New camp sites at SANPark's Kgalagadi?

[Paul Dold]

Visitors to Kgalagadi can maybe soon look forward to some interesting new camp sites which will almost provide a wild camping experience on the South African side:

Each site could have their own fence and gate with a private ablution block similar to the very popular new ones at Nossob.

Eleven new totally separate campsites may be built close to Craig Lockhart (about 10km from Mata).

If the project is given the go ahead (nothing is official as yet) it will certainly take some of the pressure off Mata Mata which as an entry point to Namibia has very high occupancy rates.

[Bogaards]

Visitors to Kgalagadi can maybe soon look forward to some interesting new camp sites which will almost provide a wild camping experience on the South African side:

Each site could have their own fence and gate with a private ablution block similar to the very popular new ones at Nossob.

Eleven new campsites may be built close to Craig Lockhart (about 10km from Mata).

If the project is given the go ahead (nothing is official as yet) it will certainly take some of the pressure off Mata Mata which as an entry point to Namibia has very high occupancy rates.

Pretty sure that these will come at a high price...

[Baas]

Pretty sure that these will come at a high price...

If it costs the same as the premium sites at Nossob and has proper shade I'll gladly pay for it, I love the northern part of the Auob river, but Mata-Mata is too close to the border and can be noisy, the generator is much louder than Nossob's and game drives get long because you can only drive out and back in one direction.

We were at Mata-Mata from 22 to 26 December 2020 and asked about the new campsite at reception. They gave a very short answer; it's not finished and we don't know when it will be. The environmental impact assessment was done in 2012 together with the changed access road at Nossob, the new river front chalets at Nossob, the new airstrip at Nossob and three new campsites near Gharagab. Weird that it hasn't been completed yet.

[Paul Dold]

There are no plans to finish this project in the near future.

One must remember that SANParks had no income
during our lockdown.

I think it will be a long time before they tackle new construction projects.

[Southerndreams]

3 or 4 of 10 campsites were finished before lockdown came. They might have trouble with the construction company, we heard.
I'll be on the Mata Mata side this week and try and get some more information.
Remember that this project was budgeted in 2018, the money will still be there.

Anyway even if all goes well, the campsites won't be finished this year....

[Paul Dold]

I am sure that money is being used elsewhere now.

I was told no plans for building but you may find out more at Mata.
Enjoy your trip!

[Kierie]

I am sure that money is being used elsewhere now.

I was told no plans for building but you may find out more at Mata.
Enjoy your trip!

The official signboards have been put up for the new "Craig Lockhart Campsite- Residents Only" right next to the waterhole side road. We drove the Auob game viewing route daily during our trip to Mata Mata last month, but nothing else could be found out.

[Paul Dold]

That sounds promising!

[DCTheron]

I truly hope the park won't become a second overcrowded KNP, that will be sad. Kgalagadi is my favorite by far.

[lekhubu943]

I truly hope the park won't become a second overcrowded KNP, that will be sad. Kgalagadi is my favorite by far.

Agreed Dirk. I honestly don't see the need for more sites. And eleven of them

[Paul Dold]

We are likely to see more tourists.
A new private lodge is planned near the entrance
and SANParks is bound to increase the accommodation in the Park.

Expansion continues in spite of the state of the water table - during the lockdown
some boreholes were turned off to limit water use. The rains evidently do very little to augment the aquifer. I can recall in the past Nossob having water problems and no water in the camp waterhole.

[RobH]

It’s a crowded area as is with Mata Mata, KTC and Urikaruus guests all using the same beat.

I share the above concerns, fortunately it’s also a part of the reserve I haven’t clicked with of late, so now it will be easier for me to leave it out of my itinerary.