Page 375 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

NOR TH OF THE OR ANGE  373

3 Kgalagadi Trans­
frontier Park
Road map B2. 280 km (174 miles)
N of Upington. n 054 561 2000.
Tel Reservations: 012 428 9111.
Open daily; hours vary. & } Ó
 = ∑ sanparks.org
An immense wilderness of
grass-covered dunes traversed
by two dry, ancient riverbeds,
this national park is Africa’s
largest and extends 34,390 sq
km (13,278 sq miles) across
territory almost twice the size Springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis), Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
of the Kruger National Park.
Jointly managed by South 4 Tswalu Kalahari farmsteads. Approxi mately
Africa and Botswana, the Reserve 7,000 cattle were sold off
border within the park is and the reserve was fenced.
unfenced and the wildlife is Road map C2. 115 km (71 miles) NW Boler invested over R54
free to migrate. of Kuruman. n 053 781 9311. & million to develop the reserve.
From Upington the tarred ∑ tswalu.com A total of 4,700 animals,
R360 cuts a course across a An ambitious project without rep resenting 22 species, have
landscape that seems devoid of equal, Tswalu is South Africa’s been reintroduced, including
human habitation. The tar road largest private reserve. It lion, cheetah, buffalo, three
ends near Andriesvale and a protects around 750 sq km types of zebra, red hartebeest,
sandy track hugs the border (285 sq miles) of red Kalahari blue and black wildebeest,
fence for 58 km (36 miles) dunes and the picturesque giraffe, gemsbok, kudu,
before Korannaberg impala and wild dog.
reaching the mountains. The But the jewels in Tswalu’s
southern reserve came crown are, without doubt,
entrance. A into existence the small number of desert
dusty camp site is through the black rhino (subspecies
situated near the gate, tireless efforts Diceros bicornis bicornis)
while the nearby camp of of British relocated with the permission
Twee Rivieren offers businessman of the Namibian government.
chalets, a restaurant and Buffalo bull Stephen Boler. The reserve is now owned
a swimming pool. From First, he bought and by the Oppenheimer family
Twee Rivieren, two roads follow amalgamated 26 cattle farms. (of gold and diamond
the dry courses of the Auob Work teams then removed mining fame).
and Nossob rivers on their way some 800 km (500 miles) of Tswalu’s two luxury, all-
to the camps of Mata Mata and fencing, as well as 2,300 km inclusive lodges have their
Nossob. There are four lovely (1,440 miles) of electric lines, own airstrip, and most visitors
picnic spots along the Nossob. 38 concrete dams and the arrive by charter plane.
To cross over to Namibia at
Mata Mata, visitors must stay in
the park for at least two nights. Sir Laurens van der Post (1906–96)
Although Twee Rivieren Soldier, writer, philosopher, dreamer and explorer, Laurens van
is situated in the most arid der Post was the son of an Afrikaner mother and a Dutch father.
region of the park, wildlife is During World War II he obtained the rank of colonel and was a
surprisingly plentiful, with an prisoner of the Japanese in Java until 1945. Upon his return to
astonishing 19 species of South Africa, he began his journeys into
carnivore present, inclu ding the wilderness. A fascinating account of
the black-maned Kalahari his expedition in search of the San
lion, cheetah, brown hyena, people of the Kalahari was pub lished
wild cat and honey badger. in 1958. The Lost World of the Kalahari
Several species of raptor – was one of the first books to detail this
including martial, tawny and intriguing and highly spiritual culture. A
bateleur eagles, as well as the personal friend of the British Royal Family,
pale chanting goshawk – are van der Post is remembered for his
also commonly sighted. insightful, philosophical writings, most of
A total of 40 windmills have which deal with the moral and social
been erected in the riverbeds, issues of his time. Sir Laurens van der Post
providing water for wildlife.

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