Africa in April
April is South Africa’s “shoulder” season and is often the most pleasant. Not too hot, not too cold, some rain but not masses. In Cape Town and along the Garden Route days are usually sunny, warm, windless and largely dry, although in Cape Town the chance of rain increases from the end of the month.
In the Kgalagadi the rainy season is typically over and migratory birds are starting to make their journey back up North. Vegetation remains lush but wildlife viewing starts picking up towards the end of the month.
The region is still relatively busy (especially of its still Easter) but it gets quieter towards the end of the month thus availability improves. Accommodation rates start to decrease, and it becomes less important to book restaurants and attractions in advance.
- Temperatures still warm and very pleasant, with little wind.
- Rain starts easing in the Kalahari and migratory birds start to depart
- Less busy, especially towards the end of the month - busy over Easter
- Accommodation frees up and prices start to come down
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in April
South Africa in May
May marks the start of the dry season in the Kgalagadi. Days are warm and dry with almost zero rainfall. Night-time/early-morning temperatures can drop towards 0°C. Wildlife viewing is at its peak as animals concentrate around the few remaining water sources.
Days can still be warm and sunny in Cape Town and on the Garden Route, but the weather becomes a lot more variable. May heralds the start of the rainy season in Cape Town and the winelands. Night-time temperatures rarely drop below 10 degrees in the coastal areas.
With far fewer tourists, accommodation prices are at their lowest. There is rarely any need to pre-book activities, but reservations are still advisable at some of the top restaurants.
- Higher chance of rain in Cape Town & the Winelands
- Day time temperatures drop significantly
- Wildlife viewing peaks in the Kgalagadi
- Low season so rarely busy & very few crowds
- Low season rates at the hotels & lodges
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in May
South Africa in June
Winter is now in full swing. Maximum temperatures in Cape Town rarely reach 20°C and the rainy season is well under way. Outdoor activities therefore become limited, but a number of high-quality indoor events are organised.
The Garden Route has, in general milder weather and less rain than Cape Town.
June sees the arrival of the first whales which migrate to the South African coastline to give birth.
In the Kgalagadi, daytime temperatures are warm but nights and early mornings are bitterly cold. Wildlife viewing is excellent as animals are drawn to the few remaining permanent water points.
Overall tourist numbers are at their lowest, as are the costs of flights and accommodation.
- Cold & wet weather in Cape Town, Kgalagadi warm days but cold at night
- One of the best months for wildlife viewing in the Kgalagadi
- Whales start arriving to have their calves
- Low visitor numbers & no crowds
- Accommodation & flight prices remain low
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in June
South Africa in July
The winter weather continues with very cold nights and early mornings in the Kgalagadi and virtually no rainfall. Vegetation here is really thinning out now and water even more scarce – so wildlife is easy to spot.
Despite the winter and local school holidays, Cape Town remains a great place to visit. On a wet and cold day, the Two Oceans Aquarium, Zeitz Mocca (art museum) and the Cape Town Comedy Club all make for great days out, as does a trip to the wine country or the annual Oyster Festival at Knysna.
By mid-July most of the whales have arrived to give birth. Hermanus is the best place to see them.
At the height of the low season, so accommodation and flight prices remain low.
- Generally cold & wet in the Cape, but good quality indoor events
- Very good wildlife viewing in the Kgalagadi
- Oyster festival in Knysna
- Local school holidays can make places a little busier than usual
- Accommodation and flight prices remain low
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in July
South Africa in August
While August experiences mostly wintry weather it does mark the very beginning of spring with temperatures starting to rise. Visitors are drawn to the West Coast and Namaqualand to see the wildflowers, which start blooming in late August and can be seen until mid-September. Whales are still in abundance now too.
The Kgalagadi is now very dry and wildlife vieiwng is still good. Temperatures start climbing towards the end of the month.
Despite the weather , visitor numbers can be high as the northern hemisphere schools close for their summer holidays. It may be a good idea to book certain attractions and restaurants in advance.
