GoKgalagadi with GoTrip. Day 1-3.

 

 

After coach trips to both Europe and Ireland, I was heard to mutter that I would not do another one due to the largely underwhelming experiences that they offered me.

The European tours had long queues at border posts created by guards who thought that it was ‘fun’ to scrutinise all 27 passports with microscopic intensity. At many of these border crossings, those of us who were able did push-ups to while away the time.

When this GoTrip came up, I decided to recant, but for one reason only. And that was because I could take photographs!

I have done convoy tours, but those invariably meant speeding past every photo-op, and if I was allowed to stop, the convoy drove on, and I had to catch up!

All very frustrating. Hence, when my wife offered us this trip as my 73rd birthday present, I grabbed the opportunity.

 

 

 

This is Bennett. Our driver for the duration of the tour and one of the nicest humans I have ever met.

“There’s a world of difference between climbing onto a bus and stepping aboard a coach. A bus says, “Right, let’s get you there.” A coach says, “Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.” One is about transportation; the other is about anticipation. After all, when you’re heading for a destination as legendary as the Kgalagadi, the adventure doesn’t begin when you arrive—it starts the moment the coach eases away from the kerb”.

He works for Paarl Rock Tours, which I renamed Paarl Tours Rock on the second day of our adventure.

Bennett not only drove like the professional he is, but he kept the coach, both inside and out, spotlessly clean. A big plus was that he made certain that the windows were clean so that we could shoot without picking up smears and grime. Well done and thank you, Bennett.

The vehicle we were on was a Y8 29-seater, with comfortable reclining seats and opening windows, allowing me to use a 150-600mm lens without hitting someone on the back of the head.

The coach was a 29-seater, and as there were only 16 participants on this adventure, space was not an issue.

 

 

 

The beginning of an adventure that included a visit to a reserve that has been on our bucket list for as long as we can remember.

I am certain that our tour guide for the duration of our trip, Michael Hauptfleisch, will keep us informed, entertained and educated.

“One of the unexpected pleasures of a coach tour is that everyone begins the journey as strangers. Somewhere between the first coffee stop and the final destination, conversations start, laughter is shared, wildlife sightings are debated, and friendships quietly begin to form. By the time the coach returns home, it’s no longer just a group of passengers—it’s a collection of people who have shared an adventure”.

This particular post will look at Days 1- 3, with more in-depth posts to follow.

 

 

 

Day 1

You cannot call it a coach tour, or a road trip for that matter, if there is not at least one Padstal stop… and there were a couple along the way.

Either as comfort breaks or a stop to get coffee and snacks.

 

 

 

Aside from coffee and biscuits, there was a wide variety of ‘things’ on sale.

Seldom do these hastily bought items, that seem appropriate at the time, make it back home. Often they are abandoned along the way, either at a guesthouse or hotel.

I am not talking about the snacks; those get devoured, but the memento that becomes forgettable almost as you drive away.

The mug or the fridge magnet that end up hidden in a suitcase or a travel bag, and never gets put on display back home.

 

 

 

I suppose one can get excited about a stop in Klerksdorp. I stayed there decades ago, and all we hope for is a hot meal and a comfortable bed!

This was the passage leading from our room to the reception area of the Protes Hotel in Klerksdorp.

 

 

 

An unexpected excursion from Klerksdorp.

From the Bona Bona website…

In the Tswana, Bona Bona means to “look” or to “see”, thus our motto to always strive to make a visible difference.

 

 

 

“If the Blue Wildebeest is the sensible cousin, the Black Wildebeest is the eccentric uncle who arrives at the family gathering with an outrageous hairstyle, tells questionable jokes and then suddenly sprints across the lawn for no apparent reason. You can’t help but smile when you watch them—and that’s exactly why they’re one of my favourite antelopes“.

This is a species not often seen in Gauteng or the Lowveld

FYI:

If there were an award for the wildest haircut in Africa, the Black Wildebeest would be a serious contender. With its shaggy beard, upright mane and flowing white tail, it looks as though it has just stepped out of an 80s rock concert. Add its permanently grumpy expression, and you’ve got one of Africa’s most characterful antelope.

