KLAGADI NATIONAL PARK

General information
Formerly known as the Kalahari Gemsbok national park, three countries share this park. They are South Africa, Botswana and Namibia. Gemsbok in Botswana merges with kgalagadi in South Africa, both of which occupy an area of 36,000 square kilometer. Ther are no boundaries between the two countries living animals to roam freely.

South Africa and Botswana governments have both cooperated in the park's management uniting the two parks under the name Kgalagadi Transfontier Park, which is one of the very few conservation areas, left in the world.

The significance of this park is that it is the first formally declared Transfontier Park in Africa.

Getting There
It is best to access the park for Upington 260km away. Johannesburg and other major cities have flights to Upington Airport. From Upington, there are buses to the park as well as rental vehicles.

Major Attraction
Due to the vastness of the park, wildlife can be spotted easily. Antelopes are in plenty galloping across red sands. In addition to this are gemsbok, meerkat, eland, blue wildebeest, springbok and hartebeest. Herbivorous animals largely dominate this park. Ground squirrel and meerkat are the park's most prominent species.

The gemsbok epitomizes the park. It can go for days without drink as it reabsorbs its waste fluids. It is highly adapted to the desert environment in the park.

One thing to look out for in the park is the large- scale herbivore migration. Every imaginable animal takes part in this, much to the excitement of the predators. The latter include lions, leopards, hyenas and cheetahs.

Other specialties of the park include the honey badger, pengolin and bat- eared fox. The park has a total of 280 species of which only about 90 are resident, the rest being migratory and nomadic.

As far as birds are concerned, the park is mostly associated with birds of prey. The pygmy falcon is the smallest falcon in Africa and preys on birds. Sociable weavers are also in plenty and can be observed in their colonies constructing huge nests.

Vegetation in the park is sparse due to its arid environment. The park has stretches of red sand dunes along with sparse scrub vegetation.

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