6 days from ZAR 19 750 per person.
12TH-17TH OCTOBER 2022
This journey into the Kalahari offers a remote, tranquil wilderness experience for those looking to be immersed in Nature and for an opportunity to interact with members of the local San Bushman community whilst experiencing the incredible Kalahari Desert.
Enjoy daily guided wilderness walks along the dunes identifying animal tracks, birds, trees and plants and their medicinal uses and Nature drives to soak up the silence and beauty of the ever- changing landscape. From the privacy of your own chalet perched on top of the dunes, you can observe the animals drinking at the waterhole below or gaze out at a myriad of stars at night.
A digital detox with millions of stars surrounding you at night
Walking in the dune landscape with local Bushman trackers
The silence and wide open spaces of the Kalahari
Watching the sun set over a sea of red dunes
Being part of 3,6 million hectares of untouched wilderness
Plenty of solo time to connect and restore in Nature
Delicious vegetarian meals prepared specially for us
Supporting the San by staying in the community owned !Xaus Lodge
Seeing the desert adapted wildlife (big and small)
Cooling off in a swimming pool with an awe inspiring view
Learning about the Bushman culture
YOUR KALAHARI JOURNEY BEGINS…..
DAY 1: UPINGTON | KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER PARK
Your trip starts in Upington where we set off on a 3,5 hour drive through the red dunes and golden grassed landscapes of the Kalahari to arrive by lunch time at the entrance to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. With no border between Botswana and South Africa, this wilderness area of over 3,6 million hectares allows the natural rhythm of Nature to flourish with the two dry, ancient riverbeds of the Auob and Nossob attracting a host of plants and animals adapted remarkably to this unique semi desert environment. After a picnic lunch we enjoy our first game drive along the Auob Riverbed en route to our meeting place for the transfer by 4×4 vehicles to !Xaus Lodge our home in the desert for the next 4nights.
DAY 2: !XAUS | KALAHARI
The name of !Xaus (pronounced Kaus) is derived from the heart shaped pan that lies below the lodge and symbolizes the spirit of reconciliation between the park and the local San community. This morning we wake up early for a pan walk with a local Bushman guide learning about the animal tracks and plants along the way. We return for breakfast followed by an introductory talk on the story of !Xaus and the Kalahari communities. There is then plenty of time to relax and soak up the silence and beauty of your surrounds before lunch and again in the afternoon. The pool at !Xaus has one of most spectacular views imaginable! Late afternoon we hop on board a 4×4 vehicle for a guided Nature drive through this magical landscape ending with sundowners on top of a dune, the perfect end to the day.
DAY 3: !XAUS | KALAHARI
Today we depart early morning with our guide across the dunes to the Auob riverbed, one of the best places to spot wildlife in the Kalahari. The flat plains hugged on either side by steep dune and rocky ridges with long golden grasses make this ideal terrain for cheetah, and the large ancient Camelthorn trees here are a haven for a variety of spectacular birds (look out for the Giant Eagle owl often found sleeping in the embracing shade). Wildlife we could see today include antelope such as gemsbok, wildebeest, springbok, steenbok, eland, the adorable meerkats, giraffe, ostrich, jackal and if we are lucky the iconic black- maned Kalahari lion, hyena, leopard and cheetah. We enjoy a picnic lunch outdoors on the riverbed and then return to !Xaus for some relaxation time before dinner.
DAY 4: !XAUS | KALAHARI
This morning we set out on a walk into the dunes to interpret the signs in the sand and learn about life in the Kalahari through the eyes of our local Bushman tracker and guide. We also enjoy identifying the surrounding trees and plants and discussing their various medicinal and culinary uses. After breakfast we take a walk to the crafting village and support the local community by joining in with crafting our very own item from ostrich egg shells, seeds, porcupine quills and other natural elements of the surrounds. There is time once again in the afternoon to relax in this timeless landscape and breathe in the wide open spaces before an end of day nature drive until sunset. Tonight take time to enjoy some star gazing – the skies are some of the clearest in the world!
DAY 5: KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER PARK | UPINGTON
Another beautiful sunrise in the Kalahari sees us walking in the early morning light and enjoying our last guided walk before breakfast. We take a 4×4 transfer back over a sea of sand dunes to the Auob riverbed where our driver meets us for another game drive en route to Twee Rivieren Camp. Here we enjoy a picnic lunch under the shade of Camelthorn trees and then travel to Upington, where we stay in a tranquil oasis of a guest house on the banks of the Orange River.
DAY 6: UPINGTON | DEPARTURE
After an early breakfast the adventure ends. Transfers are provided for thoseneeding to get to Upington Airport.
