Wilderness camps: Urikaruus and Kalahari Tented Camp in Kgalagadi Park

In the southern part of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, two wilderness camps overlook the Auob River. These unfenced wilderness camps allows tourists to experience nature unspoiled by large human crowds while staying in rustic, but adequate accommodation. Both wilderness camps have no shops or fuel available and with the limited number of guests allowed, tourists can enjoy the solitude the Kalahari offers. Another fact that attracts tourists to the wilderness camps at the Kalahari Tented Camp and Urikaruus wilderness camp, is the fact that both these camps are accessible with normal sedan vehicles.

Kalahari Tented Camp Close to Mata Mata Rest Camp

Situated approximately three kilometers from the Mata Mata rest camp, the Kalahari tented camp is a firm favorite with visitors to the KgalagadiTransfrontier Park. The camp overlooks a waterhole in the dry Auob River and guests can view various animals quenching their thirst from the veranda of the tents. One of the main attractions of the Kalahari tented camp is the fact that it is the only wilderness camp in the KgalagadiTransfrontier Park that allows children under the age of twelve to occupy the accommodation and the swimming pool for the exclusive use of the camp residents.

With fifteen accommodation units, the Kalahari Tented Camp is the largest of the wilderness camps in the Kgalagadi. One luxury desert tent, usually reserved by honeymooners, four family units with two single beds and a stack bed as well as ten two-bed units accommodates a maximum of thirty eight guests per night. Each unit has en suite ablutions, a fully equipped kitchenette with gas-powered fridge and stove, cutlery and crockery. Guests can barbecue their dinner on a barbecue provided on the veranda.

Although there is a small reception office, guests must check in at the Mata Mata Rest camp and the closest shop and fuel is at Mata Mata Rest Camp. As with the other wilderness camps, guests must provide their own drinking water and firewood. The camp is unfenced, but the parking area for the vehicles are fenced with normal wire fencing.

There is no electricity at the camp and solar panels power the lights and ceiling fans while gas provides hot water in the bathroom and kitchen. Guests with small children should be aware that the sun setting across the Auob River causes the tents to be excessively hot during the summer months and arrange their game viewing to co-inside with these times.

Urikaruus Wilderness Camp Near Twee Riviere Rest Camp

Urikaruus wilderness camp is situated between a lump of camelthorn trees about seventy-two kilometers away from the main rest camp at Twee Riviere on the road between Twee Riviere and Mata Mata. This two-hour drive is negotiable by sedan vehicle although the main road might be a corrugated during certain times of the year.

The four riverside cabins are constructed with corrugated iron, wood and canvas and overlooks a small patch of water in the Auob River. A wooden walkway connects the four two-sleeper cabins with each other. Guests park their vehicles under the wooden deck of the cabin which allows for quick access to the stairs leading to the cabins as the camp is unfenced and situated in prime lion country.

Each cabin has en suite ablutions, a fully equipped kitchenette and built-in barbecue on the veranda. Urikaruus also has no shop or fuel available and guests check in at Twee Riviere rest camp. As with the Kalahari Tented camp, guests must provide their own drinking water and firewood. There is no cell phone reception in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier park except for at Twee Riviere rest camp.

Due to the popularity of the wilderness camps, guests should reserve accommodation well in advance through SANParks that administers the park.

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