Kalahari Hiking Traverse
Kalahari 5-Day Hiking Traverse
COST PP: Sharing R 14 900 | Single R20 900
DATES AVAILABLE:
Click on the date you choose for the registration form to open
Journey into the Heart of the Kalahari Red Dune Route
Get ready for an exhilarating adventure through the wild, otherworldly beauty of the Kalahari Red Dune Route — a landscape like no other. From shimmering white saltpans to the mysterious black rock formations of the Lost City, and the iconic red dunes that ripple across the horizon, this journey offers a vivid mosaic of sights, textures, and unforgettable moments.
Travel beneath vast open skies and along ancient dry riverbeds, where the silhouettes of flat-topped acacia trees stand as timeless sentinels. Each day brings awe-inspiring scenery, and every evening is a chance to unwind in comfort at our handpicked lodges — complete with hot showers, real beds, and warm hospitality.
Enjoy delicious meals prepared by welcoming hosts as you watch the sun dip below the dunes, whether from your private deck or atop a glowing red crest. Along the way, you’ll encounter the curious Kalahari Meerkat, spot vibrant birds dancing through the air, and witness a rich diversity of game in their natural habitat.
With 23+ years of experience and boundless passion, Trisport will deliver an unforgettable adventure. Each day is meticulously planned. If you crave pampering and real care, Trisport goes the extra mile, making you feel special at every moment.
No two journeys through the Kalahari are the same — this ancient land shifts with light, season, and silence, offering a unique experience every time. Let the Kalahari’s raw beauty, wildlife, and ever-changing mood leave you completely spellbound.
Kalahari 5-Day Hiking Traverse
Prepare yourself for an exhilarating journey through the spellbinding wonders of the Kalahari Red Dune Route. Brace yourself as you immerse in a kaleidoscope of breathtaking landscapes, from the glistening white saltpans to the mysterious black rock koppies, aptly named the Lost City. Marvel at the fiery red sand dunes and traverse the dry riverbeds, all beneath the vast expanse of open skies. Behold the majestic flat-topped acacia trees, symbolic of this remarkable route.
Each night, indulge in the comfort of our exquisite lodges, where proper showers and toilets await. Delight in a sumptuous feast provided by our gracious hosts, while you recline and bask in the mesmerizing sunset, whether from your private deck or atop a crimson dune.
Prepare for encounters with the captivating Kalahari Meerkat, and be enthralled by the vibrant birdlife that graces this extraordinary land. Immerse yourself in the abundance of wildlife, as you witness the majesty of numerous game species.
Learn about the history of the Komani San in the Kalahari.
No two visits to the Kalahari are alike, as this ancient and enchanting land reveals its ever-changing moods, ensuring each encounter is a captivating and distinct experience, unlike any other.
Highlights of the Tour
– Immerse yourself in the stunning Red Dunes of the Kalahari during your hiking experience.
– See the Kalahari Meerkats
– Traverse the vast flat salt pans of the Kalahari.
– See the Camels
– Explore the intriguing black rock formations of the Lost City of the Kalahari.
– Stay at Game Reserves and embark on daily Game Drives.
– Unwind with sundowners on a Red Dune or overlooking a Saltpan each evening.
– Experience the warm hospitality of the Kalahari people.
– Accommodate yourself amidst the Red Sand Dunes.
– Hike near the Botswana border for a diverse experience.
– Stay on the border between Namibia and South Africa for a unique perspective
Why choosing Trisport to organise your hike
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.
Information
Each day you will travel to a new destination where we will hike for the day, see the best of that area, have lunch, dinner and breakfast there and experience the best of the Kalahari.
Each venue has its own character, and the routes are planned so that you will experience the best of the Red Dune Route of the Kalahari.
Itinerary
DAY 1
14:00 onwards Arrive at the Kalahari Goerapan 90km from Upington, check-in and relax
18:00 Meet at the lodge/bar for welcoming and drinks
19:00 Dinner
DAY 2
6:30 Breakfast
7:30 Hike on Goerapan over a saltpan and red sand dunes
11:30 Light lunch
12.30 Check out and drive to Molopo Lodge outside Askham (90km)
14:00 Check in at Molopo Lodge
17:00 Sundowners on a sand dune, drinks for your own account
19:00 Drinks and Dinner
DAY 3
7:00 Breakfast and check out
8:00 Drive to Koppieskraal
8.30: Experience the Camel milking (time depended)
9:00 to 12:00 Hike over a pan, and through the Lost City rock formations
13:00 Packed Lunch at Koppieskraal farmhouse
14:00 Drive to Dreghorn Game Reserve, check in and enjoy Dreghorn swimming pool in the middle of the Red Dunes
17:00 Sundowner (own drinks)
18:30 Dinner
Day 4
7:00 Breakfast
8:30 Experience the tracks and stories of the animals told by our guide. Learn about the history of the Komani San of the Kalahari
12:00 Lunch. Chill the rest of the afternoon in your comfortable chalets in the middle of the red sand dunes or enjoy the swimming pool
16:00 Game drive and Sundowners on the Dunes
19.30 Dinner
Day 5:
6:30 Breakfast
7:00 Drive to Kalahari trails
7:30 Experience the Meerkats, interact with them, watch their social behavior and enjoy their interaction with each other, maybe they will come to you, smell you, etc
9:00 Hike on Kalahari trails, a guide will teach us to “read the newspaper” by looking at the tracts of all the insects and animals that were walking on the dunes the night before or the early morning
12:00 Drive to Kgalagadi Lodge, enjoy a light lunch and a cold beer, and swim in the pool overlooking Botswana
16:00 Sunset Game drive with snacks and drinks provided by us at Kgalagadi Lode’s Game Reserve, outside the Kgalagadi National Park
19:00 Dinner
Day 6
6:30 Last Sunrise hike on the single-track hiking trail at Kgalagadi Game Lodge, see the beautiful sunrise over the dunes and Botswana
9:30 Breakfast (own account)
11:00 Check out and Good Byes or book an extra night with Kgalagadi Lodge
Please book an extra night directly with Kgalagadi-lodge
Fitness Level
This trail is not recommended for beginner hikers. It is suitable for intermediate hikers and above who are capable of hiking 15 km per day. While the elevation is not steep, you will traverse sandy areas and may encounter high temperatures. There are no shorter route options available on different days. If you are 70 years old or older, please contact us before registering.
