Kgalagadi first-time booking guide — the 12-months-in-advance strategy that works
Back from 3 nights in the bush — here is the full report from Durban.
The spot: Walk-in only, no advance booking, and we had it to ourselves mid-week.
Facilities: Fully equipped with power points, hot water, and a communal kitchen area.
Wildlife: Hippo walked through camp at 02:00 — woke the whole campsite.
What worked: The Dometic fridge ran the full trip on 180Ah LiFePO4 topped up by 277W solar. Didn't need the generator once.
What to bring: Your own firewood (collecting prohibited in most reserves), minimum 20L water per person for 3 days, and a headlamp — the bush is seriously dark.
Would I go back: Immediately. This is exactly why we overland.
3 Replies
The facilities situation matches what we found when we went. The game viewing in the early morning before other visitors are out is exceptional.
The facilities situation matches what we found when we went. The mid-week option is much less crowded and worth adjusting your leave days for.
Did you see any large wildlife in camp? We had an elephant push over a tree about 27m from our rooftop tent at 03:30. Incredible to experience — absolutely terrifying in the moment.