How your Journey to the Kalahari is helping the Earth
We support the !Khomani San community by staying at their lodge, learning about their culture and “seeing” Nature and the Kalahari desert through their eyes. It is really important for the future health and well being of our planet that indigenous cultures are revived, respected and acknowledged for the wisdom they hold.
How do I sign up?
A 25% non -refundable deposit secures your place on this tour.
Where does the trip start and end?
We depart from and return to Upington. The tour has been timed to allow for arrival at Upington Airport from Cape Town or Johannesburg on the day of departure and to return after breakfast on the last day. For those who would prefer to arrive earlier we can book you accommodation in Upington with pleasure.
What is included?
- Your tour is fully inclusive of luxury 4* accommodation
- All vegetarian meals from the start to the end of the trip
- Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park daily fees
- Transport from start to finish in suitable high clearance vehicles
- Professional tour host and walking/tracking/game drives with local Bushman guides
- A small goodie/gift bag and take away crafted item from the San Cultural Village
- A live Q&A session before the tour so you can ask any questions direct to your tour leader and meet your fellow travellers.
What is excluded?
- Any drinks with or without meals ( suitable drinking water is provided at the lodge )
- Gratuity for your Bushman guides and staff at the lodge ( at your own discretion )
- Please bring cash for any extra craft items you may wish to purchase directly from thecrafters at the Cultural Village.
- Travel insurance: medical is compulsory and cancellation highly recommended
Payments and cancellation policy
Payment: A 25% non -refundable deposit secures your place with balance due 60 days before departure. We accept payment by electronic bank transfer (EFT) or Mastercard/Visa. If you are paying by credit card there is a 3% extra charge added on the total cost. You are welcome to contact us to arrange a payment plan if you prefer to pay in more than 2 instalments.
Cancellation: Your 25% sign up deposit payment is non- refundable should you cancel your place due to personal reasons. From 1-45 days prior to the departure date of your trip your balance of payment cannot be refunded as at this stage we will have paid all our suppliers.
We therefore highly recommend you take out travel insurance cover in case you need to cancel your trip.
Covid related Cancellations: Should you be unable to travel due to Covid related illness we will offer you a voucher to the full value of your trip less 10% processing fee which you can use for a future date to travel on any of our scheduled or tailor made tours.
Should your trip be cancelled on our side 45 days+ due to Covid travel restriction we will offer you a full refund less 10% processing fee on your deposit payment. Should this cancellation take place within 45 days prior to your departure and your balance of payment has been made we will offer you alternative dates of travel as a postponement or alternatively endevour to refund you as much as possible dependant on what we can negotiate with our local partners and suppliers.
Again, we highly recommend taking out travel insurance cover.
What is the group size?
We find the perfect group size is between 8-10 participants which ensures an intimate personal experience
Can you tell me what to pack?
We will send you a suggested packing list prior to your departure. Some essential items include a small rucksack, good pair of closed walking shoes, a light jacket, sunhat and cream and sun glasses, a personal medical kit and plenty spare storage cards and batteries for your camera.
Are there luggage restrictions?
We suggest one medium sized soft luggage bag (max. weight 20kg) and 1 piece of hand luggage inside the vehicle per person (ie) such as a small rucksack with your camera or handbag.
What is the weather like?
We specifically have chosen the month of October to hold this Nature retreat when the weather in the Kalahari is not too cold nor too hot (we hope). Average temperatures are 30 degrees Celsius during the day and 16 degrees Celsius during the night.
How fit do I need to be?
All walking is done at a leisurely pace with lots of stops to observe and discuss thevarious “signs in the desert” such as tracks, plants, animals and birds. Each walk is approx. 2 hours starting at dawn and ending with breakfast before the heat of the day.
What do I need to know about staying in a desert?
We are staying inside the Kgalagadi National Park in a private concession owned by the local !Khomani Bushmen. This is a vast huge expanse of over 3,6 million hectares of semidesert where the wildlife and Nature is relatively untouched and allowed to flow in a natural rhythm and harmony. The lodge itself is based on the principles of Responsible Tourism whereby minimal impact is made on the environment and the majority of the staff, guides, trackers and our chef are trained from the local Bushmen community.
The lodge is equipped with a generator which operates from 07h00 to 10h00 in the morning and 17h00 to 23h00 in the evening which is when you can charge your cellphones/cameras and when the overhead fan will be operational. Keep in mind that we have chosen an optimal time to stay in the Kalahari before the full heat of summer. Drinking water is obtained through a reverse osmosis process and provided daily in your chalet.
One of the main benefits of staying at !Xaus Lodge is that it offers a complete digital detox with no mobile phone reception. For your peace of mind there are radios for 24hour emergency communication with the outside world.