Black Wildebeest are famous for their unpredictable bursts of energy. A herd will explode into a gallop for no obvious reason, kicking, bucking and swishing their tails like children who have just heard school has been cancelled. Wildlife photographers love them because you never quite know what they’ll do next.

And THAT is why the collective noun for wildebeest is a confusion!

This is a Saddleback Blesbok, a rare colour variant of the species.

“This Blesbok looks as though Mother Nature had just finished painting an ordinary blesbok when she accidentally knocked over a tin of white paint. Rather than starting again, she stepped back, admired her handiwork and said, “Actually… I quite like that!” Judging by the number of pictures I took of this individual, I’d say she made the right decision“.

 

 

“I’ve always liked the name Traveller’s Joy. It sounds less like a plant and more like the title of an old adventure novel. And perhaps that’s fitting. After all, when you’ve spent the day exploring the bush and suddenly come across a climber smothered in hundreds of fragrant white flowers, it does bring a little joy to the traveller. It’s nature’s way of saying, “You’re on the right road—keep going.”

It’s one of those plants that many visitors walk past without a second glance, yet once you know its story, you’ll find yourself looking for it on every bush walk.

A species that our current President knows a LOT about…

This is a fine example of an Ankole-Watusi, a breed that originates in East and Central Africa.

Yet we found them outside a game reserve in Klerksdorp!

They are highly sought after here in South Africa and can fetch as much as R1m at auction.

Did you know?

Some animals stop you in your tracks because they’re rare. Others because they’re beautiful. The Ankole-Watusi does it simply because you can’t quite believe what you’re looking at. It’s one of those wonderfully eccentric reminders that Africa never seems to have received the memo about doing things in moderation—and thank goodness for that.

The Ankole-Watusi has clearly never heard the phrase “less is more.” When Mother Nature was handing out horns, this breed must have gone back for seconds… and thirds. Yet those enormous horns aren’t merely decorative. They help regulate body temperature by acting as radiators, with blood circulating through them to dissipate heat. So while most of us are searching for a shady tree on a hot African afternoon, the Ankole-Watusi simply puts its built-in air conditioning to work.

 

 

 

Day 2

After breakfast at our hotel in Klerksdorp, it was off to Kimberley via Stilfontein and Christiana.

 

 

 

We checked into the Protea Hotel in Kimberley.

 

This is the capital city of South Africa’s Northern Cape Province, and is known for its 19th-century diamond mines, such as the deep, hand-dug Big Hole.

 

 

 

Entrance to the museum is free, but to look at the Big Hole will cost you either R90.00 or R160.00 depending on the package you choose, and the time you have at your disposal.

As there was no applicable pensioner discount, and there was not enough time to wander the village AND explore the Big Hole, I tasked my wife with taking this image for me.

She did say that the hole was impressive and the visit was warranted.  Other members of the tour party agreed.

But a word of caution: if you are carrying a multitool, like I was. Or a small pocket knife like Mike had in his pocket, you WILL be refused entry. Yes, you can wander around the village, but you will NOT be allowed to visit the Big Hole. Go figure!

And there are no facilities for visitors to leave their “weapons” while they visit.

 

 

 

Before heading out again, we had some time to wander around the old mine museum that is situated alongside the hotel and The Big Hole.

I did try to get a loan from these gents in the bank; however, they were the strong silent type and were not even prepared to give me the time of day!

 

 

 

This Museum recreates the town in its heyday and displays jewellery and uncut diamonds.

 

Unfortunately, neither the jewellery nor the uncut diamonds are real…

 

 

 

After wandering around the old mine museum situated alongside our hotel and The Big Hole, we headed off to Tarentaalrand Safari Lodge, which is situated on the border of the Free State and Northern Cape provinces in the malaria-free Kalahari Thornveld of South Africa.

This is certainly one of the most stunning males I have ever seen. It looks like he had just returned from a spa day that included a trip to a barber/ hairdresser.

