Africa

Latin America

India



01582 766122
Search for your perfect holiday: 
2by2 for holidays that will change your life
2by2 for holidays that will change your life
Call 01582 766122
Kgalagadi Safari Holidays to Kalahari Desert Tours Namaqualand Bushmen

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (Kalahari) Africa: Photo Safari or Birding Tour (with Guide)

South Africa: Kalahari Safari (Private Guide) + KZN North Coast
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Kalahari Africa Photo Safari Birding Tour Guide
12 NIGHTS FROM:
$3,646
Per person sharing
Scheduled flights quoted separately
SPQ12U
• Upington, South Africa
• Kalahari Africa, Photo Safari
• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
• Black Maned Lion
• Oryx, Springbok & Meerkats
• Photo Safari
• Birding Tour
• Private Guide
• Augrabies Falls
• Durban Beaches

Experience the semi-desert wildlife of the untamed Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (or Kalahari), a vast wilderness that spreads across 3 countries - South Africa, Botswana & Namibia. Stay at simple rest camps, with dinners around an open camp fire. Also visit Augrabies Falls. Ideal for a photo safari or birding tour accompanied by your own private guide. Then relax on the beach in Durban. All transfers, park fees & game drives included.

Day 1
You will be met at Upington Airport and transferred to your hotel in this small town that acts as the gateway to the vast Kalahari.
 
Check in and relax under warm blue South African skies.
Day 2
This morning we travel 4-hours through the vast and arid Kalahari, one of the world’s last unspoilt ecosystems and one of Africa’s greatest wilderness areas. In this land of far horizons, marvel at the gigantic nests of the sociable weaver birds set high in camel thorn trees and stop to examine some of the amazing succulent desert plants which have adapted to survive in such harsh conditions.
  
The malaria-free Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is a visionary 3.7-million hectare joint venture between South African and Botswana. There are several self-catering rest camps, with accommodation in simple but comfortable air-conditioned chalets and tents. Your guide has an allowance to purchase provisions for breakfast, lunch & dinner each day.
Day 3
Today is devoted to game viewing in the vast Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park with your own driver/guide, travelling in his closed air-conditioned vehicle. You can discuss preferred routings and travelling times with him each day, but we recommend setting off early each morning as the camp gates open (05h30 to 06h00 depending on the season), to take advantage of the best game viewing conditions of the day.
 
Wildlife is plentiful in the red sand dunes and semi-desert of this vast game sanctuary, which is twice the size of the Kruger National Park. Of the many species of mammals and reptiles that have successfully adapted to the harsh desert conditions, the most famous is the black-maned Kalahari lion. Kgalagadi is also renowned for the magnificent oryx, cheetah and leopards - which are more easily seen in the sparse vegetation. You will see some of Africa’s most unusual animals in the Kalahari and many of the “great cats” – lion, cheetah and leopard – but the vegetation does not support elephants, rhino or buffalo.
 
We should see large herds of antelope including springbok, eland and blue wildebeest. We also hope to see the brown and spotted hyena, black-backed jackals, curious meerkats, yellow mongoose, porcupines, honey badgers, bat-eared foxes, Cape foxes, African wild cats and many other interesting animals. Bird life is also prolific with over 260 species, including 20 different raptors.
 
You can spend the full day on the road, or return to your rest camp for breakfast and some relaxation, before setting out again at the time of your choice (usually the late afternoon) for another game drive.
 
Note: Vehicles are not allowed to drive off-road in any national park in South Africa.
Day 4
Today we transer to our next rest camp in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, game viewing along the way.
 
After checking in, we can enjoy a late afternoon game drive in a different part of this vast wildlife conservation region.
Days 5 To 6
Enjoy morning and afternoon game drives in a different sector of the great Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, with its  fascinating desert adapted wildlife and majestic black-maned lions.
 
Predator sightings are usually excellent. You can also enjoy the many smaller mammals of the park as well as its bird life. In the evening relax around the campfire and be dazzled by the stars above.
Day 7
A full day on the road today as we leave Kgalagadi and travel 5.5-hours through Bushmanland to Augrabies.
 
Along the way we enjoy an included picnic lunch and stop at a Bushman craft stall to give you the opportunity of supporting the local community by buying one of their hand-made products. Please be aware that Bushmen will expect a small tip for photographs taken of them.
  
At Augrabies Falls - “The Place of Great Noise” - the mighty Orange River dramatically crashes over the rim of a granite canyon during the summer flood, to plunge 270 ft into the gorge below, forming South Africa’s largest waterfall and the sixth largest in the world.
 
Check in and view Augrabies Falls, where conditions for photography are excellent. Accommodation is in simple but comfortable air-conditioned self-catering chalets, with your guide having an allowance to purchase breakfast in the camp restaurant each day. In the late afternoon enjoy a short drive in the park, where you may see giraffe, eland, and other smaller antelope.
Day 8
Transfer 1.5-hours to Upington Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Durban Airport and transferred to your hotel on the warm North Coast, renowned for its wonderful beaches and warm holiday weather.
  
Check in and relax on the shores of the warm Indian Ocean.
Day 9
This morning we recommend an optional half day shared sightseeing tour of the highlights of Durban.
 
We start with a drive along the Golden Mile, the beachfront promenade with its colourful street markets, and through the Point Waterfront. We continue past the beautiful old City Hall to the small craft harbour at Wilson's Wharf and drive past huge sugar terminals and busy harbour warehouses to the University of Natal campus, which has lovely views over the harbour.
 
Then we visit the bustling African/Indian Markets at Warwick Triangle – home to 9 different markets developed around Durban’s largest public transport interchange, where over 6,000 street vendors ply their trade – an authentic cultural experience. We then visit the peaceful Durban Botanic Gardens, founded in 1849 and home to a magnificent orchid house and many massive trees from Asia, Africa and America.
 
Our tour ends with a visit to the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium that was built for the 2010 World Cup. Here there is the option of taking a cable car ride to the top of the stadium for a phenomenal view over Durban and its coastline (pay locally).
 
Afterwards you will be dropped off at uShaka Marine World, situated in the old harbour area that is being extensively re-developed. Here you can view large indigenous sharks of the Indian Ocean and a wide variety of marine animals - including turtles, dolphins, seals and penguins. There are snorkelling ponds with over 5,000 fish, the Wet n Wild Water Park and a lovely beach. At the end of the day you will be transferred back to your hotel.
 
Note: Moses Mabhida Stadium is closed on Saturdays and any other match day.
Days 10 To 12
At leisure to relax on the warm golden beaches of the Durban North Coast.
 
Many optional activities are available such as a marine cruise to search for dolphins, turtles, sharks, whales (in season) and other fascinating sea life. Championship golf, horse riding and deep sea game fishing are also available.
Day 13
Transfer to Durban Airport for your flight home.