Kalahari Hiking Traverse

Trisport stands apart. Hands-on and community-focused, with 23+ years of experience and boundless passion, we deliver an unforgettable adventure.

Guided by the local knowledge and expertise of the Trisport team, you’ll uncover the most awe-inspiring beauty of the Reddune area of the Kalahari

The hike and food on the tour are meticulously planned. You will enjoy warm hospitality, genuine smiles, and experiences that forge lifelong friendships.

If you crave pampering and real care, Trisport goes the extra mile, making you feel special at every moment.

The Red Dune Route Experience

Every day of your journey brings a new destination and a fresh perspective on the desert. Our carefully planned routes are designed to showcase the very best of the Kalahari’s Red Dune Route, ensuring you experience the unique heart of this region.

• Daily Exploration: Each day, we travel to a new, hand-picked location where we hike through the area’s most striking landscapes.

• Full-Service Hospitality: Enjoy breakfast, a scenic lunch, and a traditional Kalahari dinner at each venue, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the local flavors.

• Unique Character: Every overnight venue is chosen for its distinct character, providing an authentic and ever-changing desert experience.

Kalahari Red Dune Adventure: Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival & Welcome

• 14:00 onwards – Arrive at Goerapan (90km from Upington). Check in and enjoy the quiet majesty of the desert.

• 18:00 – Welcome drinks and introductory briefing at the lodge bar.

• 19:00 – Dinner.

Day 2: Salt Pans & Sand Dunes

• 06:30 – Breakfast.

• 07:30 – Hike across the vast Goerapan salt pan and over the iconic red sand dunes.

• 11:30 – Light lunch.

• 12:30 – Check out and drive to Molopo Lodge near Askham (90km).

• 14:00 – Check in at Molopo Lodge.

• 17:00 – Sundowners on a red sand dune (drinks for your own account).

• 19:00 – Dinner.

Day 3: The Lost City & Game Lodges

• 07:00 – Breakfast and check-out.

• 08:30 – Arrive at Koppieskraal and begin your hike.

• 09:00 – 12:00 – Trek across the Koppieskraal pan and explore the intriguing “Lost City” rock formations.

• 13:00 – Packed lunch at the Koppieskraal farmhouse.

• 14:00 – Drive to Zoutpans Game Lodge.

• 17:00 – Sundowners on a red dune (please bring your own drinks).

• 18:30 – Dinner.

Day 4: Wildlife & Red Dune Relaxation

• 07:00 – Breakfast.

• 08:30 – Hike through the deep red dunes and across white salt pans, spotting desert game along the way.

• 12:00 – Lunch, followed by a relaxing afternoon in your comfortable chalet nestled among the dunes.

• 16:00 – Sundowners on the dunes.

• 19:30 – Dinner.

Day 5: Meerkats & “The Kalahari Newspaper”

• 06:30 – Breakfast.

• 07:00 – Drive to Kalahari Trails.

• 07:30 – Meerkat Experience: Observe these fascinating creatures in their natural habitat. Watch their social behaviors and interactions—they may even come close to investigate you!

• 09:00 – The “Kalahari Newspaper” Hike: Learn to “read the dunes” as our expert guide interprets the tracks left behind by insects and animals from the night before.

• 12:00 – Drive to Kgalagadi Lodge. Enjoy a light lunch and a cold beer by the pool overlooking the Botswana border.

• 16:00 – Sunset Game Drive within the Kgalagadi Lodge Game Reserve (outside the National Park), featuring snacks and drinks provided by Trisport.

• 19:00 – Dinner.

Day 6: Final Sunrise & Farewell

• 06:30 – Final sunrise hike on the single-track trail at Kgalagadi Lodge. Watch the sun rise over the dunes and across the border into Botswana.

• 09:30 – Farewell Breakfast (for your own account).

• 11:00 – Check out and departures.

Participant Requirements & Fitness

Experience Level: Intermediate to Advanced (No Beginners) This expedition is notdesigned for beginner hikers. Please review the following physical requirements before registering:

• Daily Endurance: You must be capable of hiking up to 15km per day.

• Terrain & Conditions: While the elevation is generally manageable, you will be traversing deep sandy areas and may encounter extreme desert temperatures. Both factors significantly increase the physical demand of the hike.

• Fixed Routes: Please note that there are no shorter route options available. Once the day’s hike begins, participants must be able to complete the full distance to reach the next point.

• Age Considerations (70+): We welcome fit and active hikers aged 70 and older, but we require you to contact us prior to registration to discuss the specific demands of the desert environment.

Not sure if you’re ready? If you have any concerns regarding your fitness or the desert conditions, please reach out to us at sonja@trisport.co.za before booking

Age & Physical Fitness Requirements

Age Policy

• Minimum Age: The minimum age for participation is 14 years.

