Monday, September 29, 2008
4x4 Hire South Africa Buffalo Campers - 4x4 Rental South Africa
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Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
General InformationKalahari Gemsbok National Park was proclaimed in 1931 mainly to protect migratory game, especially the gemsbok. During the late 1990's it was combined with the adjacent Gemsbok National Park in Botswana to form The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park - one of the first in the world and the first in Southern Africa.
The Kgalagdi comprises an area of over 3,6 million hectares which is one of very few conservation areas of this magnitude left in the world.
Red sand dunes, sparse vegetation and the dry riverbeds of the Nossob and Auob show antelope and predator species off at a premium and provide excellent photographic opportunities.
Kgalagadi could be considered a haven for birders especially when interested in birds of prey.
The Kalahari is an arid region with an annual rainfall of 200 mm, mainly between January and April. In summer, day temperatures may exceed 40°C. Winter days are sunny with night temperatures often below zero. Visitors should anticipate extreme heat during the day and extreme cold during winter nights.
Accommodation
Kgalagadi has six different camps of varying size, facilities and cost. Three traditional rest camps have a basic shopping facility and fuel. The three wilderness camps, with no fences, invite the Kalahari and the tranquillity of Africa right into your room.
Traditional Rest Camps are:
Twee Rivieren
Mata Mata
Nossob
Wilderness Camps are:
Bitterpan
Grootkolk
Kalahari Tent Camp
Wildlife
Because of the sparse vegetation and concentration of animals in the dry riverbeds of the Auob and Nossob Rivers, Kgalagadi offers premium mammal viewing. It is especially renowned for predator watching and for the seasonal movement of large herbivores such as blue wildebeest, springbok, eland and red hartebeest.
Ground Squirrel and Suricate (Meerkat) are two more of the park’s more prominent species. Honey Badger (Ratel), Pangolin (Scaly Anteater) and Bat-eared Fox are some of the park specials to search for.
But it is the predators that are the park’s biggest attraction. Excellent chances of seeing cheetah, leopard, brown and spotted hyena and the definitive black-maned lion exist.
A variety of raptors may be seen, the commonest being Tawny and Blackbreasted Snake Eagle, Bateleur, Whitebacked and Lappetfaced Vulture, as well as smaller species such as Pale Chanting Goshawk, Gabar Goshawk, Pygmy Falcon and Greater Kestrel.
The Nossob Riverbed is rated as one of the best places in South Africa to view raptors, particularly during the summer months when large numbers of migratory eagles, kites and falcons move through the park.
Travel HintsRoads in the park have gravel surfaces and are accessible to cars. A 4x4 vehicle is not required, but pick-up's (bakkies) and 4x4's make traveling easier.
Hired cars may be collected at Twee Rivieren provided that an advance booking was made.
When driving from one rest camp to the other, travelers should depart before 12:00 to ensure arrival before sunset as no travelling is allowed in the park after dark.
Binoculars and cameras should be easily accessible at all times
Stopping for little things often produces interesting things that were not apparent.
Tourists from Johannesburg have a choice of two routes, either via Upington (60 km gravel) or via Kuruman, Hotazel and Vanzylsrus (±340 km gravel).
Daily flights to Upington from Johannesburg and Cape Town are available.
Gate Hours are: Summer - 06:00 - 19:30 Winter - 07:30 - 18:00
Entrance to Botswana
Tourists wanting to visit the Botswana side can enter Botswana at the Gemsbok/Bokspits Border post (60km south of Twee Rivieren), at Middelputs, McCarthy’s Rest or Makopong Border posts to visit the Mabuasehube section of Gemsbok National Park, where several campsites are available. A 4x4 vehicle is necessary. (A valid passport is necessary, no visa is required). Bookings for the Botswana side still has to be done through their office.
Entrance to Namibia
The Mata Mata Border has been opened, but only bona fide tourists to the Park can use the access facility between South Africa and Namibia. Tourists are required to stay over for two nights in one or more of the overnight facilities of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Tourists from Namibia may make use of the new entrance to Kgalagadi, as a day or overnight visitor access point without checking in with the border officials at Twee Rivieren as long as they return to Namibia. If, however, a tourist leaves the Park to go in to South Africa or Botswana they will have to go to the passport control at Twee Rivieren.
