If you’re heading to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and wondering where to stay, a fantastic option is Kgalagadi Lifestyle Lodge. Situated just 5 km from the gate of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, this upscale lodge has everything you could want or need during your stay.
We stayed at Kgalagadi Lifestyle Lodge during our 12-day African adventure, and this was one of our favourite spots!
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park forms part of the Kalahari Desert, and this is where the real magic of South Africa lies.
After spending time at Kruger Park a few years ago, I was surprised how much I fell in love with the desert environment. Maybe it was the fact that I found so much uenxpected beauty and we were so much closer to wildlife than we anticipated.
We loved our stay at Kgalagadi Lifestyle Lodge – read on to find out why!
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Review of Kgalagadi Lifestyle Lodge Review
If you’re undecided on whether or not to stay at Kgalagadi Lodge, here’s my review. Spoiler alert – I definitely recommend this lodge!
The self-catering lodge is the perfect place to use as your base if you’re looking for an affordable way to explore the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and enjoy a relaxing holiday.
Rooms at Kgalagadi Lodge
At Kgalagadi Lifestyle Lodge you’ll find rooms spacious and comfortable.
Our private chalet was furnished with a double bed (two twin beds pushed together), a large bathroom with telephone-booth style shower, toilet, and sink, a writing desk (from which I’m writing this!), a place to hang your clothing, a small safe large enough for passports and money, and TV.
Each chalet also has a beautiful covered patio with an outdoor kitchen, complete with fridge/freezer, stove, cooking utensils and dishes.
We were in Chalet 9, which offers an incredible spot to view the sunrise. Since our sunrises were spent at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, I can’t speak to how beautiful they were, but if it was anything like what we saw at the park, you’re in for a treat.
Rooms are so quiet at night, and the stargazing is unreal. You will also find a pool here, a gift shop, a shop to buy drinks and snacks, a firepit, and a fantastic restaurant.
You will have a single key that opens a double door on the patio. There is also a key on there to open your safe.
It’s advisable to take a photo of your passport if you do not want to carry it on you at all times, if you are heading out for the day.
If you are staying at one of the chalets on the ridge without a vehicle, you have two options to make it down to the cafe – one of which is by finding a trail leading down to the lodge reception, or walking down the road.
This took a bit longer, so we often climbed up and down the hill. It’s complete sand, so be forewarned if you’re wearing anything other than boots.
You’ll collect a lot of sand! Which by the way, if you do, there is a broom in your room to brush it all out. Dana cleaned out one of his shoes one night and I couldn’t believe the pile of red sand there was.
Room cleaning is done daily. There is also a kettle, hairdryer, extra blankets and extra towels available. The staff are so helpful and friendly.
We stayed here for 3 nights, with two days of game viewing at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. We arrived back around midday and either napped in our cool chalets, swam, or just lounged around.
If you have some extra energy, you can wander around the property along its various trails for a chance to see some other wildlife that made their way onto the property.
Sunsets here are gorgeous, and if you are at the cafe by 6:00 pm, you’ll catch the most beautiful lighting over the desert. The sky lights up in shades of yellow, pink, blue and lavender. The desert can be quite cold at night, so bring a sweater down with you.
We found our chalet quite warm at night and for some reason our AC wasn’t working, so we cracked our bedroom window a bit, to avoid any creepy crawlies from making their way in!
The only thing that is worthy of noting is the WiFi. The connection is terrible, and you can only get it at the main lodge. However, this didn’t bother us because the whole point of coming here was to get away from it all!
But, if you are planning on checking in with family and friends or posting to social media, you may struggle with it. You also have to reconnect every 24 hours.
Food at Kgalagadi Lifestyle Lodge
The food is unbelievably good, and so well priced. A large steak with salad is the equivalent of $12 CAD, and wine ranging from $4-$9 CAD. USD is not accepted here, so you will have to bring a credit card. You have the option to charge items to your room and pay with a card upon checkout.
At Kgalagadi Lodge, you’ll also find its own mini grocery store with bakery, bottle store, butchery, and grab-and-go items.
This is a perfect choice for those travelling by car and not wanting to cart everything with them. The prices are very inexpensive and it’s a relief to know you can purchase extra water and snacks here, as the nearest town is 30 minutes away.
Where is Kgalagadi Lodge?
Located on the edge of the South African and Namibian border, Kgalagadi Lifestyle Lodge is an ideal place for those looking for a relaxing holiday within close proximity to spectacular game viewing.
While it’s hot all the time, it’s nice to be in shorts and a t-shirt and have time slow down while you’re away from it all. There’s nowhere to rush to and no one is in a hurry.
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park is one of very few conservation areas of this magnitude left (3.6 million hecatres!) and is home to all sorts of amazing animals like cheetah, leopard, honey badgers, lions, and all sorts of incredible birds.
Distance from Upington to Kgalagadi Lodge
Arriving by car to Kgalagadi is easy from Upington Airport, albeit a long journey.
Upington is the closest airport to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, which is a 2.5 hour drive and 252 km. You’ll find a parking spot at your chalet if you are driving your own vehicle.
Kgalagadi Lifestyle Lodge is a short 5 minute drive (5.7 km) to the gate at Twee Rivieren Border Control at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Can you stay at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park?
Yes, you can choose to stay within Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, but the accommodations are quite rustic. The chalets at Kgalagadi Lodge are individual and are beautifully designed and decorated with tones of brown, green, and white – a fitting colour palette for the Kalahari Desert.
Staying at Kgalagadi Lifestyle Lodge
I would definitely recommend staying at Kgalagadi Lodge if you’re visiting Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. With its close proximity to Kgalagadi, restaurant, storefront (with alcoholic options), and comfortable amenities, it makes a great choice for those looking to stay in comfort during their African journey.
The room rates are very affordable ($76 USD/$100 CAD) for the Standard Chalets we were in. You can choose to camp, if you wish. There are a variety of other room types available to stay at, but the Standard Chalets is one spot I could’ve stayed at all week!
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