• Participants Aged 70+: We warmly welcome fit and active hikers over the age of 70. However, you must provide a medical certificate or letter from your physician confirming you are physically capable of handling daily desert hiking and extreme heat.

• Pre-Approval: If you are a highly fit individual over 70, please contact Janine at janine@trisport.co.za for approval prior to registration.

Terrain & Physical Demands This is an adventurous off-trail experience. You must be prepared for the following:

• Off-Trail Navigation: We do not always follow set hiking trails. You must be comfortable navigating technical sections, deep sand, steep “koppies” (hills), and rocky terrain.

• Endurance: You must be capable of walking 10 to 12 kilometers per day in desert conditions.

Important Notice & Participant Responsibility

• Self-Assessment: It is your responsibility to ensure you are fit enough for this expedition. If you have any doubts, please contact Janine at janine@trisport.co.za before registering.

• Group Experience: Your fitness level must not negatively impact the group’s safety or overall experience. We do not accept responsibility for participants who are unable to complete the technical sections due to lack of preparation.

• Safety Protocols: Participants who are unable to meet these physical requirements on the day will not be permitted to hike with the main group. In such cases, you are welcome to undertake shorter, independent walks in the immediate vicinity of the lodge.

Our Kalahari Accommodations

Each of our selected venues offers a unique desert character, ranging from rustic charm to modern comfort.

• Kalahari Goerapan: Authentic, rustic en-suite chalets equipped with fans.

• Molopo Lodge: Comfortable en-suite chalets featuring full air-conditioning.

• Kgalagadi Lodge: Modern, en-suite chalets equipped with air-conditioning for ultimate desert comfort.

• Zoutpans and Loch Maree Game Lodges: Authentic, rustic en-suite rooms equipped with aircon.

Gemini said

Day 1: 13km
Day 2: 10km
Day 3: 10km,
Day 4: 7km
Day 5: 5km

Compulsory Gear:
As a precaution, we would like you to carry the following compulsory equipment with you during the hike. It is for your own personal safety. Please adhere to the following:

• Cell phone;
• Zip Lock bag to keep phone dry;
• Space blanket;
• Backpack;
• Whistle;
• Hat;
• Emergency food, i.e, snacks along the way. Lunches are provided.
• Water bottles;
• Sunscreen (SPF50);
• Outer shell jacket (waterproof); and
• Small first aid kit: plasters, headache pills, germolene, anti-inflammatories

 Suggested Gear to make your trip more pleasurable: 

*Your own plastic cup for coffee along the way
*If you have a small flask, please bring it along.
*Your favourite cappuccino/coffee sachets, etc, only for on route, to add to hot water on the way. We will stop for coffee, watching the views.
*Cell phone
*zip lock bag to keep phone dry on hike
*Camera
*Chargers
*Spare batteries
*powerbank to charge phones in case of Eskom problems
*Backpack/daypack, not bigger than 35liter, to carry your lunch, water, warm clothes
*Hiking sticks, if you want.
*Long thermal base layer (pants and top), just in case it is cold or rainy.
*Hat
*Snacks for in-between meals
*Personal medicine
*Water bottles or bladder
*powder energy drink
*Comfortable shoes for hiking, bring flip flops for after the hike
*gaiters for your shoes to stop the sand from going into your shoes
*enough socks
*sunglasses
*swimming trunks
*cash for tips
*Warm clothes for the evenings
*You can bring your own alcohol and soft drinks; you will have a fridge in your room. Jakkalswater does not have a liquor licence.
*No Towels needed

Limited to 16 entries

Exclusions (For Your Own Account)

• Logistics & Transport:

  • Self-Drive Requirement: All transport between lodges and venues throughout the tour.

  • Airport Transfers: Transport to and from the starting/ending lodges.

• Meals & Beverages:

  • Drinks: All alcoholic beverages and soft drinks.

  • Sundowners: Sunset drinks at the various lodges (except where specified on the final night).

  • Departure Day: Breakfast on the day of departure (Day 6).

• Accommodation Extensions:

  • Post-Tour Stay: Any additional nights at Kgalagadi Lodge or other venues after the tour concludes. Please make these arrangements directly with the lodge.

• Insurance & Safety:

  • Medical Insurance: Comprehensive personal medical cover is mandatory.

  • Travel Insurance: Protection against trip cancellations or interruptions.

  • Evacuation Costs: Any costs associated with emergency medical evacuation, if required.

• Gratuities:

  • Tips: Gratuities for the professional mountain and desert guides.

We have the following safety equipment with us:

– A medical kit, including bandages, etc.
– A Garmin InReach (to be used in case of an extreme emergency only, not when you are tired)
– A helicopter for airlifting, with the understanding that you will be held liable for the cost of evacuation.