What To Put In Your Suitcase For A Successful Trip To Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

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Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Quick Travel Tips | The Magic of Nowhere: Destination Inspiration from Mabuasahube in Botswana | Surviving Without The Desert: Destination Inspiration From Kgalagadi, South Africa | What To Pack For a Safari To Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park |

What To Pack For A Safari To Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

As the name suggests, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park crosses the borders of two countries - South Africa and Botswana. The park is unfenced between the two countries, allowing for the free movement of wildlife. The presence of immigration and customs also allows for tourists to travel between the countries. This is a desert landscape and you can expect iconic red sand dunes, fossil river valleys, and scrub and grass savanna. The South African side has sporadic, man-made waterholes, which attract game. Kgalagadi on the Botswanan side also features expansive natural pans, which makes for cinematic game-viewing opportunities. In this story, we give quick travel tips and insights on Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, as well as Kgalagadi safari packing advice and a handy shopping guide, so you can fill your suitcase with the best safari clothing for your Kgalagadi adventure.

Dressed For The Dunes
Our summer safari to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park meant dunes dusted with devil thorn flowers - and a chance to select the best all-year safari clothing for an adventure into the desert.

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Safari Packing Advice For Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

• Sun Protection Is Essential - All Year Round: The sun in the desert is a certainty. This makes packing a wide-brimmed hat and an effective sunscreen a necessity. It is also a good idea to wear a sun-protective long-sleeved safari shirt and convertible trousers so that you can cover up if you need to. Our BUGTech™ safari clothing has built-in UPF50+ sun protection, as well as insect defence for protection on all fronts. Apart from these top features, this lightweight, technical fabric offers plenty of additional benefits for warm-weather travel, including moisture wicking, anti-microbial finish, and quick-drying properties.


• A Tubular Head&Neck Scarf Is One Of My Top Safari Accessories: The Mara&Meru™ Vintage Print Head&Neck Scarf is another useful accessory for covering up your neck for sun protection. Incorporating nanoweave technology, this lightweight tubular scarf is windproof and offers UPF50+ sun protection. For me, this is a top safari clothing accessory for game drives and around camp. There are eight ways to wear it, but it is especially handy on dusty open game viewers or to keep hair out of your eyes as a headband or scrunchie.


• Avoid Insect Bites: Insect protection is another essential for Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. We encountered many mosquitoes during the summer months of travel – especially at night. Covering up in BUGTech™ anti-insect clothing and using an Australian-made insect repellent like Bushman Insect Repellent is a top recommendation to enjoy the night skies without enduring itchy and painful bites. While Kgalagadi is considered a low risk or malaria-free area, insect repellent protects you against the nuisance and discomfort caused by a range of bugs.


• The Best Defence Against Scorpion Stings Is Closed Shoes: Closed shoes are recommended at all SANParks camps at night as scorpions are prevalent night visitors. I wore Buffalo Boots. These leather Chelsea boots are hands down my favourite camp shoes to keep sand, scorpions, and insects out – and are easy to slip on and off, making them first-class camp footwear.


• Take A Torch: We also suggest taking a torch to avoid any nasty surprises in the dark. If you want to check out the camp’s hides after dark, SANParks also requests guests follow the path with a torch. We suggest one of our tested and trusted torches.


• Binoculars Are The Number One Safari Essential: One of the most important things to pack for a self-drive Kgalagadi safari is a pair of high-quality binoculars. Something I love about the place is that it isn’t interlaced with roads – preserving the sense of space and the integrity of the dunes. It means that the action is sometimes quite far away. Don’t miss any of the detail of the wonderful wildlife and birds you are going to see – even when they move away from the roadside – by having a pair of binoculars for every person in the car. If you are in the UK, we offer a rental binoculars service to ensure you can travel with the number one safari essential.


• Mix and Match Technical Safari Clothing With Comfortable Favourites: Safari clothing in technical fabrics are the top recommendation for warm-weather destinations for all the benefits they bring to your days. I will usually mix and match these with comfy go-to favourites in safari colours. For example, I never leave home without leggings or Serengeti Joggers because they are really comfortable for long game drives. I also layer my long-sleeve safari shirts with the Serengeti V-Neck T-Shirt (available in long and short sleeves) for the simple pleasure of this lovely fabric in safari colours.


• Don't Go To The Desert Without a Warm Layer: When it comes to the weather, the desert is a cunning teacher about packing for all conditions. Its connotations are always heat first, but the cold can be biting and very unpleasant for those who don't prepare for it. No matter what time of year you travel, always pack a warm layer (bearing in mind temperatures can dip below freezing at night in winter months). We have also been witness to intense storms that build with the heat during the day. This makes a waterproof layer a good idea too. Worried about space? Choose a packable waterproof jacket to tuck into your luggage or daypack.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Shopping Guide

Being well prepared is an investment in the success of every trip. Pack your bag with all the essentials from The Safari Store - including made-for-purpose safari clothing and hats, tested and trusted insect repellents, high-quality binoculars, and safari and travel accessories.

Wide-Brimmed Sun Hat
Being in the desert means packing for sun protection. On game drives and around camp during the day, wearing a wide-brimmed hat is the best way to protect your face and neck from sunburn.
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Top Brands of Safari Binoculars
High-quality binoculars are the number one essential on every safari. The simple road network through Kgalagadi is a thing to be celebrated - and binoculars mean you can watch birds and wildlife even when they head off into distant dunes. We recommend one pair per person for the best game-viewing.
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Safari Clothing in Technical Fabrics
Developed and tested for Africa, you simply can't beat the lightweight, high-performance features of made-for-purpose safari clothing. Mix and match long-sleeve safari shirts and convertible trousers - designed to wick moisture, with built-in sun protection and insect defence.
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A Warm Layer
It can get very cold in the desert. In winter, it is prudent to prepare for even sub-zero temperatures. Even at the height of summer, it can get very chilly in mornings and evenings. Layer up in jackets, fleeces, and knitwear. Top Tip: The Vintage Print Tubular Head&Neck Scarf is windproof for open game-viewers and gusty conditions and offers built-in sun protection - a great accessory for desert (and all) safaris.
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Insect Repellent
Our summer safari meant there were many mosquitoes to contend with - especially at night. To eliminate the risk of bug bites - and to ensure you don't miss a moment under the stars - pack enough Australian-made insect repellent to keep you protected all safari long.
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Closed Shoes And Boots
The SANParks official information brochure includes a section on the importance of closed shoes. These are recommended - especially at night - to protect you from scorpions and other night crawlers. The slip-on Buffalo Boots were our top choice.
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Reliable Torches For Safari
SANParks also recommends a torch - specifically for walks to the camp hide at night. Whether you are camping or not, a reliable torch is an essential accessory for nighttime in the bush. You may also be able to spot - as we were - nocturnal animals such as lion from the safety of your tent at night, using your torch.
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Stylish and Comfortable Safari Clothing
Safari clothing in technical fabrics is our top recommendation for being lightweight, insect and sun protective, and moisture wicking. For long days on game drives or around camp, comfort is key. That's why we suggest mixing and matching BUGTech™ safari clothing with comfortable, effortlessly stylish, and safari-friendly wardrobe items.
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Kgalagadi Links:
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Quick Travel Tips | The Magic of Nowhere: Destination Inspiration from Mabuasahube in Botswana | Surviving Without The Desert: Destination Inspiration From Kgalagadi, South Africa | What To Pack For a Safari To Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park |