Botswana, South Africa · Safari

7-Day Kgalagadi Safari from Upington with Desert Lion Tracking

7 Days Round trip from Diedericks Street Easy pace

Experience exciting game drives at Kgalagadi Transfronteer Park

Enjoy a safari through Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Witness the rich wildlife of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
02 Experience your first bush shower in the Kalahari
03 Observe animals on exciting game drives each day
04 Track desert lions, cheetahs, antelopes, and bat-eared foxes

Travel into the arid landscapes of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park on a 7-day safari from Upington. Explore the Kalahari's red dunes on exciting game drives as you look for big cats such as rare desert lions, cheetahs, and leopards, along with other wildlife around the park's waterholes. Spend your nights in camps inside this massive wilderness park, enjoying the natural beauty, bush atmosphere, and rewarding wildlife viewing after dark. There is also the option of an early morning game drive for a chance to spot the area's shy animals and visit a local hide.

Stay on the lookout for desert lions, antelopes, African wild cats, bat-eared foxes, and cheetahs, as they are frequently spotted in this area.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 7 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Included · Budget

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Upington, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Tswalu Kalahari Reserve

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Upington Arrival and Journey into the Kalahari

Once you arrive from Cape Town or Johannesburg, your guides will meet you at Upington Airport, and we will set off for the Kalahari.
After about a three-hour drive, we will reach Twee Rivieren, the entrance gate to Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park, and continue on unpaved roads to our first overnight unfenced campsite in this massive wildlife park, where wild animals roam free.
We will set up camp here and enjoy our first evening relaxing around a crackling campfire. You will have basic comforts and experience your first "bush shower" of the safari.
The campsite sometimes receives a resident lion visiting during the night.

Day 02

4x4 Game Drive Through the Reserve

We will start the day by following a 4x4 game drive route through the reserve, passing numerous waterholes along the way, where game viewing can be very good.
Spend the night at a fenced campsite. The camp offers a small shop, a swimming pool, and a waterhole hide just outside the fence where you can sit and watch the animals that come to drink - night viewing at this drinking hole can be particularly rewarding.

Day 03

Early Wildlife Viewing and Remote Bush Camp

An early morning game drive is offered if you would like a chance to see the shy animals of the area that prefer the cover of the early morning light.
Next, we will head to another wild campsite situated further north within the park. The drive offers good game-viewing potential throughout the day.
After lunch, we will continue north, passing more waterholes likely to attract various animals, and finally arrive at a beautiful wild bush camp shaded by Camel Thorn trees against the backdrop of the majestic red dunes of the Kalahari.
Keep an ear out for the different night sounds, including jackals, big cats, owls, nightjars, and various antelope.

Day 04

Tracking Desert Lions and Waterhole Wildlife

Rising early, we will make our way to a nearby waterhole, where we could be rewarded with some exciting game viewing.
Stay on the lookout for desert lions, antelopes, African wild cats, bat-eared foxes, and cheetahs, as they are frequently spotted in this area.
After relaxing around camp, we will drive out again in the late afternoon to observe a nearby waterhole, hoping to see something special coming to drink at the end of the hot day.
Spend the evening around the campfire and enjoy good bush cuisine, South African wine, and freshly baked bread prepared by the guides over an open fire.

Day 05

Southern Game Drive and Camp Relaxation

We will head south on a short 60 km game drive to a fenced campsite with a swimming pool, a small shop, and a very nice hide where you can watch animals coming to drink during both the day and night.
The rest of the day is spent relaxing here.
This camp offers night game drives, something normally not allowed in other areas of the park.

Day 06

Rooiputs Drive and Final Wild Campfire Night

There will be an optional early morning game drive, or you can visit the local hide to see what comes by.
After breakfast, we will head for Rooiputs. Keep your eyes peeled for animal sightings, especially cheetahs, at the several drinking holes along the way.
It is our last evening around the campfire. Remember, there are no fences here, so jackals are likely to visit the camp during the night, and if we are lucky, we may even receive a visit from the local pride of lions.

Day 07

Final Sunrise Game Drive and Return to Upington

Enjoy a final sunrise in the Kalahari before setting out on our last game drive towards the main gate, 20 km from our camp.
After breakfast, we will depart for Upington Airport, where you will continue by aircraft to Cape Town or Johannesburg International Airport.