BEHIND THE FRAME: LANGUR MONKEY
22 November 2024
PLACES WE LOVE: KANGA CAMP, MANA POOLS
25 November 2024BEHIND THE FRAME: LANGUR MONKEY
22 November 2024PLACES WE LOVE: KANGA CAMP, MANA POOLS
25 November 2024PLACES WE LOVE
!KHAMAB KALAHARI RESERVE
When I hear the word 'Kalahari,' it evokes visions of endless sand, mystery, and pure wilderness. This alone stirs feelings of wonder and discovery in those lucky enough to visit.
The Kalahari Desert, which is a phrase that comes from the Tswana word Kgala, meaning 'the great thirst,' is a canvas of massive skies, stars that go on forever, reddish sands, golden winter grass, epic thunderstorms in summer, and a stunning mix of wildlife. It's the kind of place that leaves you wide-eyed, feeling like an explorer stumbling onto something truly special.
Tucked away on the south-eastern edge of the Kalahari is !Khamab Kalahari Reserve, the largest, private, Big-5 reserve in South Africa. This 90 000ha reserve has the vision to become a premier conservation area renowned for its positive contribution to the conservation of landscapes, habitats and ecological processes and the full spectrum of herbivores and carnivores typical of the eastern Kalahari Bushveld.
!Khamab’s name is also the Nama name for the only true fox in sub-Saharan Africa – the Cape fox – which is often associated with arid and semi-arid areas. Although not as well known as the charismatic, large predators, its shy, nocturnal habits make it the perfect little creature to represent the reserve in its uniqueness.
Some species have become almost synonymous with the Kalahari. Think of the Kalahari and in your mind automatically wanders to regal gemsbok, black-maned lion, curious meerkat, magnificent camelthorn trees and croaking black korhaan! Although all these species can also be found elsewhere, there is something special about seeing them in the semi-desert of the Kalahari.
The Kalahari has been called a predator’s paradise. You will find all of southern Africa’s large carnivore species at !Khamab. Lion, leopard, African wild dog, cheetah, spotted and brown hyena all call !Khamab home. Also, many of the smaller, and often shy carnivore species are present. Black-backed jackal, caracal, aardwolf, African wild cat, honey badger, bat-eared fox, Cape fox, meerkat and two mongoose species are always special to see.
Lower in the food chain you will find the typical ungulate species of the Kalahari. Adapted to survive in this semi-desert with only short periods of available surface water are gemsbok, eland, giraffe, red hartebeest, steenbok, and springbok.
With permanent water now provided in nine waterholes, species that were known to be present in large numbers as they migrated through the area during wet periods in the past are now flourishing. Blue wildebeest and zebra are flourishing at !Khamab and form an important food source for the large predators on the reserve. !Khamab’s proximity to the Molopo River puts the current location of the reserve in the historic migration routes of many species that moved west, following the river course – before humans occupied the area and fences prevented migration in large numbers. Elephant, buffalo, kudu and small populations of both rhino species now occur permanently on the reserve.
The Kalahari is also well known for its raptors, and !Khamab provides a place where many can soar in the skies. The reserve provides a safe place where two vulture species – the white-backed and lappet-faced vultures – can build their nests in tall camelthorn or shepherd’s trees. Other common raptors include bateleur, secretary bird and several eagle, owl, falcon, goshawk and kite species. The reserve is also home to other birds that are synonymous with the Kalahari. This includes the largest bird in the world, the ostrich, and the heaviest flying bird, the kori bustard.
ACCOMODATION AT !KHAMAB
Khamab is in a malaria-free area and is safe to visit all year round. The size of the reserve and vast wilderness areas devoid of roads makes !Khamab ideally suited for discerning travellers that want something more than just the normal game viewing experience.
You will not be sharing the accommodation with other travelers or any safari outing or lodge activity. You will be the only ones catered for. No traffic jams at wildlife sightings as yours will be the only safari vehicle out there, ensuring intimate wildlife experiences and fantastic photographic opportunities.
A minimum of four nights stay is recommended to make the most of the !Khamab experience.
There are enough rooms to accommodate eight sharing guests at the lodge and you have exclusive use, and therefor a visit to !Khamab is a truly intimate and private wilderness experience. You have the privilege of having the entire reserve to yourself, adding to the feeling of remoteness that the Kalahari brings. This makes !Khamab an ideal destination for any occasion, from small get-togethers, celebrations or even exclusive honeymoons.
INSIDER TIP FROM MIKE
Choosing the best time to go on safari can be an interesting discussion because of all the different areas and options. Regarding !Khamab, their average rainfall in !Khamab Kalahari Reserve is 333 mm/year, and the rainy season spans from December to May, although the first three months of the rainy season are significantly hotter than the last three. Temperatures generally peak in January at around 34°C. I can guarantee you that some of the sunsets you will see during this time of the year will be some of the most beautiful ones you will ever see!
KEY FEATURES OF !KHAMAB KALAHARI RESERVE
Exploration
With 95,000 hectares to explore, we are bound to experience different landscapes from day to day. As a photographer, this is great for us to leave !Khamab with a diverse portfolio of images including some incredibly beautiful dry lake beds which make for incredible afternoons with lots of dust, lots of animals and perfect endings to a day.
Exclusivity
To my point above, within the 95,000 hectares to explore, we will be the ONLY tourist vehicle out at a time. This gives us the ultimate experience of exclusivity at every sighting which allows us to maximise our time at a sighting as well as our photographic positioning.
Conservation
In a changing world, the face of conservation is also changing. Unlimited spaces for wildlife to roam freely are disappearing, and the importance of fenced reserves where nature can be protected is increasing. Unfortunately, many reserves are too small for natural ecological processes to play out, and interventions by managers are needed to replicate the balance that vast unfenced areas once provided.
This highlights the importance of larger reserves in the conservation landscape. !Khamab was established first and foremost as a conservation area, where its relatively large size can make a meaningful contribution to the conservation of the Eastern Kalahari. With the conservation of the Eastern Kalahari landscape, its inhabitants and the ecological processes that drive the system as the only objective, the vision, mission, and key objectives of !Khamab Kalahari Reserve were developed.
Flexibility
During our Exclusive Kalahari Safari, we book the lodge out exclusively and therefore our group is catered for on an extremely flexible basis. Whether it staying out on drive the whole day, coming back for an early breakfast or taking an afternoon to do some Lightroom, the lodge caters to all of our needs!
Uniqueness
The Kalahari Desert is like a photographer's playground, offering a mix of incredible features for wildlife and landscape shots. It's not just the typical red sand – there's a whole bunch of unique landscapes. You've got diverse landscapes with grasslands, salt pans, and acacia woodlands, giving you tons of different backdrops to play with. Plus, the sunsets and sunrises are next level – the wide-open spaces and dusty air creates beautiful colour shows.
!Khamab Lodge, because of its unique design and extreme exclusivity is simply a must see property. All the elements come together here, from the experiences of the Kalahari, to the perfect lodge, it is simply heaven on earth.
All in all, we are extremely excited to experience this beautiful, well kept secret and we look forward to experiencing it with you. If you happen to have any questions, we would happily assist with them.
Thanks for reading!
Michael
Until next time,
The idea of exploring remote and untouched areas along with guests who are hungry to learn, truly excites me. I strive to share my passion with guests and expose them to a level of appreciation for the big moments, small moments and everything in between.
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