 

 

 

Buffalo have a habit of looking belligerent even when they are just grazing peacefully.

Either that, or their glare says that you owe them money!

Either way, not a species I wish to bump into while on foot.

They have a nasty habit of charging first and for no apparent reason.

 

 

 

We had a sundowner game drive in their vehicle, and we saw a wide variety of antelope species, including buffalo, giraffes and lions.

Our tour group doing what they did best.

Eat and mingle.

 

 

 

This is now what I would call a proper snack platter.

None of those dried-out white bread, cheese and tomato triangle sandwiches. This was proper food!

But we had to pace ourselves as dinner awaited us on our return to the hotel.

 

And speaking about pacing ourselves at meals… We were to discover that portion sizes take on a whole new meaning in this province.

Half portions do not exist, and as far as the hotels are concerned, more is better.

 

 

 

Day 3

Dawn in Kimberley and just time to have breakfast, after which the tour got REALLY interesting for me as a wildlife photographer, as the day would end where the adventure really began.

A long day on the coach, but the destination that awaits is well worth the drive.

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (the epicentre of the Kalahari Desert) is so vast because it comprises the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park in South Africa (proclaimed in 1931) and the Gemsbok National Park in Botswana.

 

 

 

Bushman legend has it that once you feel Kalahari sand between your toes, you will always return.

The name of the man on the left is Patat, and the guys in the cart arrived as we were driving off, so I did not manage to get their names.

We had an opportunity to chat with Patat when we drove past him again a few days later.

 

 

 

The Kgalagadi Lifestyle Lodge was our base for three consecutive nights. The lodge is situated a mere 5km from the Two Rivers gate.

A beautiful lodge with vistas that stretch as far as the eye can see in almost every direction.

This lodge and its backstory will be covered in upcoming posts.

 

 

 

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park comprises an area of over 3,6 million hectares – one of the very few conservation areas of this magnitude left in the world.

The gemsbok has always reminded me of that quiet person at a dinner party who says very little, but when they do, everyone listens. It doesn’t leap around like an impala or swagger like a lion. It simply stands there, calm and confident, knowing full well that those magnificent horns are enough to persuade almost any predator to think twice.

Some animals have charisma. Others have attitude. The gemsbok has both. It has the sort of poise that says, “I know I’m magnificent, but there’s really no need to make a fuss about it.”

Of course, those of us in the coach completely ignored that request and spent the next ten minutes or so taking image after image that would later be deleted once ANOTHER Gemsbok came into frame. Yet another gemsbok standing perfectly silhouetted on a red Kalahari dune.

I’ve often wondered if the gemsbok realises just how photogenic it is. Every time one appears on the crest of a dune, framed against an endless African sky, it instinctively adopts the pose of a seasoned model. If it could speak, I suspect it would simply ask, “Would you like my left profile or my right?” The answer, of course, is both.

 

To learn more about this company and what they offer, click the logo above.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

 

 

BREAKING NEWS.

Two new awards for Travel & Things.

I am grateful for them both, but the storytelling award is the one that makes my heart sing.

In all the years that I have been publishing stories, I have strived to make them read like a travel story, rather than just a review of the properties I visit and the wildlife I see.

And it seems that my persistence has paid off.

That being said, the other award is for reviews, so I guess I am doing something right.

 

 

Travel & Things is the proud winner of these prestigious awards from the digital British lifestyle magazine Luxlife.

The awards are in the categories:

Best Travel & Experiences Blog 2024 – South Africa

Best African Game Reserves & Lodges Travel Review Site 2025.

Best African Resorts and Retreats Award 2025.

Most engaging Travel & Lifestyle Blog 2026.

And now I can add:

Best Luxury & Safari Travel Review Platform 2026

Authentic Storytelling Excellence Award 2026

 

 

To see who the guests have been since this YouTube channel launched, click on the logo above.

 

 

Looking for something to read? Click on the logo above to visit the Off the Shelf YouTube channel for interesting and up-to-date interviews and book reviews.

 

 

“Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?”

Edgar Bergen