Kalahari Hiking Traverse
Kalahari 5-Day Hiking Traverse
COST PP: Sharing R 14 900 | Single R18 900
DATES AVAILABLE
(Register Below by clicking on the date)
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.
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.
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, witness the spectacle of Vulture Restaurants, 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.
Hike with a Komani San guide and experience the tracks through his eyes. 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.
– Encounter the Kalahari Meerkats for a unique and unforgettable experience.
– Traverse the vast flat salt pans of the Kalahari.
– Witness the traditional milking of 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.
– Witness the fascinating Vulture Restaurant in action.
– 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
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.
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 75 years old or older, please contact us before registering.
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
Distances
Day 1: 16 km
Day 2: 15km
Day 3: 4km, cultural hike and experience with a Komani San guide
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;
- The Cultural hike and experience with a Komani San guide
- The Lunch at a Komani San Kitchen
- Guided walk and experience by a Komani San Guide
- 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
- See the Vulture Restaurant, depending on the time of the year and if there are vultures around
- Experience the Camel Milking
- 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
Schedule
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, touching the camels and tasting the camel milk products
9:00 to 12:00 Hike over the flat salt pan, through the Lost City,
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
18:30 Dinner,
Day 4
7:00 Breakfast
8:30 Hike with a Komani San guide. Experience the tracks and stories of the animals told by our guide. Lern about the history of the Komani San in the Kalahari
12:00 Lunch at Ant Koeras, a Komani San kitchen. 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
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.
