The 11 Best Places to Stay in the Kgalagadi and Kalahari (2026)

1. Nossob Rest Camp — Nossob riverbed, central Kgalagadi

The Kgalagadi's predator camp, in the dry Nossob riverbed.

Nossob sits in the dry riverbed of the Nossob, surrounded by tree savanna, and SANParks says it is famous for spectacular predator sightings. It has a guesthouse, cottages and campsites, a pool, a predator information center, a shop and fuel.

Solar power runs through the day and there is no phone reception. It is at least three and a half hours' drive from Twee Rivieren.

Good to know: Stay several nights; the drive in is long and the sightings reward patience.

Nossob Rest Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa

Google Maps Website

2. Twee Rivieren Rest Camp — Southern entrance

The park's largest camp, with a restaurant, pool and 24-hour power.

Twee Rivieren is the Kgalagadi's largest rest camp and headquarters, near where the Nossob and Auob rivers meet. It has a reception, shop, fuel, restaurant, interpretation center and pool, and is the only camp with 24-hour electricity and cell reception.

Visit the Twee Rivieren Interpretation Centre, which covers the park's history and the ‡Khomani Cultural Landscape World Heritage Site.

Good to know: Use it as your first and last night.

Twee Rivieren Rest Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa

Google Maps Website

3. Mata-Mata Rest Camp — Auob River, Namibian border

A camp on the Auob River known for giraffe, with a raptor center.

Mata-Mata sits on the Auob River on the park's western boundary with Namibia, 2.5 hours from Twee Rivieren, with chalets, family chalets and campsites. Giraffe are a favorite sight here.

It has a pool, shop and fuel and a Raptor Interpretation Centre on the park's birds of prey.

Good to know: Drive the Auob riverbed at dawn.

Mata-Mata Rest Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa

Google Maps Website

4. Kalahari Tented Camp — 3 km from Mata-Mata

Fifteen desert tents on a dune above a waterhole in the Auob riverbed.

The Kalahari Tent Camp sits high on a red dune overlooking a waterhole in the dry Auob River bed, with 15 desert tents in wood, sand and canvas.

It is 3 km from Mata-Mata, where guests refuel and buy basic supplies.

Good to know: Watch the waterhole from your tent at sunset.

Kalahari Tented Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa

Google Maps Website

5. Kieliekrankie Wilderness Camp — Southern Dune Road

Units sunk into a dune with endless views of red sand.

Kieliekrankie is a self-catering wilderness camp sunk into a dune, 50 km (1.5 hours) from Twee Rivieren and reachable by sedan. Units have two beds, a kitchen, solar lighting and a braai deck.

It is unfenced, with a tourism assistant on duty.

Good to know: Check in at Twee Rivieren and stock up there.

Kieliekrankie Wilderness Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa

Google Maps Website

6. Urikaruus Wilderness Camp — Auob River, road to Mata-Mata

Four stilted riverside cabins among old camelthorn trees.

Urikaruus has four riverside cabins on stilts, connected by a walkway, among old camelthorn trees overlooking the Auob River, 72 km from Twee Rivieren. It is unfenced and reachable by sedan.

Good to know: Book early; with four cabins it fills fast.

Urikaruus Wilderness Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa

Google Maps Website

7. Grootkolk Wilderness Camp — Near Union's End

A remote dune camp near the point where three countries meet.

Grootkolk is tucked into the dunes overlooking a waterhole, 20 km from Union's End, where South Africa, Botswana and Namibia meet. It is six hours from Twee Rivieren and 2.5 hours from Nossob, reachable by sedan and unfenced.

Good to know: SANParks suggests it for special occasions.

Grootkolk Wilderness Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa

Google Maps Website

8. Bitterpan Wilderness Camp — Central dunes, 4x4 only

A stilted camp over a waterhole on a one-way 4x4 dune route.

Bitterpan is an exclusive stilted camp overlooking a waterhole in the heart of the dunes, on a one-way 4x4 route from Nossob to Mata-Mata. Guests must check in at Nossob, about 2.5 hours away.

Good to know: Large 4x4s such as Unimogs are not allowed.

Bitterpan Wilderness Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa

Google Maps Website

9. Gharagab Wilderness Camp — Far north, 4x4 only

Four log cabins with views over dunes and thornveld savanna.

Gharagab, in the far north of the park, has four log cabins with elevated views of dunes and thornveld savanna, 164 km (four hours) north of Nossob on a one-way 4x4 road open only to its guests.

Good to know: Check in and refuel at Nossob.

Gharagab Wilderness Camp, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa

Google Maps Website

10. !Xaus Lodge — Inside the Kgalagadi

A 24-bed community-owned lodge overlooking a salt pan.

!Xaus Lodge is a 24-bed thatched luxury safari lodge owned by the ‡Khomani San and Mier communities, built to blend into the landscape and overlooking a large salt pan in a remote part of the park.

Good to know: Book directly through the lodge.

!Xaus Lodge, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa

Google Maps Website

11. Tswalu Kalahari — Northern Cape, South Africa

South Africa's largest private reserve, malaria-free.

Tswalu covers 1,200 square kilometers of the southern Kalahari, known for black-maned lions, meerkats, pangolin and red dunes, and is malaria-free.

Good to know: Fly in from Johannesburg or Cape Town.

Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, Northern Cape, South Africa

Google Maps Website