15 Sep 2020

Just a few kilometers after Struizendam into Twee Rivieren, a gateway to the spectacle of wilderness in the mighty Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, is South Africa.

The distance allows citizens of both countries to wave at each other or exchange pleasantries over the fence. Driving on the Botswana side, one can visibly see tourism activity on the South Africa side of the park.

The BOPA reporter Ms Calviniah Kgautlhe share her experience as travelled to the Kgalagadi Tranfrontier Park with Mr Kebakile Hambira.

A dark blue helicopter chopper which was safely parked on the airstrip run way just near Kgalagadi Lodge in South Africa, an indication that tourists fly into the lodge and entering the Transfrontier Park.

Off road vehicles of tourists carry motor homes (caravans) loaded with camping equipment, while some are parked by the Twee Rivieren Rest Camp.

After a short while, we arrive at the gate where we find tourists registering on the South African side of the park which is managed by National Parks (SANParks). We also register with the Department of Wildlife in the same building, where we are offered sanitiser, register and have our temperature recorded to observe COVID-19 health protocols.

We then leave the gate house and travel into the wilderness to enjoy the beautiful desert scenery, clear blue skies, refreshing air and the pleasant surprises presented by nature.

Even though we have visited the park on numerous times, one never gets used to its great wilderness, excellent birding activity and classic wildlife viewing. On the way to Rooiputs Lodge, which is 25km from the entrance, we drive past tourists viewing game at various points in their vehicles. Amongst them, there is an interesting couple from South Africa who are found enjoying romantic scenery of birds frolicking beautifully on top of a tree.

The driver brings the 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser to a soft halt so that we can take photographs and have light, sociable conversations with the couple while inside our vehicles. The couple is from Mpumalanga and they frequently visit the park which they say has phenomenal wildlife dotted on the earthy dune landscapes. It is in this park where they relish the beauty of sunrise and sunset, as well as gaze at the twinkles of millions of stars at night.

We thanked them and moved on with our expedition where different tourists from South Africa occasionally stop to admire the jam-packed safari extravaganza of wild animals such as leopards, springboks, gemsboks, leopards, lions, squirrels and many others walking on the auburn sand dunes which form a magnificent backdrop for wildlife viewing.

Conversely, even though countries have closed borders to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, it is not surprising to come accross South African nationals in the park, as it is demarcated by cement beacons only making it easy for one to travel on the South Africa side of the park or the Botswana side.

The park, which is a merger of Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in South Africa and Gemsbok National Park in Botswana and is jointly owned by two countries covering an area of 38 000km² of the Kalahari Desert.

On the Botswana side, Tashebube group of companies has two lodges in the park, located in different areas at Rooiputs and Polentswa.

Manager of the lodges, Mr Mpho Kanedi decries that access from Rooiputs to Polentswa in the Park is a great challenge since COVID-19 outbreak and circumstances have forced them to close it as the access road goes through South Africa within the park.

“We get clients from South Africa and overseas but mainly from overseas depending on the season. So, now the challenge is that Rooiputs is 25km from the Two Rivers (Twee Rivieren) entrance gate while Polentswa lodge is about 200km, so to gain access to the lodge is a challenge for us and our local clients as the road is not good,” he says.

Mr Kanedi narrates that since the COVID-19 outbreak, the park closed the lodges and they did not have any income from March 2020 up until July 29.

“It has been very challenging more so that most Batswana are not aware of the park as most drive to wetland areas such as Kasane or Maun and maybe that is why they do not come this side,” he says.

COVID-19 has negatively affected business which has been very slow since the park opened to local tourists.

“So far we only get bookings from government and parastals in and around Kgalagadi south and we have since reduced our rates so that to attract locals to the park. It is better than not getting any clients at all,” he says.

They are feeling the pinch of COVID-19 movement restrictions within the park which has brought the business to its knees.

He however  thanks government for the tourism COVID-19 Relief Fund to assist to sustain lodge employees.

Nevertheless, COVID-19 continues to present more challenges to the business, “Local clients who want to book both lodges end up abandoning their expeditions because if one needs to go to Polentswa they have to go back to Tsabong to use a route that goes through Mabuasehube through the Kaar gate. But under normal circumstances they drive from Rooiputs straight to Polentswa in the park,” he says.

The challenges are further compounded by the COVID-19 border movement restrictions at the park as the road that they usually use goes through Nossob Rest Camp in South Africa. The road had been closed in line with COVID-19 regulations where a roadblock had been placed which compels them to go back to Tsabong, from Twee Rievrien, Mabuasehube, Kaar gate then finally Polentswa.

“So in total, we have to cover 900km but the road is not good. You have to do 30-40 km per hour otherwise you will be doing damage to your car. So it will take about a day to get there when under normal circumstances it takes four hours to drive for 200km, so one will have to use more fuel but there is no business, our costs are high,” he decries.

All hope is not lost, says SANParks manager who sympathizes with their situation and suggests that they use the back road before the Nossop Rest Camp that does not go through the camp, so that there will be no interaction between clients in both countries.

“So in essence you do not come into contact with any South Africans as the road goes round their camp at the back then joins the main road in front of the rest camp hence no COVID-19 rules would be broken if we are allowed to use the road,” he says.

Mr Kanedi further narrates that the Transfrontier Park is unique in the sense that in some parts the road goes into Botswana hence a special COVID-19 dispensation can be done given the nature of the park to enable the company to get back on its business.

The blended nature of the park is not conducive for local clients who want to embark on expeditions using the two lodges as it would be expensive to travel.

“Some locals booked our Polentswa lodge but we are forced by circumstances to abandon it for the reason that to keep it running will be too expensive as clients have to travel long distances on bad roads and that means high vehicle maintenance costs,” he says.

Mr Kanedi further narrates that over 25 families depend on Tashebube but the future looks bleak as they are not certain if tomorrow they will get business because of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. He calls for drastic measures to be taken to create a special dispensation to enable the lodges to accommodate clients from South Africa as they operate within the same park.

The lodges managers note that most clients come from Northern Cape, which has recorded low cases of COVID-19 hence the risks will be minimal.

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park building entrance serves both South Africa and Botswana tourists, “Somehow Batswana and South Africans come into contact as the building brings people closer together. So the COVID-19 task team should consider opening the Twee Rivieren boarder so that at least we can receive tourists from South Africa, this park is unique,” he says.

Annually, 96 per cent of clients at Polentswa are from South Africa, but due to COVID-19 protocols, the company has closed it on account of high running costs hence affecting local clientele.

He posits that there are some Batswana who plan expeditions to use both Polentswa through Rooiputs but they end up not booking for reason that they have to take the long routes on bad roads and might end up having to spend more than necessary as they would be required to take long routes which enter the park without having to go through South Africa.

For this reason, he says the company has lost business. ENDS