Simlarly, although accommodation prices are still low, flight prices can be a little higher than in previous months.
- Temperatures start rising – but still potential for cold & wet weather
- Wildflowers on the West Coast & in Namaqualand
- Good wildlife viewing in the Kgalagadi
- Whales continue to attract visitors
- Can get busy due to northern hemisphere school summer holidays
Our view
A good time to visit, with pros & cons
Weather in August
South Africa in September
Good wildlife viewing in the Kgalagadi continues and daytime temperatures increase quite dramatically. Mornings and evenings are still on the chilly side, but not as cold as they are in June, July and August.
The 1st of September is officially the start of spring in Cape Town. Days become warmer but not quite warm enough to enjoy the city’s beautiful beaches. Venues all over Cape Town play host to various artists during the Cape Town Fringe Festival.
Rainy days are fewer, but night times can still get chilly. Many hotels are still charging low season rates making September great value for money.
Elsewhere, Hermanus hosts the popular annual Whale Festival, and in the West of the Cape, wildflowers continue to bloom until the middle of the month.
- The start of spring; temperatures start rising
- Whale festival in Hermanus
- Cape Town Fringe Ferstival attracts a wide range of artists
- Wildflowers blooming well until the middle of the month
- Good wildlife viewing continues in the Kgalagadi
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in September
South Africa in October
The weather starts warming up nicely, Cape Town experiences pleasant days, with much less rain, nights can still be quite cool, but not cold. Some days are now warm enough to enjoy the beach. This is one of the best months to visit the Cape Region.
October is one of the hottest months in the Kalahari. Water remains very scarce, so the wildlife viewing is still very good. Towards the end of the month the odd spectacular thunderstorm is possible with much lightning and thunder. Migratory birds start to arrive, and resident species gear up for the breeding season.
The whales are still present with Hermanus and False Bay the best places to see them.
- Days start warming up; fewer rainy days in Cape Town
- Very hot in the Kalahari – thunderstorms season starts
- Migratory birds start arriving & resident birds start breeding
- Whale watching still excellent in Hermanus and False Bay areas
- Start of the high season, getting busy and accommodation prices rise
Our view
A very good time to visit
Weather in October
South Africa in November
By November Cape Town is experiencing summer conditions with hot, clear days and warm, pleasant evenings. It’s a great month to enjoy the beaches before the peak holiday season in December. There are no real downsides to visiting in November and you may even get a few accommodation specials before prices go up for the festive season. Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens begins their summer outdoor concerts with local and international artists performing.
The Kgalagadi remains hot but thunderstorms are a bit more regular. With the rains, water sources become more plentiful and wildlife disperses but this is when herbivores such as Springbok start lambing. Photography improves as conditions become less hazy.
This is the last month for regular whale sightings – they tend to migrate back down south by early December.
- Summer now in full swing, with temperatures often reaching 30°C
- Rainy days scarce; evenings warm & very pleasant
- Antelope start lambing in the Kgalagadi; wildlife generally dispersed
- Last month for regular whale sightings
- Good time to visit Cape Town before the peak holiday season
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in November
South Africa in December
December is usually Cape Town’s hottest month when temperatures frequently breach 30°C. You can expect hot and cloudless days, and almost no rain but December does see the occasional very windy day.
The Kalahari is still hot, but temperatures are not quite as high as previous months. With the rainfall the bush transforms into various shades of green. Wildlife disperses as water become more widely available.
The Garden Route enjoys warm to hot days with rain at any time but usually not over an extended period.
Mid to late December becomes incredibly busy with concerts, festivals and various outdoor activities in Cape Town. Hotel prices rise, tourist attractions and beaches are crowded and most popular sites and restaurants need to be booked in advance.
- Long, hot sunny days
- Kgalagadi bursts into life as rainy season kicks in
- Wildlife viewing a bit trickier as wildlife disperses
- Cape Town buzzing with concerts, events, festivals etc
- Peak season: attractions get very busy & accommodation costs rise
Our view
Fantastic: the very best time to visit
Weather in December

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