Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The two main gates (where entry permits are bought) are at Twee Rivieren (South
Africa) and Two Rivers (Botswana). To reach the Mabuasehube section, there are gates
along the tracks from the south, north and east, but entry permits must be bought at the
park headquarters (at Mpaathutlwa Pan). There is also a 4WD track from Tshatswa to the
new northern gate of the Gemsbok (Two Rivers) Section at Kaa.
VILLAGES OF THE KGALAGADI
Hukuntsi, Tshane, Lokgwabe and Lehututu are collectively known as the Kgalagadi Villages, and were one of the
most remote areas in Botswana prior to the paving of the road leading to Kang. For travellers, the villages serve as
the jumping-off point for Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
The main commercial centre for the four villages,
Hukuntsi
, is a good place to fill up on petrol and stock up
on supplies. Along the route from Hukuntsi to Tshatswa (about 60km to the southwest) are sparkling-white salt
pans that fill with water during the rainy season and support large populations of gemsboks, ostriches and harte-
beest. Hukuntsi is 114km southwest along a sealed road from Kang and 271km north of Tshabong along a sandy
4WD track.
Tshane
is 12km east of Hukuntsi and has a colonial police station dating from the early 1900s.
Lokgwabe
, which lies 11km south of Hukuntsi, was settled by the Nama leader Simon Kooper, who sought
British protection in Bechuanaland after leading the 1904 Nama rebellion in Namibia. He was subsequently pur-
sued across the Kalahari by German troops and 800 camels. German detritus, including empty tins of corned beef,
still litters the route.
Named after the sound made by ground hornbills,
Lehututu
, located 10km northwest of Tshane, was once a
major trading post but is now little more than a spot in the desert.
There are no hotels in the area. If you're camping, ask for permission and advice about a suitable campsite from
the
kgosi
(chief) in any of the villages.
Campers staying at the Polentswa and Rooiputs campsites can pick up firewood at Two
Rivers campsite (Botswana), while petrol and basic food supplies are available at Twee
Rivieren (South Africa). There are also reliable petrol supplies at Hukuntsi, Jwaneng,
Kang and Tshabong. Maps of the combined park are available at the gates at Two Rivers
and Twee Rivieren.
