The Kalahari Gemsbok National Park was established in 1931 and is located between the borders of South Africa and Botswana. Its total area is 3.6 million hectares. Approximately one-fourth of the park is within South Africa, while the other three times as much is in Botswana. As there are no barriers dividing the park between the two states, animals move freely throughout the park.
The park is a Kalahari desert landscape with red sand barchans with scraggly vegetation. The inhabitants include 8 species of antelope, gazelle, cheetah, spotted and brown hyena, lion, leopard, jackal, over 215 species of birds such as bustard, African ostrich, secretary bird and others. The red sand dunes, sparse vegetation and dry riverbeds of the Nossob and Auob are a favourite habitat for antelope and birds of prey. The Nossob and Auob are the two main rivers in the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, which are very rarely filled with water, but the beds of these dry rivers are used as a road by both animals and people.
Relatively free from human influence, the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park is now one of the largest parks in Africa, facilitating the seasonal migration of wildlife in search of water, as well as providing a predator free zone.
The Kalahari Gemsbok Park is also one of the best areas in South Africa to learn about and observe animal life. When black-maned lions are resting under shady bushes in the heat of the day and spotted leopards are sheltering in tree branches, visitors can refresh themselves in the pool at TWEE Rivieren or enjoy a refreshing drink in the cosy and cool restaurant. The park has a large number of equipped picnic areas, shops selling groceries, fresh meat and eggs.