Hours:
Summer and winter 8:00 – 16:30
The Kgalagdi comprises an area of over 3,6 million hectares which is one of very few conservation areas of this magnitude left in the world.
Red sand dunes, sparse vegetation and the dry riverbeds of the Nossob and Auob show antelope and predator species off at a premium and provide excellent photographic opportunities.
Kgalagadi could be considered a haven for birders especially when interested in birds of prey.
The Kalahari is an arid region with an annual rainfall of 200 mm, mainly between January and April. In summer, day temperatures may exceed 40°C. Winter days are sunny with night temperatures often below zero. Visitors should anticipate extreme heat during the day and extreme cold during winter nights.
Accommodation
Kgalagadi has six different camps of varying size, facilities and cost. Three traditional rest camps have a basic shopping facility and fuel. The three wilderness camps, with no fences, invite the Kalahari and the tranquillity of Africa right into your room.
Traditional Rest Camps are:
Twee Rivieren
Mata Mata
Nossob
Wilderness Camps are:
Bitterpan
Grootkolk
Kalahari Tent Camp
Wildlife
Because of the sparse vegetation and concentration of animals in the dry riverbeds of the Auob and Nossob Rivers, Kgalagadi offers premium mammal viewing. It is especially renowned for predator watching and for the seasonal movement of large herbivores such as blue wildebeest, springbok, eland and red hartebeest.
Ground Squirrel and Suricate (Meerkat) are two more of the park’s more prominent species. Honey Badger (Ratel), Pangolin (Scaly Anteater) and Bat-eared Fox are some of the park specials to search for.
But it is the predators that are the park’s biggest attraction. Excellent chances of seeing cheetah, leopard, brown and spotted hyena and the definitive black-maned lion exist.
A variety of raptors may be seen, the commonest being Tawny and Blackbreasted Snake Eagle, Bateleur, Whitebacked and Lappetfaced Vulture, as well as smaller species such as Pale Chanting Goshawk, Gabar Goshawk, Pygmy Falcon and Greater Kestrel.
The Nossob Riverbed is rated as one of the best places in South Africa to view raptors, particularly during the summer months when large numbers of migratory eagles, kites and falcons move through the park.
Travel HintsRoads in the park have gravel surfaces and are accessible to cars. A 4x4 vehicle is not required, but pick-up's (bakkies) and 4x4's make traveling easier.
Hired cars may be collected at Twee Rivieren provided that an advance booking was made.
When driving from one rest camp to the other, travelers should depart before 12:00 to ensure arrival before sunset as no travelling is allowed in the park after dark.
Binoculars and cameras should be easily accessible at all times
Stopping for little things often produces interesting things that were not apparent.
Tourists from Johannesburg have a choice of two routes, either via Upington (60 km gravel) or via Kuruman, Hotazel and Vanzylsrus (±340 km gravel).
Daily flights to Upington from Johannesburg and Cape Town are available.
Gate Hours are: Summer - 06:00 - 19:30 Winter - 07:30 - 18:00
Entrance to Botswana
Tourists wanting to visit the Botswana side can enter Botswana at the Gemsbok/Bokspits Border post (60km south of Twee Rivieren), at Middelputs, McCarthy’s Rest or Makopong Border posts to visit the Mabuasehube section of Gemsbok National Park, where several campsites are available. A 4x4 vehicle is necessary. (A valid passport is necessary, no visa is required). Bookings for the Botswana side still has to be done through their office.
Entrance to Namibia
The Mata Mata Border has been opened, but only bona fide tourists to the Park can use the access facility between South Africa and Namibia. Tourists are required to stay over for two nights in one or more of the overnight facilities of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Tourists from Namibia may make use of the new entrance to Kgalagadi, as a day or overnight visitor access point without checking in with the border officials at Twee Rivieren as long as they return to Namibia. If, however, a tourist leaves the Park to go in to South Africa or Botswana they will have to go to the passport control at Twee Rivieren.
Hours:
Summer and winter 8:00 – 16:30
Bontebok National Park, Western Cape, South Africa
The Bontebok National Park is situated in the foothills of the picturesque Langeberg Mountains, located in the region of Swellendam. The park was proclaimed in 1931 to prevent the last few remaining Bontebok from following the footsteps of the Blue Antelope into extinction.
