6-day, 5-night Kalahari Red Dune Trail
A slackpacking trail and activity experience in the Askham region of the Kalahari
Slow down and experience the Kalahari thirstland on foot.
Thirstland Trails will take you to various Kalahari highlights in the Askham region on a 5-night, 6-day slackpacking trail and activity experience.
For a true experience of the Kalahari people, its character and its unique fauna and flora – don’t look any further.
Take note that this experience consists of daily guided walks and activities at various Kalahari hotspots with guided self-driving in between.
Apart from the self-driving you will be treated to an all-inclusive week with all meals and tented accommodation included.
Our tented accommodation at the various great Kalahari bush camps comes with comfortable stretchers and mattresses. All the bush camps we visit have hot water showers and flush toilets.
You don’t need a 4×4 to join this experience but a vehicle with an average to above average degree of ground clearance will be fine. A total of 200km will be covered by vehicle over the 6 days, averaging 33km per day.
This Kalahari experience with Thirstland Trails starts and ends 60km from the Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park making it the perfect add-on should you wish to extend your Kalahari experience to include more of the Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park.
Please note: Vehicle rental options are available in Upington. Upington airport has daily return flights from Cape Town and Johannesburg. Thirstland Trails can assist with arranging a rental vehicle.
Upcoming dates:
2025
14 – 19 September
21 – 26 September
2026
12 – 17 April
19 – 24 April
10 – 15 May
17 – 22 May
30 August – 4 September
6 – 11 September
20 – 25 September
“The only man I envy is the man who has not been to the Kalahari… For he has so much to look forward to.”
Itinerary
Day 1:
The group get together on the first day at Molopo Lodge (at 16:00), close to the small town of Askham in the Northern Cape (195km from Upington – paved road). From here the Thirstland Trails tour operator will escort the vehicles to the 1st base camp (15km gravel road drive). On arrival we will settle in, have some welcome drinks, enjoy a warm cooked Kalahari meal, and spend the evening around the campfire with the night sounds of the Kalahari preparing ourselves for the next day’s hike.
Day 2:
We start our first day’s hike early. After a morning ‘koffie and beskuit’ and a good breakfast we set off on an 8km morning guided route through typical Kalahari red dune country. After lunch and back at camp we pack and move on to Koppieskraalpan (50km gravel road drive) – where we will visit a camel farm (the only place in South Africa where you can visit a camel dairy) as well as the lost city of Farini. With the sun setting over Namibia in the distance, we will settle into camp on the Koppieskraalpan for the evening. You will be treated to a warm meal around the campfire to make this under-a-thousand-stars pan camp experience something not to forget
Day 3:
We wake to a great sunrise over the pan. After a good breakfast we set off on a walk of 10km covering a section of the pan as well as the lost city of Farini. After the Koppieskraalpan experience we head to our next destination at Zoutpan (35 km gravel road drive) – to some more great Kalahari red dunes, typical Kalahari veld and a big salt pan and salt works which we visit in the afternoon. The remainder of the afternoon will be spent relaxing at camp. Warm showers will be ready with sundowners and a delicious meal to round the day off.
Day 4:
We wake to the Kalahari morning sounds and enjoy a good breakfast before we pack and set off for our next destination – the Kuruman River (30km gravel road drive). We park the vehicles from where we do a short hike with Bushmen (2km) to experience their incredible bush skills and culture and to enjoy a traditional lunch after this experience. We depart after our Kuruman and Komani San experience to our next destination, Dreghorn (15km gravel road drive) – next to the Molopo River and on the border of Botswana. Later in the afternoon we do an evening hike over dunes and through typical Kalahari veld. Back in camp, after warm showers and a good warm meal we sit back and enjoy a camelthorn campfire.
Day 5:
We wake up to another beautiful morning in the Kalahari, in between red dunes, and Camelthorn trees. After a morning ‘koffie en beskuit’ we head off on an 8km route taking us through beautiful Kalahari veld passing through and over dunes and typical Kalahari veld. This walk, like all the other walks on the previous days, is great for photography and birders. Once back at camp we enjoy brunch and kick back and relax. Late afternoon we enjoy sundowners, watching as the sun set over the Kalahari. Back in camp, after warm showers and a good warm meal we enjoy our last evening together.
Day 6:
We start our day early with a ‘koffie en beskuit’ enjoying the last sunrise together. After we’ve packed camp, we head off to Molopo Lodge (20km) where we enjoy a last breakfast together as a group. The Kalahari Red Dune Trail will finish after breakfast in the region at 10:30am. Here it will be time to say goodbye. Molopo Lodge is 60km (paved road) from the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and makes for a great day trip to the park should you decide to stay for the evening (or more).
“ There’s no wi-fi in the dunes but you’ll find no better connection”
Highlights during the Kalahari experience with Thirstland Trails:
1. Kalahari red dunes and Camelthorn trees – photographers dream
2. Saltpans and saltworks
3. Koppieskraalpan – beautiful pan surrounded by Kalahari red dunes
4. Camel farm experience
5. Farini’s lost city
6. Bushmen experience
7. Molopo and Kuruman riverbeds
8. Kalahari history and tales
9. Kalahari bird and wildlife – photographers dream
10. Kalahari sunsets and sunrises
Important Things to pack:
1. Small day backpack
2. Sunscreen
3. Hat
4. Good hiking shoes
5. Gaiters
6. Sunglasses
7. Own toiletries
8. Hiking gear
9. Own water bottle
10. Own sleeping bag, pillow, and sheet (nights cool off during winter, please pack accordingly)
11. Extra hiking snacks if wanted
12. Camera and binoculars
13. Own personal medication
14. Headlamp
15. Warm clothes for evenings and mornings
16. Vehicle spare key
17. Vehicle spare tire (serviced and full), jack and tire changing tools
18. Enough fuel in your tank to cover at least 250km
Accommodation And Dining
Kalahari bush camps
The Bush Camps we use, apart from the pan camping experience, are nestled between the red sand dunes and sheltered by camel thorn trees.
A true arid experience to everyone that visits the Kalahari!
We pride ourselves to a 1000-star rating. Because who will choose 5 stars when you can have a 1000 above you!
Tents
Our tented camps are set up with 2.5m x 2.5m dome tents each equipped with 2 x stretchers and 2 x mattresses.
Bathroom facilities
All the bush camps we use come with hot water showers and flush toilets.
Meals
All meals are included. This will range from warm cooked meals to a traditional Kalahari braai.
Reservations And Bookings
All reservations must be paid in full 30 days before your arrival for the hiking trip. The hiking trip takes place for a min of 10 guests to a max of 14.
Prices for 2025 & 2026
R7500 p/p Sharing (2 Guest per tent) for the week, all included.
Cancellation Policy
50% of the total amount within 6 months prior to departure.
75% of the total amount within 3 months prior to departure.
100% of the total amount within 30 days prior to departure.
What is included
All meals
Accommodation: Tents with 2 x stretchers and 2 x mattresses each
Coffee and tea
Cold beverages (selected ciders, beers, and wine)