Mata-Mata or Nossob?

[Karin_Wes]

Hi guys,

For camping, which of the two rest camps is better? It seems that here and there people prefer Mata-Mata, but my common sense tells me that if you want to explore more of the park in the shortest possible time (especially if you want to enter Botswana side), Nossob is the best option.

Inputs regarding pros and cons for each camp will be appreciated. As mentioned earlier, we are campers (towing offroad trailer) so the state of the chalets really makes no difference.

Staying at both will be a challenge as we only have a limited number of nights available and at least one needs to be spent at Twee Rivieren, either on our way in or out of the park.

Any advice is welcome!

[Stranger]

Hi Karin

it really does come down to personal choice. I like Mata Mata out of the three San parks camps but you will find plenty of TR and Nossob fans too. The diversity of the game will not disappoint so I think your choice will come down to your itinerary.

Perhaps post that for more opinions

[Bogaards]

Keep in mind that those camps are very popular. You struggle to find a spot and have to book a year in advance.

You might end up with the one where there is a open campsite.

I would prefer Nossob as it is in the middle of the park. Not sure what the sightings is like around the camps...

[Paul Dold]

Karin - Firstly when is this trip planned? Booking is extremely difficult - Nossob is usually booked 12 months ahead but you may find a day here and there. Mata is easier accommodation wise.

Nossob is better situated if you are entering the Botswana side.

I find the game along the Mata - Twee Rivieren Road more varied while Nossob is excellent for lion.You will hear them roaring at night!

Nossob has premium camp sites - private ablutions and kitchen as well as standard camping.
Mata is probably less cramped from a camping view point. One of my favourites! The Mata road is very good for cheetah and Leopard and Brown hyena as well as wild cat (in the trees along the roadside).

If you are at Twee Rivieren the Rooiputs waterhole can be excellent for Cheetah and there is a huge Lion pride at Kij Kij (22 when last I counted) on the road to Nossob.

Twee Rivieren busy camp and best avoided BUT excellent game in the area due to proximity to both the Auob and Nossob river beds - the rivers attract the game. We like to spend a night or two there on our way north.

Just to whet your appetite on our trip last year saw more than 55 lion in four days and two Cheetah kills. Will be in Kgalagadi again this September.

[Arlu]

Hi guys,

For camping, which of the two rest camps is better? It seems that here and there people prefer Mata-Mata, but my common sense tells me that if you want to explore more of the park in the shortest possible time (especially if you want to enter Botswana side), Nossob is the best option.

Inputs regarding pros and cons for each camp will be appreciated. As mentioned earlier, we are campers (towing offroad trailer) so the state of the chalets really makes no difference.

Staying at both will be a challenge as we only have a limited number of nights available and at least one needs to be spent at Twee Rivieren, either on our way in or out of the park.

Any advice is welcome!

Good Day. I have been in the whole of Kgalagadi over the December holiday. My personal experience, we saw a lot more game on the Mata-Mata side. We basically saw everything between Twee Rivieren and Mata-Mata except for Leopards and Bat-Eared Foxes.
Between Twee Rivieren and Nossob we almost saw nothing. The nice thing about camping at Nossob was that there were a pride of lions going off every night at the waterhole.

[Nambro]

Hi Karin,
Mata Mata is a nice camp. Where on the botswana side do you want to go. That can only be accessed via nossob or twee revieren. In any case, I do not think it is worth its while, other than going to Mabuasehube. And that trip takes you through the dunes at Nossob. And it sucks big time. Bad road-little game-Very long driving. The main concentration of game is on the sa side. If you enter via twee revieren, I would go through to Nossob. Do the Northern part and then come back through the western part or the main route to 2revieren and stay there to exit.

[Sandveld]

Mata Mata is my favorite camp. Not that busy and nice trees especially when you go in summer. Enjoy

[RMackay]

I prefer Nossob, then again my wife prefers MataMata. Facilities at both are much or a muchness, although more shade for camping at MataMata.

[Bogaards]

Just as long as it is in the Kgalagadi

Was last there when I was in Primary School... When it was still the Kalahari Gemsbok Park. At that time we stayed at Nossob.

[hbannink]

Before the rain - Mata mata, jackal going bossies at the water hole is a sure sign that there is a predator or two around
After the rain - Nossob

[Bogaards]

Before the rain - Mata mata, jackal going bossies at the water hole is a sure sign that there is a predator or two around
After the rain - Nossob

Wonder what the rain will look like this year...

Would the roads be wet around Apr?

[Blackie]

Wonder what the rain will look like this year...

Would the roads be wet around Apr?

Doubt it, but then, you never know. April 2016 we arrived the day of that severe storm at Nossob - took us more than 12 hours from TR to Nossob after getting stucked in the mud. Arrived after 9 that evening in Nossob! Wet, muddy with nowhere to go as the campsite was flooded and there were no space on the higher sections for us. Ended up sleeping in the workers quarters that night!

[Bogaards]

Doubt it, but then, you never know. April 2016 we arrived the day of that severe storm at Nossob - took us more than 12 hours from TR to Nossob after getting stucked in the mud. Arrived after 9 that evening in Nossob! Wet, muddy with nowhere to go as the campsite was flooded and there were no space on the higher sections for us. Ended up sleeping in the workers quarters that night!

At least you missed the hail then?

My uncle got caught in it in Nossob, damage to their car and caravan...

[Blackie]

At least you missed the hail then?

My uncle got caught in it in Nossob, damage to their car and caravan...

Yes, we were fortunate that the holdup with being stucked, first my friend with his Fortuner and then me with the Colt, worked out in our favour as we missed the storm by about 1/2 hour. I arrived at Nossob just after the storm, seeking help to get the Fortuner out, but their tractor was also stucked inside camp!

I went back 40kms to my friend and we finally pulled him out with 2 bakkies in tandem. 5 minutes later we got 2 huge male lions and a female in the road on their way to where he was stucked!

[Bogaards]

I went back 40kms to my friend and we finally pulled him out with 2 bakkies in tandem. 5 minutes later we got 2 huge male lions and a female in the road on their way to where he was stucked!

Maybe they also wanted to help?

[hbannink]

Wonder what the rain will look like this year...

Would the roads be wet around Apr?

Nothing to do with the roads, just before the rains the game tend to concentrate around the mata mata area and the auob river but after the rains they migrate towards the Nossob river. Seeing one of those Kalahari Tsunamis approaching is a sight to behold.

[Blackie]

Without hijacking the thread, a couple of photos of our experience that day with the Nossob storm.

1. Storm starting building up
2. After a heavy rainstorm on route
3. Fortuner stucked
4. Lions - just after we got the Fortuner out and I hooked up the Bos Parra again.
4. Nossob about 30 mins after the disaster strucked.

[Paul Dold]

You were lucky - and great pics!
Thanks for posting!

[whatyamacallit]

We just came back from camping at both. They are both great campsites, mata mata has higher trees and also a much better view of the bush and a awesome view of the sunset and moon rise. It also has a lot more bird life in the camp and lots and lots of squirrel, meerkat and mongoose.

Nossob has lower denser trees but not as much smaller wildlife in the camp, probably because it's is invaded by jackals. In both camps the animals can destroy things if you leave any type of food unlocked. Nossob has a much nicer water hole and we saw a falcon catch a sand grouse. The ablutions at nossob were also marginally better.

Don't think you can go wrong at either

[Paul Dold]

Henk - Don't forget the Kalahari dust storms which turn day into night and torture your tent...
Often followed by hail storm and rain.