Kgalagadi wilderness camp vs main camp — the huge difference most people miss
Back from 6 nights in the bush — here is the full report from Vaalwater.
The spot: Walk-in only, no advance booking, and we had it to ourselves mid-week.
Facilities: Rustic — pit toilet and fire pit. Carry everything in and out.
Wildlife: Heard lion calling two nights — spine-tingling from inside a rooftop tent.
What worked: The National Luna fridge ran the full trip on 129Ah LiFePO4 topped up by 163W 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
On the signal front — this is why I bought the Garmin inReach Mini. Even where there is zero cell signal, I can communicate with my family and call for help if needed. It is a non-negotiable item for any remote camping trip for me now.
Back from 6 nights in the bush — here is the full report from Vaalwater.
The spot: Walk-in only, no advance booking, and we had it to ourselves mid-week.
Facilities: Rustic — pit toilet and fire pit. Carry everything in and out.
Wildlife: Heard lion calling two nights — spine-tingling from inside a rooftop tent.
What worked: The National Luna fridge ran the full trip on 129Ah LiFePO4 topped up by 163W 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.
— danie_myburgh
The campsite you mentioned matches what we found when we went. The facilities have improved since the last reports I read.
The LiFePO4 and solar setup you describe is similar to mine. 198Ah battery with 214W solar keeps a National Luna 40L fridge running indefinitely in South African sun. Have not used a generator on any trip in the last 13 months.