Upington
Where the tar starts and the Orange River is still in sight. Fuel, a supermarket, and the last big town before the sand.
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The route
Upington to the gate, and everything in between
255 kmAbout 3 hoursR360, then R31
R360 — the spine
The dashed arms are the R31, east to Van Zylsrus and west to Rietfontein.
The four ringed marks are the waypoints below.
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What is where
The road is the whole point
The route runs north of Upington into the toe-shaped protrusion of South Africa, all the way to the Namibian border. Once you are on the main dust-lining toward the gates of the Kgalagadi, a whole world of gravel awaits.
The surfaces. Tar most of the way; a few of the last turn-offs are sand. Your host will tell you which vehicle you need.
The first 50 kilometres
The route proper begins about 50 km out of Upington on the R360. The farm stall on this stretch is the only one on the whole road — Kalahari lamb, boerewors, biltong.
Kalahari Guesthouse & FarmstallWinkelhaak Nguni LodgeKalkpoort HomesteadRatelpanKalahari Goerapan LodgeRooipan Guest HouseZoutpanputs Game LodgeGemsbokkieZoutpanLoch Maree Guest Farm & Field CampVischgat Game Farm
Show me this on the mapHalfway
Roughly halfway to the gate. The country opens out, the sand starts turning, and the guest houses along here exist because nobody wants to arrive after dark.
Show me this on the mapAskham
The crossroads village — a coffee shop, a school, and fourteen places to stay within a few kilometres of each other. They sit so close together that the map opens them into a ring so none is buried.
Diamond T Coffee ShopDuiker's Self-CateringKalahari Sands GuesthouseThirstland TrailsKalahari HartsplekKameelboomkoelteAunt Koera's Farm KitchenErin Game RanchBoesmansrusVinkies Kalahari ExperienceMolopo Kalahari LodgeRea FarmsteadDreghorn Kalahari Game FarmKalahari Farmstead & Cottage
Show me this on the mapAndriesvale
Where the R31 crosses the R360. East takes you to Van Zylsrus, west to Rietfontein and the Namibian border. The Khomani San farms are here, and so is the living museum.
Show me this on the mapTwee Rivieren
The main gate of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, where the Nossob and the Auob riverbeds meet. Everything north of here is park.
Kalahari Trails Nature ReserveRooiduin Guest FarmKgalagadi Lifestyle Lodge!Xaus LodgeTorgos LodgeKgalagadi Transfrontier Park
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