The number of Bontebok has risen from a seriously endangered 17 to over 200, which is the maximum number the 3 486 hectare park can support without inflicting serious damage to it’s various plant communities.
Although the park can only support a limited amount of Bontebok, over the years its surplus stock has been disposed of to other nature reserves and private landowners with suitable habitat and the total world population now stands somewhere between 2000 – 3000.
Sheltered by the rugged bastion of the Langeberg Mountains, and bordered to the south by the mighty Breede River, the Bontebok National Park provides a refuge for not only Bontebok, but also for other species such as Cape Mountain Zebra, Red Hartebeest, Grey Rhebok, Stanley's Bustard, Blue Crane and Secretary Bird.
Fuel is available, 6km from Swellendam and the nearest doctor, garage and post office is also located in this town.
The rules and conditions of Bontebok National Park include:
No pets are allowed in the national park
No firearms allowed in the park
No motorised boating is permitted
Generators are not permitted
Gate Hours: 1 October to 30 April: 7:00am - 7:00pm from 1 May to 30 September: 7:00am - 6:00pm
The number of Bontebok has risen from a seriously endangered 17 to over 200, which is the maximum number the 3 486 hectare park can support without inflicting serious damage to it’s various plant communities.
Although the park can only support a limited amount of Bontebok, over the years its surplus stock has been disposed of to other nature reserves and private landowners with suitable habitat and the total world population now stands somewhere between 2000 – 3000.
Sheltered by the rugged bastion of the Langeberg Mountains, and bordered to the south by the mighty Breede River, the Bontebok National Park provides a refuge for not only Bontebok, but also for other species such as Cape Mountain Zebra, Red Hartebeest, Grey Rhebok, Stanley's Bustard, Blue Crane and Secretary Bird.
Fuel is available, 6km from Swellendam and the nearest doctor, garage and post office is also located in this town.
The rules and conditions of Bontebok National Park include:
No pets are allowed in the national park
No firearms allowed in the park
No motorised boating is permitted
Generators are not permitted
Gate Hours: 1 October to 30 April: 7:00am - 7:00pm from 1 May to 30 September: 7:00am - 6:00pm
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Tshukudu Game Lodge Activities
The reserve that had started out with no animals turned into a thriving Big-Five game reserve. Animals can be spotted from 4x4 game drive vehicles, on the morning walk before breakfast or during our educational safaris bush walk.
Tshukudu hosts a variety of game lodge activities and guests of all ages are welcome. We cater for disabilities in three wheelchair friendly cottages.
The original farmhouse was restored and later improved with a large thatched terrace where we enjoy breakfast and lunch.
Enjoy the birds under a lush Natal Mahogany with a fantastic view of the Drakensberg mountains from the extended veranda or during one of our educational safaris.
Luxuriate at the swimming pool on a hot blistering day and enjoy the expansive view into the bushveld.
An inviting cup of tea beckons, a delicious slice of sweet surprise and then guests are whisked away on 4x4 game drives in search of the elusive Big Five.
Tshukudu hosts a variety of game lodge activities and guests of all ages are welcome. We cater for disabilities in three wheelchair friendly cottages.
The original farmhouse was restored and later improved with a large thatched terrace where we enjoy breakfast and lunch.
Enjoy the birds under a lush Natal Mahogany with a fantastic view of the Drakensberg mountains from the extended veranda or during one of our educational safaris.
Luxuriate at the swimming pool on a hot blistering day and enjoy the expansive view into the bushveld.
An inviting cup of tea beckons, a delicious slice of sweet surprise and then guests are whisked away on 4x4 game drives in search of the elusive Big Five.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Kruger National Park
This Kruger National Park lodging and safari guide offers reservations and accommodation bookings for all your lodging requirements, including luxury private game lodges.
Staying in Kruger National Park or one of the surrounding private game reserves is ideal during a visit to South Africa. The safari and game lodges range from artistically elegant to super luxurious with en-suite bathroom facilities. The expert game rangers whisk you off on game drives and walking safaris, tracking the wildlife in their natural habitat.
Staying in Kruger National Park or one of the surrounding private game reserves is ideal during a visit to South Africa. The safari and game lodges range from artistically elegant to super luxurious with en-suite bathroom facilities. The expert game rangers whisk you off on game drives and walking safaris, tracking the wildlife in their natural habitat.
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