KAGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER PARK, Northern Cape, SOUTH AFRICA (2012)

A brief look at the wildlife of Kagalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Northern Cape, South Africa which extends into Botswana. The park is close to Upington and much of the park is dominated by the red sands of the Kalahari Desert and two dry rivers which seldom flow. The rivers are the Auob and the Nossob which provide some rare oases of water along the way. Humans have also stepped in to help by putting the odd windmill here and there to bring up refreshing water from deep within the dry earth.
The park is mostly dry and desolate, yet somehow manages to support a variety of wildlife such as red hartebeest, springboks, gnus, and gemsboks. The Kagalagadi Transfrontier Park is a true paradise for birdwatchers, and larger birds one might see are the ostrich, Egyptian goose, secretary bird, and kori bustard. A variety of raptors like vultures, kites, tawny eagles, martial eagles, Bateleur eagles, and snake eagles can also be spotted. A number of goshawks, falcons, and kestrels make bird-watching a true delight.
God has ensured that creatures great and small can survive and even thrive in the desert. For owl lovers a variety can be viewed and smaller birds too. The sociable weavers are particularly fascinating to behold with their large multi-bird nests.
One creature that also thrives here is the feisty… honey badger.
Big cats which can be spotted in the park are lions, leopards, and cheetahs. You also might see caracals, African wild cats, and black-footed cats.
Be sure to look out for unusual animals like bat-eared foxes, Cape foxes, aardwolfs, and brown hyenas. The yellow mongoose, suricates, and ground squirrels are really amusing.
A few reptiles make the desert their home and we saw a lovely Cape cobra which was a bright orange-yellow colour. Beware of very dangerous snakes like puff adders as well. Also watch your step at night due to scorpions.
I remember when I first took a trip to the Kalahari when I was very young. One image in particular comes to mind. I recall a harsh landscape that seemed to stretch on forever, dotted with a single green thorn tree, a little grass, and remarkably, a mother cheetah with four precious, tiny cubs trailing behind her.
On our most recent trip to the park in 2012 we stayed at Twee Rivieren, Mata-Mata, and Nossob rest camps. Twee Rivieren was definitely an experience to be remembered - when we arrived we were happy to see that the thatch roof on our cottage was being repaired - we were less happy when we retired to bed and were inundated by bats that were flying all over the main bedroom! They had been roosting under the thatch and their exit had been blocked. We ended up sleeping in the kitchen to escape!! We still had a good trip and have some great family memories. The park is a wonderful place to star gaze far away from the city lights and enjoy getting away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
The distances in the park are vast, a 4x4 vehicle is recommended so you won't get stuck in the sand, also be sure to always carry bottled water and to keep your gas (petrol) tank filled.
We drove to the park from Cape Town and stopped overnight at Augrabies National Park on the way. It was a nice drive and it is always nice to stop at Augrabies which has a beautiful waterfall and unusual landscapes. The accommodation at Augrabies is also very nice and well-appointed. The shop is also good.
Video: Tanja Nayak (sorry about the quality of the video, a bit zig-zaggy a couple of times due to camera issues)
Music: "Runaway" by Frederik Storm
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