Age limits
Age Policy and Requirements
- The minimum age for participation is 16 years.
- Participants aged 65 and older must provide a letter from their doctor confirming they are fit to hike the daily distances.
- The maximum age for participation is 70 years.
Exceptional Cases
- If you believe you are a very fit individual over 70, please contact Janine at janine@trisport.co.za for approval before registering.
Physical Fitness and Terrain
- Participants must be capable of navigating technical sections and lots of sand, steep koppies and rocky terrain. We do not follow set hiking trails; terrain can be challenging and unpredictable.
- You must be able to walk at least 12 to 15 kilometers per day.
Important Notice
- If you are unsure about your ability to handle the hikes, it is your responsibility to contact Janine at janine@trisport.co.za prior to registration.
- We do not accept responsibility for participants who are not physically fit or unable to complete the technical sections. Your fitness level must not impact the group’s safety or experience.
- Participants who are unable to meet these requirements will not be permitted to hike with the group but are welcome to undertake shorter hikes independently in the area.
Venues
Venues where you will stay:
Kalahari Goerapan, rustic en-suite chalets with a fan
Molopo Lodge, en suite aircon Chalets with aircon
Dreghorn Game Reserve, en-suite with a sharing bathroom between 2 rooms, with aircon and fans
Kgalagadi lodge, en suite aircon Chalets
How to get to the start
Start Venue:
Ghoerapan lodge, Kalahari
100km from Upington
1000 km from Cape Town
750 km from Pretoria
You need a car to travel from pace to place, no transport of your bags or yourself from place to pace. Each night we stay at a different lodge/Game Reserve to ensure you see and experience the best of the Kalahari
Methods to get there:
1. By car
2. Fly to Upington, hire a vehicle from Upngton to travel to Ghoerapan
Distances
Day 1: 14 km
Day 2: 12km
Day 3: 14km,
Day 4: 11km
Day 5: 5km
Entries Available
Limited to 16 entries
Entry Fee and Highlights Includes
- 5 Nights Accommodation in lodges
- 5 Days hiking;
- Branded Trisport goody bag
- All meals from dinner Day 1 to dinner the last night at Kgalagadi Lodge
- Visiting the Kalahari The Lost City;
- Guided walk and experiences
- Staying on Private Game Reserves
- Sunset Game drive at Dreghorn Game Reserve with sundowners
- Sunset Game drive at Kgalagadi Lodge’s Game reserve, outside the Kgalagadi Park
- Hiking over the Salt pan
- Sundowners over the Saltpans (for your own account)
- Game drives at some venues, with your own car or with us
- The last night’s Game drive and sunset snacks and drinks at Kgalagadi-Lodge
- Amazing food
- Hospitality of the Kalahari
- All permissions and payments to the private landowners.
- Tourism levies
- All organising by Trisport
Entry Fee Excludes
- Drinks;
- Sunset drinks
- Breakfast on departure
- Transport to the lodges
- Tips to the guides; and
- Travelling from venue to venue
- Additional night stay at Kgalagadi Lodge after the hike, please make your own arrangements
- Medical insurance
- Travel Insurance
- Cost of Evacuation if necessary
Safety Equipment
We have the following safety equipment with us:
– A medical kit, including bandages, etc.
– An AED (Automatic Electric Defibrillator)
– Epipen
– Radios
– 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.
This ancient and beautiful land is not only amazingly rich in diversity it also reflects an endless variety of moods, making each new encounter refreshingly different from the previous ones. The Kalahari Red Dune Route extends north of Upington into the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park that forms the shares its borders with Namibia and Botswana and is one of the largest conservation areas in the world.
The colour of the dunes in the southern Kalahari can be attributed to the high iron oxide content of the sand. In areas of higher rainfall and in shallow areas where water collects, the iron oxide is leached out, causing the sand ultimately to turn white. The gradual effect of the leaching transforms the desert into a wonderful variety of colours.
Besides the red dunes, some of the most obvious features of the Kalahari landscape are the nests of the sociable weaver birds. The colonies have up to 50 chambers housing as many as 300 birds.
Since the Kalahari is a desert, daytime temperatures can be extremely high and in winter, night-time temperatures can drop below zero, though the days are usually warm and pleasant. Thunderstorms are common during the rainy season between November and April.
